 Hello, I am Miguel February communications officer within the department of infrastructure ports and transport and as the name suggests The department of infrastructure ports and transport has numerous departments under its preview and one of them is the electrical services department With me today is the head of that department. Mr. Shane Joe chief electrical engineer Welcome Shane. Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here To start of our discussion, can you speak to the mandates of the electrical services department? Okay. Well, first of all, let me start. Let me begin by saying that it is my opinion that I'm given the Even the norm in the number of ways that the electrical department Touches the life of the ordinary citizen that this department forms one of the most in this department is one of the most important term, you know divisions Within the Ministry of Infrastructure and that is saying a lot considering that Infrastructure is a priority for almost every government but Someone once said I'm sure you know who that I'm The influence of the Ministry of Infrastructure Begins from the time that you you step out of your home, right and you hit that road I will go one further and see that The influence of that of the the electrical department and by extension them in the Department of Infrastructure Begins from the time you slip that switch in the morning But to come back to your question The electrical department were responsible for several things Primarily we we doing we inspect city we respect test and certifying new new and um, you know new and um Existing installations secondly, right we also maintain the The traffic light all the traffic lights on island we also am administer the the street lighting asset in the street lighting asset in St. Lucia additionally we recommend we we also recommend qualifications for for for Granting new licenses to to to electricians Right, that's that's the other mean these are the main things that we do but additionally We're also responsible for things that are we don't care. We don't we don't carry out that often for example You know, we were also responsible for administering the the real electrification program and at times Right, we are also called upon by the fire department right to eat them in the investigation of fires When it is suspected that electricity is involved Okay, now, let's get to the traffic lights first. Let's start up with there Interestingly just a few weeks ago. We relocated Traffic lights at the intersection of Jeremy Street and the Darling Road We came understand scrutiny for that. There are numerous public complaints. Could you explain to us the reason for that relocation, you see I Was a bit taken aback by all the criticism right because Give especially given the nature of the improvements. Let me begin by saying that we never relocated any lights All we did was to to to turn one of the lights the signal that you see that is closest to the To the back so bus stop. So you find us it existed a situation where? That light was not visible right to motorists when they were pushing that intersection So therefore we have to change the direction of that signal So what it stands right now from any direction you are pushing that intersection, right? You you you will you there will be a signal right ahead of you, right that you will be able to you know follow You understand so um so although Although we there was there were certain things that was supposed to I mean I Five it's only afterwards that I realized that you know the public was not too familiar with that with some other device You're some other auxiliary devices We are placing that intersection for example the pedestrian course but the pedestrian push buttons that activate the Pedestrian lights these were a bit these things will become new to them So I understand the nature of some of the criticism But generally I would say that the intersection is a lot better than it used to be we install for example We change we change most of the lights Well, we change the signals there from 18 inch to 12 inch so therefore they are visible from very far We added visors to the signal so that they are visible even in the Sun's glare You see so therefore I would see in my opinion that the thing that that intersection, right? Is a lot better than it used to be You mentioned visibility on a side note Is the other apartments in terms of the installation of traffic lights in the future would be catering for the herring in bed Absolutely as a matter of fact, this was supposed to have this was supposed to have been done with the installation of the lights at Bridge Street bridge at the intersection of bridge Jeremy and also at am that intersection by am bridge John Compton highway or what what we usually what we are more familiar as what is more familiar what is more? More commonly known as am bridge paying your street, right? Sorry, I should have said that I should have said that the visually impaired not herring in bed Understand understood the question. Yeah, but in the future we will be catering to to to these people Okay Now while the enforcement of traffic laws and rules don't fall under your department We just install and program the traffic lights. There are certain traffic infractions and violations which affect negatively the way these lights operate and I speak specifically to the road sensors This has been an issue and members of the public don't seem to understand that these infractions do actually affect the way the lights operate Can you speak to how these sensors are affected? Okay? You see when we talk about a traffic light system, right? It is interpreted by many people as just you know the part that is seen Which is usually what we call the the signals the traffic light signals But a traffic light system Usually comes to not usually it consists of many things. There's a cabinet close by which is where the bring of the system is Obviously, they're the signals that are visible to everybody. They are the pedestrian lights that especially the ones It is it is it is it is it is known it is known to everybody now because we have installed The pedestrian lights all over the city first of all we installed by the intercession by Jeremy Jeremy and Pena Street and now also by am by Darling Road Darling Road, Germany Street However, there is also this important component which is which are the sensors now the sensors not visible the sensors are situated Just below the stop line as you approach Right that