The House assembly met on Wednesday, 11^th November 2015 at 10am and below is a summary of the House proceedings under the agenda item, “Statements by Ministers.”

Foreign Minister the Hon. Fred Mitchell responded to media commentary attributed to Anglican Bishop the Rev. Laish Boyd on matters of citizenship. He also responded to a Nassau Guardian editorial on the same topic.

Mr. Mitchell denied any acts of unfairness on his part in the application of the law and policy as regards immigration and citizenship specifically. He said the banker, butler and candlestick maker were all subject to the law. He invited those with evidence to the contrary to present the same.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie delivered the first reading of the National Honours Bill 2015. This Bill effectively replaces the National Honours Act 2007 and the National Heroes Act 2007.

Unlike the 2007 Acts, this new Bill provides for the establishment of six separate Orders comprising the Societies of Honour, namely:

(a) the Order of National Hero ;

(b) the Order of the Nation ;

(c) the Order of The Bahamas ;

(d) the Order of Excellence ;

(e) the Order of Distinction ;

(f) the Order of Merit .

“Appointments to the Order of National Hero” said Prime Minister Christie “will be made by the Governor-General, who will serve as Chancellor of the Order, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and after consideration of the report of the Advisory Committee” said the Prime Minister.

Sports and Youth Minister Hon. Daniel Johnson paid tribute to many sports legends, some of whom were in the gallery of the House as the government celebrates Sports Heritage Month. The Minister highlighted several Olympic sports that are emerging locally such as rowing and judo. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for next Thursday (19^th November) at Government House and a Gala Banquet is scheduled for next Friday (20^th November 2015) at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.

Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis delivered the first reading of three Bills critical to the reform of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) and the national energy sector. They were the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2015; the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Bill 2015.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, these three pieces of legislation collectively form the requisite legal framework that will facilitate the reform of the energy sector and provide the solution for the financially ailing corporation, BEC, the unacceptably high cost of energy and address the country’s energy security needs.

“This solution now allows for significant and sustainable reductions in the cost of energy, a financially healthy electrical utility company, increased energy security, improved competitiveness and marketability as a country. It is a process of true reform” said Mr. Davis.

Below is a cursory summary of the Minister’s House communication:

In February of 2012, more than five thousand (5,000) BEC customers were without electricity, having been disconnected because they were unable to afford an essential item that was fast becoming a luxury.

Today, when compared to October 2014, the fuel surcharge is dramatically reduced by 60%. It was 27.7 cents per kWh in Oct 2014 and 11.4 cents per kWh in Oct 2015.

The Bahamas government issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Management of BEC in August 2013 and executed the Transition Services Agreement in on 22^nd July 2015 with PowerSecure, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PowerSecure International, Inc.

PowerSecure’s five-year business plan for management of the Corporation was developed during July to September 2015 and delivered to the Cabinet for review and approval on Tuesday, 3^rd November 2015.

The Electricity Bill 2015 facilitates the electricity sector reform by separating the regulatory and operations functions of Bahamas Electricity Corporation. It does this by transferring its commercial operating functions and assets to a wholly owned subsidiary company called Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL); it establishes URCA as the independent sector regulator. BEC will no longer be the sector’s regulator.

The new Bill also repeals the Electricity Act and the Out Islands Electricity Act respectively. It will provide for diversification in the generation, supply, and distribution of electricity in accordance with the National Energy Policy, including through renewable energy sources; and modernize and consolidate the law relating to electrical installations.

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015, proposes changes in anticipation of the legislation that will establish URCA as the independent regulator of the electricity sector. The Bill will also enable and facilitate URCA in discharging such regulatory functions in the new electricity supply regime. URCA’s responsibilities will include licensing of public electricity suppliers, tariff approval, new entrants’ approval, competition rules, public education and consumer protection.

URCA is mandated to issue public electricity supplier licenses to BPL and the GBPC within thirty (30) days of the Bill coming into operation. URCA may also grant public electricity supplier licenses to certain entities in the Family Islands with BPL’s approval, such as those entities that are currently operating under Franchise Agreements with BEC.

In respect of renewable energy, the Bill requires public electricity suppliers to submit renewable electricity plans, facilitate renewable energy self-generation projects, and regular review and approval of the plan by URCA.

The Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Bill, 2015 provides the legal framework and infrastructure to enable the issuance of such bonds which are necessary to generate capital required to satisfy specified debts of the Corporation and BPL. Additionally, the capital will fund the electricity sector reform and restructuring of the Corporation, including the establishment and daily operations of BPL. Specifically, the RRB financing will pay towards eliminating the corporation’s financial liabilities, including bank debts, bonds, environmental remediation, employees’ pension and benefits, and other non-current financial liabilities outstanding on the date the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2015 comes into operation.

Once the existing debt of BEC is paid with the proceeds of the bonds, the current $246 million Government Guarantee, a contingent liability, will be removed from the Government’s balance sheet.

The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard J. Nottage delivered the first reading of a Bill for an act to amend the Airport Authority Act to provide for the transfer to the Airport Authority of specified family island airports; the establishment within the authority of a family island airport department with responsibility for the operation and Management of the transferred family island airports and for connected purposes. He did so on behalf of his colleague, the Minister of Transport and Aviation.