Black Immigrant Daily News

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Noting the high cost of electricity, the government of Saint Lucia is exploring the possibility of prepaid electricity and solar-powered modems.

The disclosure came on Friday from Joachim Henry, Minister for Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment.

Henry was addressing the FLOW ‘Home Communications Relief Bundle’ signing ceremony.

The government said the signing was an important step to bring internet services to the less fortunate.

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They include vulnerable households where school children have no access to a reliable internet connection for remote learning.

However, the Minister for Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment noted that the cost of electricity is high, and some people are struggling to pay their bills.

In this regard, Henry announced that the government is speaking with St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) about prepaid electricity purchases.

“But if you are purchasing electricity on a prepaid approach, would the cost be less? Maybe not. But research in Dominica has shown that persons who purchase electricity on a prepaid approach – the incidence of disconnection is almost zero. As a matter of fact they’re moving from almost ten thousand to 50 percent of the population in Dominica now consuming electricity on a prepaid approach,” Joachim Henry explained.

According to the Castries South East MP, it was obvious that when people decide how much they are willing to spend on electricity, they consume accordingly.

And Henry indicated that the alternative was to discover the electricity consumed upon receiving the bill.

The Minister also said he was happy to announce discussions with telecommunications company FLOW to identify and source solar-powered modems.

“A FLOW bundle, even if it is twenty dollars, but it also powered by solar energy means it is not connected to the grid and even if you are unable to have electricity once your phone has energy you can still be on line,” he told his audience.

“This is the initiative that puts the principle of equity at work. It is this initiative that says whether you live at Cap Estate or live anywhere in Saint Lucia you have access to information instantly and at all times and you can compete on equal footing,” Henry asserted.

Headline photo: Stock image

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EUGENE, Oregon: Quarter-miler Christopher Taylor says he is in good condition to secure a spot in the men’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

There have been questions about Taylor’s fitness level after he failed to finish in the top three at the Jamaica trials on June 26 at the National Stadium in Kingston.

The top three finishers in each event at the National trials earned the right to be in Eugene provided they achieved the world standard.

Jevaughn Powell, the country’s top quarter-miler this season, proved too much for Anthony Cox and Nathon Allen to secure his first national title in a new season’s best 45.50.

However, Taylor – who finished seventh in 45.91 – was drafted into the team as Cox did not achieve the world standard.

And earlier today Taylor achieved his first goal in Eugene that of getting out of the preliminary round.

“The aim was to come out here and did enough to make it through to the semifinals and that’s what I did,” said Taylor after a second-place finish behind two-time US champion Michael Norman in the second heat.

Taylor finished in 45.68. An easy-looking Norman won in 45.37 seconds.

The 24-year-old Norman has a golden opportunity on home soil to finally claim an individual 400m title on the global stage.

Taylor said that he executed his race to perfection.

“My technique was pretty well,” he said. “The aim was just to stay fresh for the first 60m, find a good position on the backstretch, maintain it from there and stay within four metres of Norman, and that is what I did.”

The semifinals will are scheduled for Wednesday and Taylor has a good plan of how to get into the medal round on Friday.

“I just want to run faster than I did in the heat right now because it will be a very tough semifinal.”

Taylor will again run against Norman in the semifinal.

“I just have to get my mind to prepare to do whatever it takes to make it to the final and that’s my aim,” said Taylor.

He explained his poor run at the National trials.

“I just got a huge muscle contract in the hamstring quad in the semifinal but I had to go and run because they wouldn’t bring me on the team,” said Taylor.

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