A SHIPMENT OF 250,000 energy-saving light bulbs arrived in the island from Cuba on Saturday, kick-starting Phase two of the Government's plan to distribute four million fluorescent bulbs to Jamaican households, free of cost.
On Saturday night, Senator Kern Spencer, State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Com-merce, said the bulbs were at the Kingston Wharf and would be distributed to residents of four constituencies this week.
He said also that 100 Cuban technicians would be arriving in the island later this week to help with the distribution.
The bulbs are being provided by the Cuban Government at no cost to Jamaica. However, the overall estimated retail value of the four million bulbs is $2 billion.
The project was piloted in east Kingston, where an estimated 32,000 fluorescent bulbs were exchanged on a one-for-one basis with incandescent light bulbs in 6,000 homes. Senator Spencer noted that the project is part of the Government's efforts to promote energy conservation.
Jamaica had a US$1.33 billion (J$86.5 billion) oil import bill last year, up 41 per cent from the year before.
