Minister responsible for the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC), Konris Maynard, has pledged to restore power to the transmitter at Ottley’s Level within the coming weeks.
The transmitter, which has been without regular power for approximately eight weeks, is critical for the operation of at least four radio stations. The ongoing power outage has severely disrupted their ability to broadcast.
Minister Maynard recently joined SKELEC officials as they assessed the situation at the site and identified both short and long term solutions.
The restoration effort, however, faces significant challenges. The steep incline to the damaged poles poses safety risks for the workers, while the poles themselves have deteriorated due to moisture. Additionally, a recent fire at the transmission area complicated the situation further.
The restoration process will involve replacing or reinforcing over 15 poles to ensure the transmitter’s power supply is reliable. Private radio station owners, like Freedom FM’s Junie Liburd, have incurred substantial expenses maintaining a generator to keep their station on air. Others have had to abandon traditional broadcasting in favour of online broadcasting.
Minister Maynard emphasised that SKELEC will soon mobilise resources to address these challenges and restore power as quickly as possible.
Photo: Minister Maynard and SKELEC employes trekking the Ottley’s Level trail
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