intersection now. I'm going to explain to you. What exactly these sensors do? I'm going to give you a situation. Let us take for instance that you are approaching an intersection Right and the lean ahead of you is clay Right on the on the normal circumstances, right? You would have to wait for the timer to reach zero and then that the light that is Controlling your lean of traffic would turn green and then you'd be allowed to proceed However, when there are sensors present, right the time the timer does not have to be zero So basically that sensor right senses that the lead in front of you that you're about to turn into right is clay So therefore the light that is controlling your lean of traffic it automatically turns green So therefore there is no wait time as as long as the lead in front of you is clay Now this significantly reduces under the amount of time you have to you have to you have to stay idle, right at a particular intersection However, when bus is a packed on these signals, right? On these on these sensors it is interpreted by the system that they don't exist So even if these sensors are there because there is a stationary object packed on them, right? You still have to wait for that timer So it delays the the whole you know the whole cycle is delayed Because I said as I said it is interpreted by the system as if you know, there's no sensor So you still have to wait right? So basically it becomes a situation it becomes a situation we're buying right the lead in front of you is clay The sensor should have been communicating right to the light that this lean in front of you is clay So therefore I should turn green however because the system now isn't a way that the sensor is there, right? You have to continue waiting So there are a lot more delays at these intersections Okay, so you're saying that as you just mentioned a bus park there The concern recently expressed about the lights the same lights at the Jeremy Street Darling Road intersection Was that at one point? They were taking a long to turn the signals were taking long to turn from red to green or green to red You mentioned buses parking there. So are you saying that? Double parking or parking in restricted areas would affect the sensors absolutely you see these sensors, right? They affected by you basically must give them a six a six a free fit clearance either way So basically they pick up they pick up Stationary objects right that are above them free fit within free fit, right? In front of them and within free fit at the back of them So basically whenever you within that verse in this that six feet vicinity right is going to appear if an object is Unpacked if a vehicle is packed on that sensor, right? Or within a six that six feet the ring six is with Cynthia I'm talking about is going to be Interpreted by the system right as you know a sensor which doesn't exist was sensor which isn't working So basically it becomes a situation was a way as I mentioned earlier, right? You have to wait for the timer Even if the lean in front of you it's clear. So does this does one? Sensor affect the way all traffic lights operate or is it just for that particular area? I'm talking about in terms of parking over those sensors or being stationary over the sensors Yeah parking over the over over a sensor at a particular intersection will intersect will affect Will affect the entire intersection. So basically not just that sensor that you were packed over or that lean Right carrying that sensor by the entire junction the entire intersection because remember As I mentioned earlier, right the brain of that system is in the cabinet that is closed by and everything all communication happens Right via that that bring through that cabinet So I would take it a message to the motor in public is to not park on double yellow lines I don't need parked in sports reason absolutely Okay now back to the push buttons, which you mentioned earlier We have an issue with the Department of Infrastructure from as it relates to the destruction of public infrastructure and that would include bridges signs The convex mirrors placed for people to see at intersections, but in recently again with our newly Installed lights or replaced lights. We had a button destroyed the day after we install it Can you speak to the destruction of this infrastructure this infrastructure? And is it something new? I don't know if you recall growing up with some pay phones Whenever you had to use this performance There was always an issue Decided the receiver was missing or the glass the little glass was was cracked But it was always a situation where a lot of the time right these for no apparent reason Somebody would destroy these these little phone booths And I was really hoping that that we as we as a people we had graduated from that already But it appears that we haven't and that is a very serious issue and it's a costly thing for the department an ordinary a very basic Traffic light system can cost anything between two hundred and three hundred thousand EC dollars and We don't produce this pass here so therefore the destruction of And I mentioned two to three hundred thousand dollars That's only I'm only talking about the the the parts here I've not even fit factored in programming because every time you put in a new a new piece So you have to replace a piece right you have to program the system, right? So therefore it profoundly affect the department not not only in terms of the cost involved in replacing these these past that are destroyed but also Delays because you find that we have to Buy these parts in the US now usually in the US you find at these parts, right? The parts are the captain's talk, right? Do they don't have the same specifications other parts the parts? We require him a simple example will be most of the parts, right that I kept in stock in the US, right? They're hundred and twenty volts hundred and ten volts However in Saint Lucia we use two hundred and forty volts So therefore you find there's a situation about where when you when we order these parts, right? They are to be produced specifically for our conditions or with specifications, you know that are that are you know two forty volts and so on and so on so basically means that the delays are even longer So basically the fact it really affects us not just economically, right? But also with the delays involved so you find out the destruction over over a path, right? Might be it might be a situation where a particular intersection is done for a