News

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Wednesday, December 5, 2018) – FortisTCI would like to address recent public comments regarding streetlights with the following statement: FortisTCI is responsible for the installation and maintenance of streetlights across its service territories on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG). TCIG is responsible for determining where and when new lights are installed and notifies FortisTCI accordingly. TCIG is also responsible for the procurement of lights in Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and once TCIG procures lights for these two islands, TCIG supplies FortisTCI with the material for installation and maintenance. The public should be aware of the process for streetlight installation: Requests for new streetlights start with the Government and the Public Works Department (PWD). Once an instruction is issued for the installation of new streetlights by the PWD, FortisTCI is notified by the appropriate TCIG representative and acts accordingly. However, in response to concerns expressed by the public regarding the streetlight situation, FortisTCI submitted a proposal to TCIG to embark upon a streetlight study. The purpose of the study is to review the current streetlight process and develop a strategy for future installation of streetlights in accordance with international standards and best practices. Ideally, the study would also help to determine locations across the Turks and Caicos Islands that may need additional lighting. FortisTCI currently awaits a response from TCIG. While the company shares the concerns of the public for more streetlights and is taking proactive steps to address the situation, illumination of public roads would be significantly improved if motorists would be more cautious while driving and not come into contact with streetlight and utility poles. Particularly on the Leeward Highway, streetlight maintenance and repairs are a costly and challenging undertaking due to high incidences of vehicular contact with poles in the median. For example, year-to-date there have been 28 streetlight poles broken in 2018 because of vehicle contact, with repairs costing approximately $65,000, and of course these collisions leave areas without lighting until repairs can be completed. FortisTCI also reminds the public that for customers needing additional lighting, the company does offer dusk to dawn lights for use on private properties. For more information, interested persons can contact our Customer Service Department.