Proposal on table
There is legislation that is being proposed to better manage work carried out by utility companies in this country that impact the road network.
That proposal, says Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley is one that has been engaging his Ministry for some time, and he hopes that it can become a reality in the not too distant future.
He explained during an interview with The Barbados Advocate, that the goal of the Street Works legislation is to consolidate the various utility companies under one law and make them accountable to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) should they have to excavate any road or part thereof in this country. He made the point while noting that too often roads are dug up by utility companies and for weeks, sometimes even months after, those roads have not been repaired. This, he said, is not acceptable as it poses a danger to motorists and pedestrians alike.
“The proposal seeks to protect the structural integrity of the street to minimise the inconvenience caused by road works and obviously to ensure safety too. What we are suggesting is that the utility companies would have to get a licence from the Chief Technical Officer, granting permission for such works to be carried out,” he said.
Minister Lashley explained that of course there is an exception within the proposal for emergency works. In such cases, he said the utility company would have to provide reasonable grounds that there is existing or imminent danger to persons or property.
The Transport and Works Minister explained however that whether the work to be done is planned for in advance, or there is an emergency, once the work is completed and the roads must be repaired, and they will have to be inspected to ensure they meet with the satisfaction of the CTO. He went on to explain that the timeframe given for the license depends on the scope of work that has to be done.
“Some of this already exists in certain pieces of legislation, but our goal is to consolidate them and make the process more efficient. Certainly before the final bill, we would have discussions with the utility companies,” he added.
He admitted that while this piece of legislation cannot be passed before the life of the current Parliament comes to an end, it has been decided that in the interim the Ministry will reinforce and implement “serious protocols” with the utility companies with respect to the reinstatement and quality of the workmanship and also in respect of notice that they give to the MTW. (JRT)