“This
is only one solution of many and at the end when we review this pilot project
we will be in a position to see if it’s worth taking it islandwide.
Prime Minister of
Jamaica, Andrew Holness at the launch of PCJ's Solar Lamp project
The
Home Sweet home lamp may soon be on exhibit in a museum for your future
children to be reminded of the good...and bad days.
This
as the PCJ (Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica) has launched a pilot project to
provide 5,000 Solar Lamps to residents in inner-city communities across St
Andrew as noted in the article “Gov't
Launches Solar Lamp Pilot Project”, published Monday April 30, 2018 by Paul
Clarke, The Jamaica Gleaner.
The
aim of the project is to reduce house fires caused by people living in the
inner city using candles and lamps. Often when these are lit, they are left
with children unattended. The children play and turn over these candles and
kerosene lamps, setting their bed linen, curtains and then the whole house on
fire.
The
blaze quickly razes many of their dwelling, which may be nothing more than a
wooden shack with a zinc roof. This is
something that the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness deals with in his
constituency, quote: “Almost every year, as a representative, I have had to
deal with burnouts; someone’s home will be destroyed by fire. It’s not arson;
it’s that we have an aging housing stock that is made primarily of wood. Some
people also make their houses out of cardboards and baggas”.
The Solar Lamp Project, which is expected to address and prevent this problem, is been overseen by the PCJ, as pointed out by the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness: “With simple and inexpensive actions, the Government can make a difference in the lives of energy-poor households, and particularly and significantly reduce or virtually eliminate the risk of these tragic fires”.
This
Solar Lamp project is a realization of a dream by Prime Minister Andrew
Holness, who had requested in January that PCJ fast-track the program as noted
in the article “Holness
Wants To Fast-Track Programme To End Kerosene Lamp, Candle Use In Homes”,
published Saturday January 27, 2018, The
Jamaica Gleaner.
So
how well do these Solar Lamps work?
PCJ's Solar Lamp
Project – Solar will save inner-city kids home alone
According
to the PCJ Chairman, Russell Hadeed, this fits their long term plan to:
1. Promote
energy efficiency
2. Fix
the problem of house fires
The
Solar Lamps have a lifespan of 2 years and require eight (8) hours in the sun
to be fully charged. After that, they can provide up to 20 hours of light on
the low beam feature and roughly six hours when used on the high beam feature.
This
is more than enough to last the night and is actually a lot better than my lap,
as shown below, which requires 2 hours to fully charge but lasts only 6 hours
on the low beam feature and to 8 hours on high beam setting.
Determining
who really needs these Solar Lamps may be a problem as pointed out in the
article “PM
Says 5,000 Solar Lamps Will Be Distributed to Energy-Poor Households”,
published March 22, 2018 by Alecia Smith, The Jamaica
Information Service.
Still,
parents cannot get away from their responsibility, as this really eliminates
the risk factor associated with open flames and lamps, to quote the Prime
Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness: “While this programme will remove one of
the risk factors in such fires, ultimately, however, parents and guardians are
responsible for the safety, care and protection of their children. We must
educate, support and empower our parents, so that those who want to do better
will, while ensuring that the organs of State are in a position to protect
children from those parents who refuse”.
Eliminating
the open flame will save inner-city kids home alone. Hopefully, too, this may
expand to solar power being used to power entire homes, lighting and all.
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