Barbados is set to enhance its road safety and sustainable infrastructure following a significant donation of solar-powered street lamps from China. The agreement, which formalized the provision of an initial 180 solar lamps from China’s Hunan Province, was signed on April 22, 2024, during a courtesy call with Barbadian officials.
A Partnership Highlighting Barbados Receives Donation of 180 Solar Lamps from China
The Handover Agreement was officially signed by Andrew Gittens, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), and Xu Zhengxian, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Hunan Provincial People’s Government. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw, who underscored the project’s importance for the nation’s infrastructure.
Minister Bradshaw emphasized the critical role of street lighting in maintaining public safety. “Street lighting is a crucial aspect of Barbados’ road infrastructure that needs improvement,” she stated, explaining that the donation will directly support the MTW’s efforts to better illuminate roadways for the benefit of Barbadians and visitors. To ensure suitability, the Government Electrical Engineering Department (GEED) collaborated with the Chinese Embassy to confirm the lamps met the island’s specific requirements.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties After Barbados Receives Donation of 180 Solar Lamps from China
This initiative is the latest example of a robust and long-standing collaboration between Barbados and China. Minister Bradshaw pointed to other significant joint transportation projects, including the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation, financed by a BDS $230 million loan from the Exim Bank of China, and the anticipated delivery of 50 electric buses.
Hunan Province Governor Mao Weiming highlighted the potential for deeper cooperation in the renewable energy sector, noting Barbados’s capacity for solar and wind power development. The successful installation of these lamps is viewed as a potential model for future green energy collaborations.
Expanding the Impact of Barbados Receives Donation of 180 Solar Lamps from China
The initial donation is part of a broader pilot program that has since expanded. According to later statements from Deputy Prime Minister Bradshaw, the total number of units received has grown to 430 solar lamps and poles. With the equipment now on the island, deployment is underway across the nation’s roads and highways, marking a tangible step forward in sustainable community lighting. This project aligns with a larger pattern of Chinese climate assistance in the Caribbean, which has included solar equipment and electric vehicle projects between 2015 and 2024.
Sources
- New lighting programme in the works – Barbados Today
- Barbados To Benefit From Solar Street Lamps Agreement With China
- CHINA PRAISED FOR ASSISTING BARBADOS WITH ELECTRIC …
- A REVIEW OF CHINESE CLIMATE ASSISTANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN
- Barbados enhances road lighting with donation of solar lamps from …
