Caribbean Times 39th Issue - Tuesday 28th June 2016

4 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Tuesday 28th June 2016
Relief in sight from power outages
By Everton Barnes
APUA is assuring electricity
consumers that an end
is in sight to the series of
power outages that have been
ongoing for some two weeks.
Electricity Business
manager, Andre Matthias,
said the company is anticipating
that the #4 engine at
the privately-owned Blackpine
plant at Crabbes will
be up and running by today,
Tuesday, and that this would
greatly improve the supply of
electricity.
Matthias said problems
at both Blackpine and the
50-megawatt plant owned
by Antigua Power Company
Ltd. have led to the unscheduled
disruption in the supply
of electricity.
“The #4 engine was offline
for regular maintenance,
but a second engine at the
plant, # 3 developed a serious
crankshaft problem.
The problem has been
compounded because the #5
engine at the 50-megawatt
plant also developed a crankshaft
problem,” he reported.
The electricity manager
said if the #4 unit is brought
back on line on Tuesday and
there are no further problems
with any of the other engines
then the electricity supply
should return to normal.
Additionally, Matthias
announced that a standby
power plant capable of producing
up to 8 megawatts of
power is due on the island today
and it is expected to be
commissioned by next week.
This will further improve the
supply of electricity.
He explained that this
standby unit is being made
available by APC which
needs to make up the loss of
two engines that will not return
to service until October
and December respectively.
APC supplies most of the
country’s electricity as only
one engine at the Wadadli
Power Plant is operational.
Police weekend
operation successful
The Police in an effort to continue curb the crime situation
within the country, mounted a huge operation on the
weekend dubbed, “Operation Clean Sweep.”
This operation, according to the police turned out to be
very successful. It was conducted throughout various parts
of the island, to include; Grays Farm, Golden Grove, Ottos,
Martins Village, Radio Range, Wireless Road, Clare Hall,
St. John’s City, Villa, Fort Road, among other areas.
‘Road Blocks’ were set up in most of these areas, while
a number of ‘Stop and Search’ exercises were carried out.
Several persons were arrested and taken into custody for
drugs and traffic related offences, Possession of Imitation
Firearm, Being armed with offensive weapon, Possession of
Camouflage clothing among other offences.
A total of 235 vehicles were searched by the police, seven
of which were impounded at the Government’s Motor Pool
for contravention of the Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations.
A Clare Hall man was also arrested and taken into custody
on allegations of kidnapping.
Meanwhile, the Police Administration wishes to reassure
the public that this will not be a one-off situation. According
to the police, a “Zero Tolerance” approach will be adopted
throughout the entire Carnival season. Anyone found
carrying abroad any offensive weapon will be arrested and
charged.
A warning is also issued to members of the public, who
have the tendency of getting overly intoxicated and behave
in a disorderly manner in public places. These types of behaviour
will no longer be tolerated. The police will also be
clamping down on drivers of vehicles with loud noises emanating
from them as well as vehicles driving around with
dark tints. The cooperation and continued support of the
general public is therefore expected by the police.