Black Immigrant Daily News

Charlestown, Nevis, July 06, 2022 (NIA) — The following is a statement from the Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC) regarding the increase in fuel surcharge.

To our valued customers, 

Since April 2022 you have experienced a significant increase in the fuel surcharge on your monthly electricity bills.  The objective of this presentation is to provide you, our valued customers, with an explanation for this increase.

However, before we do so, we will present you with these useful facts about the fuel surcharge:

–       The fuel cost adjustment factor or fuel surcharge was introduced by NEVLEC in November 2005.

–       NEVLEC introduced this fuel adjustment mechanism (surcharge) to mitigate against the fuel price fluctuations and curb the trend of significant losses.

–       The fuel surcharge is not unique to NEVLEC, but has been adopted by most Caribbean electric utilities and international courier and shipping companies.

–       On the one hand, the energy charge on your bill is not related to the fuel surcharge but is a component of NEVLEC’s current tariff structure that is (the regular cost per kilowatt-hour for energy used). The fuel surcharge, on the other hand, is associated with the rising cost of fuel.

We will now address the factors that are driving the high fuel costs and by extension the high fuel surcharge.  The major price driver is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.  The impact of this conflict is perhaps most felt in the energy sector. Russia is the world’s third-largest producer of oil and is also the world’s largest oil exporter.

The ban on Russian oil by the United States and the European Union has caused increased pressure on global prices. There has been a sharp decline in oil supply on the world market, resulting in higher prices globally. 

In the case of NEVLEC, the average price of fuel has moved from $7.98 per gallon in January 2022 to $14.68 per gallon in June 2022.   A resolution of the conflict seems unlikely in the short term, which means that global oil prices could remain extremely high.

In the meantime, NEVLEC has implemented some initiatives to assist you during these challenging times.  In September 2021, we introduced the use of a six-month moving average of the actual price to calculate the fuel surcharge. This mechanism helps to smooth out the wide fluctuations in the price of fuel.  In effect, NEVLEC has created a “cushion” so that you, our valued customers, do not have to absorb the full impact of the significant rise in fuel prices. During this period, you have benefited from a reduced fuel surcharge and by extension reduced bills. 

Our records indicate that this initiative has cost NEVLEC in excess of $3.1 million over the period, which translated to savings to our customers.  At this juncture, we empathise with you our customers and encourage you to make every effort to pay your bills on time. 

As we do our part, we implore you, our valued customers, to play a greater role in reducing your bills.  Effective management of your energy consumption not only reduces the fuel surcharge but also the energy charge on your bill.  Please take advantage of our energy conservation tips which are available on our website www.nevlec.com and our Facebook page.

Feel free to visit our Customer Service Department during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or contact us at (869) 469-7245 or info@nevlec.com for further information about the fuel surcharge.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is in the process of facilitating a “Sustainable Road Based Public Transportation Study” which broadly seeks to assist in developing sustainable road based public transport plans for both Saint Lucia and Grenada.

These include gender-responsive and socially inclusive measures, as well as short, medium, and long-term investments that will lead to an increase in the viability, efficiency and quality of public transport services to meet the needs of the public.

The objectives include improvement in the following areas –

• Legislation- review the policy and regulatory structures for operating public transport;

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• Public Transport Offer – improve the current bus routes, add new connections;

• Quality – propose investments to increase the efficiency and quality of public transport services;

• Social Inclusion – incorporate gender-responsive and socially inclusive measures;

• Sustainability – develop a programme to transition to low or zero carbon emission buses;

• Reduced Use of Private Vehicles – encourage a reduction of the use of single occupancy vehicles;

• Infrastructure – propose improvements to public infrastructure dedicated to public transport;

As part of the study, the consulting team engaged by the CDB is in the process of conducting field surveys which commenced Monday 04th July, 2022 and ends on Friday, 08th July 2022.

The surveys will take the form of traffic counting, public transport frequency and occupancy counts / surveys, public transit rider origin–destination surveys and user satisfaction surveys.

The Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport appreciates the public’s cooperation and support as we seek to improve Saint Lucia’s public transportation system.

Source: Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport 

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Un quadragénaire a été grièvement blessé par balle ce midi à Vieux-Bourg aux Abymes

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, has hailed the imposition of the recent state of emergency (SOE) in St Catherine, noting that 66 persons were charged with varying criminal offences over the 14-day period that the provisions existed.

Additionally, murders in the parish fell by 81 per cent, while shootings declined by 56 per cent, reported Anderson.

The SOEs were imposed in St Catherine on June 17, and were brought to an end on July 1 after the Government did not seek an extension, which was said to have been because of the broad, positive impact of the SOE’s imposition.

“Over the 14-day period, 66 persons were charged, 28 of which were for serious crimes, including murder, shooting and sexual offences, while six persons were charged with breaches of the Law Reform Fraudulent Transactions Act or lottery scamming,” said Anderson/

He was addressing the police’s monthly press conference on Tuesday.

Continuing, he outlined that, “Five wanted persons were taken into custody, three of whom were charged for sexual-related offences, and two for murder and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

“Two major players involved in the gang conflicts in both the St Catherine north and south divisions were also arrested and charged with murder, shooting and illegal possession of firearm,” Anderson informed.

The security forces also managed to seize seven illegal guns within the 14-day period.

Further, a 14-year-old who had been reported missing was identified and taken into the care of an officer at a SOE checkpoint, where she was found in the company of an adult male. The man has since been charged with rape and having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16.

Anderson pointed to two 19-year-old men who were arrested during the security measures. They were wanted for the August 2021 double murder of a policeman, identified as Corporal Delwin Jackson, and taxi operator Kenroy Chandler. The killings occurred in Central Village in the St Catherine South Police Division.

On the day of the announcement of the SOE, Anderson stated that 12 active gangs were responsible for a significant number of the murders in the parish, including the killing of two men in the busy Spanish Town market district, along with several other murders in and around Spanish Town on Tuesday, June 14.

At that time the commissioner vowed that the SOE would result in a significant drop in murders and shootings across the parish.

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