Last Thursday Prime Minister Said Musa and Lake I area representative Cordel Hyde launched a program to replace three hundred thousand incandescent light bulbs with new energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. It's based on a model from Cuba where the programme translated into major electricity savings. Well, it started in Belize today in Lake Independence with an army of 60. Keith Swift joined the light brigade and here's how day one went.
Keith SwiftReporting,
The operation is based here on the compound of the Lake Independence Community Center. The work is divided among twelve teams consisting of five people including a BDF soldier. Each team leaves with one of these bags containing ninety-two bulbs.
This is what one of the teams look like. Along with the BDF soldier, there is one Cuban social worker and three Belizean civilians. They work systematically, using maps and log books for each bulb distributed. On the ground the approach was simple: house to house. Sometimes it was a knock -sometimes it was a holler and there were those who simply didn't answer.
Gwenny Betson did answer her door and she invited the team to change the bulbs in her ceiling fan. It took less than a minute, and then there was light. She was however unsure of what good the change will do.
Gwenny Betson,
"I bought like that and they didn't last me long. I will see how long this will last."
She does however agree that it will save her money.
Gwenny Betson,
"I know that is an energy saving bulb. They will save me energy and like how I am paying a big light bill, maybe it might help me."
The fluorescent bulbs are given in exchange for incandescent bulbs which are then destroyed in an act both symbolic and purposeful.
The target is to distribute between three and four thousand bulbs a day. On Wednesday of next week the project moves to Port Loyola.
