Government to undertake comprehensive streetlight audit

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says his ministry will be working with the municipal corporations to carry out a comprehensive night audit of all streetlights.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House yesterday, McKenzie said this will help the ministry to get a true account of the number of streetlights across the country.

It is believed that there are more than 100,000 streetlights islandwide.

IN PHOTO: Desmond McKenzie

Meanwhile, McKenzie said a plan has been devised to pay the $5.4 billion debt to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) for streetlights.

READ: Gov't finalises plan to pay $5.4 billion streetlight bill

McKenzie said his ministry paid little over $1 billion to the JPS for the 2016-17 financial year.

He said last fiscal year, the streetlight bill was $2.88 billion.

The local government minister said the government had engaged the JPS in a series of discussions and they have a number of agreements.