lengthy period of time You're watching issues and answers DIPT in focus. I am Miguel favorite communications officer with the Department of Infrastructure for us in transport once again And with me as chief electrical engineer mr. We will take a break and when we come back we speak to more of the electrical services department mandates particularly electrical inspections Pamela, I noticed that you built your retaining wall on my property You'll have to give me my land back or compensate me for that. My contractor isn't dumb I trust that he will not build anything on your property. Where is your proof? Let's go to court. This situation does not require you to go to court Looks like we have to go through mediation here Mediation is a way people resolve conflicts like this someone a third party comes to speak to both parties This person is called the mediator the mediator is impartial He or she makes sure that communication between both parties is effective and efficient So the mediator is a judge. No, the mediator is not a judge mediators Unlike judges do not decide cases or impose settlements. Let me get a mediator to handle this retaining wall and that kitchen Yes, your kitchen also falls on my land. Let me call the mediator Welcome back to issues and answers Miguel favorite once again with me. Mr. Shane's are the chief electrical engineer in the Department of Infrastructure for us in transport Shane let's get to another mandate, which is the electrical inspectorate and It touches the lives of basically every solution from personal homeowners To business entities can you describe the process the election the electrical inspection process and the process by which You know, it is the okay is given for a connection. Okay. Yeah, you're very correct in saying that because um The general public usually knows the electrical department to be the electrical inspectorate as a matter of fact There are very few people that know that we actually meant do maintenance of traffic light and we have some some scenes with street lights and so on Anyway to get to your question. You see there is a common There's a there's a post. There's a false perception at an interaction with the electrical department only commences right after the construction of an electrical installation And that client is looking for an electrical connection. However, this is this is not the case When somebody Things about constructing, you know an electrical is my electrical installation talking about a wiring for house or a temporary wiring or whatever it is, right? Communication interaction in the electrical department should begin even before construction begins So basically the first the first process the first time the first thing should be right that's that client should hire a licensed Electrician did not license electrician should bring into the Ministry of Infrastructure. What should the electrical department? What is called a form B? Right if right that that client is about to construct a new installation If you're about to do an alteration to an existing installation, then they should bring in what they call a form C Right that forms B from see what right that would indicate to us that that person is about to commence An electrical installation, so therefore we would be on the on the alert and that is especially important, right? When it comes to constructing installations that are very very large and that's going to take a long a long time because we want to be Going up and down there to see how you know how the installation is progressing because let's say for instance Let's let's take a situation where a huge installation has been constructed And they only apply to us at the end then we don't know what's inside the world We don't know what inside the floor and you don't know what's in the ceiling Right, so therefore it is important that the first interaction with the electrical department happens before construction And not at the end anyway to continue the process. So after that Right, so basically as I mentioned they will bring that from B or C to the department, right? Hiring an electrician a licensed electrician bring that from BC to the orbit B or C to the department after that they can proceed With the construction of the installation, right upon completion That is when they apply it to us again formally, right and obviously the fees are paid Then within a week or so sometimes a few days we go to that installation we carry out with tests with inspect right They bring back they bring the information collected on site back to the office Where it is, you know, the papers are written up the certificate is written up and if everything goes well If there are no issues with the installation and so on right at the day or two later That certificate is collected and brought to Lucille like whether the connection is made is this inspection a one-off thing Is it periodic? You see the question you should ask yourself is very simple. Why are we even doing this because the thing about it is that? We are not just going to Installations and inspecting we're doing that for a reason and the reason that really that reason is is safety Right now as in as is as is the case with anything, right? Use brings wear and tear So as you as you use an electrical installation, there will be wear and tear and the safety of that installation will degrade over time right, so it is important that I'm We inspect or we reinspect and reason and recidify after a period of time for domestic installations Right and by is by domestic. I mean installations where the ordinary house Right that is done every five years Right for commercial installations commercial and industrial installations, right? Well, you seem to find a bit more wear and tear because of the number of people's number of people using it and so on and so Right that's done every two years and for swimming pools Given the nature of water, you know electricity and so on that is done on a yearly basis Now Obviously some business entities hotels even homeowners may at some point want to expand on their property Add a new wing a new room or something does the electrical department play a role? Obviously they would have to get wiring and everything to say that your department gets involved Well, we are supposed to because as I mentioned earlier right that your the first step should be, you know I mentioned the form C earlier and that's the whole point of it You see the form C basically so let the department that you're going to be altering your