Gros Islet Member of Parliament, Hon. Kenson Casimir, has called for the immediate relocation of electricity poles along the Norbert Road Rehabilitation Project, warning that poles left within newly widened traffic lanes present a serious danger to motorists.
Casimir’s comments come amid growing public concern over the placement of utility infrastructure along the rehabilitated roadway and following remarks from contractor Rayneau Gajadhar, who attributed delays on the project to what he described as LUCELEC’s reluctance to provide detailed cost estimates.
Speaking on the matter, Casimir stressed the urgency of resolving the issue before any accident occurs.
“It needs to get done and it needs to get done yesterday,” the Gros Islet MP said.
“So, this week I will be placing some calls from my perspective as a parliamentary rep to get this done because I wouldn’t want for anything to happen and then for us to say what if.”
He acknowledged that discussions have been taking place between the relevant parties but insisted that action must be swift.
“But I’ve heard some of the discussions on both sides and I believe that’s something that needs to happen this week. And so, I will do my best to influence that process to ensure that it happens,” Casimir added.
On February 4, the Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited responded to concerns surrounding the Norbert Road project, assuring the public that safety and transparency remain central to its operations.
Managing Director Gilroy Pultie emphasized that the company adheres to strict procurement and construction standards and called for improved coordination among stakeholders to prevent similar situations in the future.
“Projects like this need to be managed going forward more responsibly, and what I mean by that is that there needs to be more planning and coordination amongst all the stakeholders, including LUCELEC, to avoid situations like this where our infrastructure become hazards to the public,” Pultie stated.
“That should never happen again, and LUCELEC will do all in its power to ensure that this is avoided going forward.”
The matter has sparked debate over project planning and inter-agency coordination, as residents and road users continue to raise concerns about safety along the upgraded corridor.
With the parliamentary representative signaling his intention to intervene directly and LUCELEC pledging improved coordination, attention now turns to how quickly the issue can be resolved to safeguard motorists and restore public confidence in the execution of major infrastructure projects.