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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 The Bahamas, with our vibrant culture and rich history is indisputably one of world’s greatest treasurers. In fact, millions of tourists travel from far and wide to visit our shores to experience our culture and be a part of our history. They enjoy our bountiful natural resources; our sun, sand and sea and return again and again to experience the warmth of our people. Not only do Bahamians shine at home but also on the world stage. We have world class athletes, musicians, artist and intellectuals who are a daily testament to the greatness that exists in our small country. We indeed have the potential to be ranked among the superpowers of the world.
Sadly, however we are plagued by political leaders with a third world mentality which continues to threaten our very development. Now, with the apparent failure of the island’s sole electricity provider to keep the lights on, we realize that we have a third world power grid to match our third world leaders.
On Friday past, residents here in New Providence experienced an island wide shut down of electricity services. Traffic Lights malfunctioned and banks temporarily suspended certain customer services, while at the Lynden Pindling International airport – the country’s premier gateway – the loss of electricity at the control tower grounded outbound flights and kept inbound flights from landing. Unfortunately, Friday’s grid failure was not the first, and until REAL action is taken to address the issue it will likely not be the last. Earlier in the week, residents in Nassau were forced to endure rolling blackouts lasting up to a minimum of two hours. This in itself has become a common occurrence, particularly during the summer months when sweltering temperatures result as demand increases.
In the wake of Friday’s grid meltdown however, our third world political leaders have remained silent, a stark difference from the fanfare and propaganda with which they announced plans for energy reform. Mr. Christie’s litany of promises ranging from improved reliability to lower electricity have FAILED to see the light of day and the company which he assured Bahamians would usher in a new age for the energy sector in the Bahamas – Power Secure International – has been a COMPLETE and UTTER disappointment thus far.
Under the less than watchful eye of the PM and his inept cabinet, Power Secure has been allowed to assume management control of the company without a clear plan on the way forward. Even now in the face of outages which diminish our quality of life and threaten to cripple our already fragile local economy, NO ONE IN THIS GOVERNMENT has demanded to see the company’s plan on the way forward. Does such a plan even exist? And if it does, what assurances do Bahamians have that the long standing issues with generation and reliability will actually be addressed?
The DNA calls on officials at Bahamas Power and Light to release its detailed plans for improved generation and transmission of electricity for residents here in New Providence and across the wider Bahamas. Such a plan should not only include an upgrade and overhaul of the aged and outdated generation equipment currently being used by BEC/BPL, but it MUST ALSO include the introduction of alternative energy sources. Elsewhere in the world, processes like LNG, CNG and even the use of Wind, Wave, Waste to Energy and Solar Energy – the latter of which the Prime Minister’s home makes full use of – have become popular options to reduce dependence on crude oil. While Mr. Christie has seen the good sense to implement the use of such resources in his own home, exorbitant import rates for solar panels and other equipment have made it difficult for the everyday average Bahamian family to avail themselves of the benefits.
Since taking office this Christie led administration has proven time and again that it cannot be trusted. They have shunned every opportunity to be open and transparent with the people who elected them, choosing to leave Bahamians in the dark both literally and figuratively speaking.
Bill Richardson, a former Governor of New Mexico once said: We are a superpower, with a third world grid”. What an apt description of the Bahamas we now live in. While Bahamians continue to strive for global excellence, our weak third world leadership and equally third world power grid threatens to derail our efforts to move forward.
Branville McCartney
DNA Leader
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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