existing installation You see when you alter an installation an electrical installation right It is not going to be the same as what existed before so basically let's say for instance have tested an installation if you want to alter it If I test and certify a particular electrical installation if you alter it It's not the same installation which means that you have to break me back there again So I can check and see and check to verify that it is still fit for purpose fit for use I know that he said we are supposed to Supposed to because you find that As is the case right most of the time well 90 95 percent of the time after an individual gets A connection that is it They don't return to us after five years or the business places. Well, they don't return to us after two years So you see the important thing there is you know, there's a lot of risk involved. Exactly There's a lot of risk there involved because as I mentioned earlier on right If you find that an installation if we test and we see that installation is safe right now That doesn't mean that in two years or in three years or in five eight is still going to be safe because That installation is on the use all the time. You see The wires the wires are the insulation is degrading right The oof is not going to be the same anymore. You see The device is breaking down after a while So that installation is on the stress So you don't expect it to be the same as it was when you know it was inspected which is important Why it has to be inspected periodically and I could say something that is not That is not done in St. Louis at all. So I could think now even Just natural wear and tear from the elements exactly heat and rain and these kinds of things. Absolutely. Okay now Let's move on to the final topic, which is street lighting It also falls under your purview Can you describe the process by which a street light is installed? First of all in any area or not. Okay The electrical department as I mentioned earlier is responsible for administering the The street lighting right however when it comes to maintenance that's to do with lucilleck And I find that that that that I'm that whole thing is a bit confusing However, I think that after today is going to be you know a lot clearing the minds of the The ordinary person Let's say for instance, you have a street light that isn't working Right or that isn't bright enough And you call lucilleck because that that street light is on the pole already. So what it requires is maintenance However, if it's a situation where you do not there is there isn't a street light and you need a new one installed That is when you contact The the electrical department. Now, obviously you have to contact the electrical department with Certain bits of information. There is a form obviously, but I wonder I'm still going to say it out Obviously the the area Right, you must you must have the area you must the area must be clear right And very importantly There's a yellow plaque on the on the electrical on the pole, right? It has four letters Four numbers. That's what they call a pole number. It is very important that this number Right. It's very important that you that that number is brought in also Because that's what they call the problem and that is how lucilleck which will eventually do the installation because we do We do the approval of new street lighting. We don't do the installation the installation is actually done by lucilleck And that's the only way that's the easiest way lucilleck is going to be able to locate That pole now, I know there are situations where the pole will not have a number Right. So you're bringing the the the the number of a pole that is very close by And also there are situations where where there isn't a pole at all So in that situation that in a situation like this that is indicated to us And also importantly, there must be a contact You see in any case you you see there is difficulty in locating That area and so on so contact is also very important Can anyone request a street light and that said I know what circumstances Would your department reject a request for street lights? Yes, anybody can apply for street lights However as the name suggests it's a street light So basically it's to illuminate public places. So for example, I don't it cannot be a situation where The the full path the full path leading to your home has a light and you're still asking for another one to illuminate your backyard Right in a situation like that. We are going we are going to reject it Because the whole point of street lighting is to illuminate public areas not to illuminate a porch Or backyard or something like that Any final thoughts on on the mandate and the works of your department before we close? Yeah, um I must say that um You know, there's one as we as we were talking we were talking earlier. There's one general disappointment, right? And that is the fact that people don't return to us right after you know A few years in the as I mentioned earlier in the case of domestic installations five years and commercial installation Two years to have the the installations Reinspected that's a major headache for for the department. It's one that we're trying to resolve Right, we are trying to find new methods of doing that Right by speaking to different agencies and so on to see if they can they can help us in doing that Right, I think it is something that is very important because we've even now right you find that on a on a for example In the past year, right? We've had no electrocutions. We've hardly had any electrical fires or obvious electrical fires, which means that The installations in st. Lucia are becoming progressively safer And I would say that the electrical department has a big part to play in that right now I see us reducing whatever the numbers are even further right if People would add hair to the regulations right and inspect Or you know have the installations respected Okay during their located time Okay, thank you very much Mr. Shinja the chief electrical engineer with the department of infrastructure ports and transport We spoke today of the many mandates of that electrical services department including the installation and programming of traffic lights the electrical Inspections and street lighting This has been issues and answers With me Miguel favorite communications officer within the department of infrastructure ports and transport Thank you for tuning in and I hope that this discussion was riveting and enlightening Goodbye