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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Government inks management agreement with PowerSecure
On Monday the 8th February, the government of The Bahamas and PowerSecure signed a Management Services Agreement (MSA) that assigns PowerSecure management of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) for the next five years.
The MSA includes a comprehensive, financial-grade business plan which outlines significant cost-reduction and reliability targets along with renewable energy and customer service initiatives for New Providence and the Family Islands.
Recently energy reform legislation legally enabled the incorporation of BPL and the rate reduction bond facility to refinance BEC’s existing legacy debt and to fund infrastructure and efficiency investments for BPL.
PowerSecure is a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: POWR) and headquartered in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Its 33-year energy veteran and Founder, Mr. Sidney Hinton, will serve as BPL’s President and CEO.
PowerSecure will receive a base annual management fee of $2 million and incentives based on pre-defined key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost-reductions, reliability improvements and customer-service enhancements.
The new Board of Directors (BOD) for BPL is as follow:
Nathaniel Beneby, Chairman of the Board
Donna Smith, Deputy Chairperson
Deepak Bhatnagar, Executive Director
Daphne Simmons
Patricia Hermanns
Andrew Rogers
Additionally, the BOD has appointed Jeff Wallace as the new CEO of BPL; Mr. Kevin Basden, General Manager of BEC, was appointed Advisor to the Board of Directors and Mr. Deepak Bhatnagar will serve as Executive Director, overseeing the activities of the 100% Bahamian owned BPL.
The Bahamas government believes the signing was an exciting day for BPL and The Bahamas as the country takes an important step in continuing to improve its economy and building a foundation for long-term prosperity for the Bahamian people.
“Today is an exciting new day in The Bahamas as we progress into a formal relationship with PowerSecure to implement a robust business plan that will substantially reduce customer electricity costs and will provide increased reliability,” said Nathaniel Beneby, board Chairman.
This week in Parliament
The Bahamas Parliament met briefly on Wednesday of this week where two statements by Ministers were delivered.
Minister of National Security the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage updated House colleagues and the nation at large on the official trip of Prime Minister Christie to Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Christie left the capital on Tuesday of this week for Switzerland to meet with principals of the Mediterranean Shipping Company about additional investment opportunities in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return on Sunday, 14th February.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Fred Mitchell updated the House on the continuing efforts of the Bahamas government in honouring Bahamian heroes and heroines. He announced a film festival featuring the work of Bahamian Academy Award winner Sir Sidney Poitier. His extensive cinematic work will be aired on ZNS TV-13. Other luminaries will be honoured throughout the year with a concert tribute to Bahamian song legend Ronnie Butler on the 50th anniversary of Majority Rule in January 2017.
Another music icon, Freddie Munnings Sr. was honoured in song during the 2016 Majority Rule holiday weekend concert in Rawson Square.
Police Commissioner unveils 2016 crime plan
Candidly admitting that 2015 was a challenging year on crime for The Bahamas, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade presented mixed results in the fight against crime.
He told the media that in the 30 categories of serious crimes, increases were recorded in murder (19%), attempted rape (33%), rape (16%), unlawful sexual intercourse and armed robbery. All other categories except manslaughter and attempted murder decreased by double digits. Overall, crime was down by five percent reported the Commissioner.
Providing some insight into the daunting task of beating back the scourge of crime and its fear, Commissioner Greenslade shared police intelligence about the mindset, the psychology and overall profile of the typical career criminal.
“These are relatively young men; they are adults but they are relatively young people. They are not employed; they are not seeking any employment and they have committed themselves to a life of crime.
“Their position is they are going to sell illegal drugs in any form. They will acquire illegal firearms and ammunition and they are going to stake their claim in New Providence and they will demonstrate to us as a people how bad they are.”
The Police Commissioner further revealed that there is clearly too much complicity, aiding, abetting and comfort given to those hardened criminals by families and friends.
“But the average person that we see lives in a home with family members and friends, relatives and associates and when they commit these dastardly deeds, they return to their families, friends and their associates and they talk about it. If we continue to cloak that, we are going to continue to reap the whirlwind” said Commissioner Greenslade.
The Bahamas recorded 146 murders in 2015.
Drones and helicopters to be added to the crime fight
Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade also revealed on Wednesday that as a complement to the force’s existing crime fighting strategies and priorities, he intends in 2016 to “acquire the services of a helicopter for rapid responses to serious crimes, fleeing felons and for patrols in hotspots.”
Additional plans include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones and the construction of a new and modern forensic laboratory with the capacity for DNA fingerprinting.
As for the policing priorities pursued in previous years, the Commissioner said that saturation patrols in criminal hotspots will be intensified; Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) usage will be extended; community policing with Urban Renewal will continue; the anti-gang unit and school policing program will be expanded and the strategy of intelligence-led policing operations will be deployed as a pre-emptive strike against criminality.
Prime Minister Christie meets with MSC principal
Principal and founder of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Gianluigi Aponte and his senior management team met with Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Cabinet Negotiating Committee, February 11, at MSCs headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland for two days of deliberations on matters relating to the expiring concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and growth of MSC’s investments in The Bahamas.
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Deputy Prime Minister in Tokyo
Hon. Philip E. Davis, Q.C., M.P, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works & Urban Development, arrived in Japan on Wednesday, 10th February 2016 to discuss matters of mutual interest at the invitation of the Government of Japan. He was received by
H.E. Mr. Ken Shimanouchi, Special Envoy for Japan-CARICOM Relations.
While in Japan, Mr. Davis is scheduled to meet with Hon. Manabu Sakai, State Minister of Finance; Hon. Junzo Yamamoto, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism; and Hon. Yoji Muto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. (State Minister is the title borne by all members of the Japanese Cabinet.) He will also meet with H.E. Mr. Akira Miwa, Ambassador for the Kansai Region; Mr. Hidetoshi Irigaki, Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Mr. Ryoji Kan Mayor of Imabari City.
Mr. Davis is expected visit key infrastructural development sites, the Panasonic Centre, Kashiw-no-ha Smart City, various sites for renewable energy, the Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd, several areas of Kyoto, and the Imabari Shipbuilding Company.
The Deputy Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife Ann Marie, H.E. Dr. Elwood Donaldson, The Bahamas’ Non-Resident Ambassador to Japan, and his Personal Assistant, Dr. Anya Symonette.
The delegation is expected to return to The Bahamas on Thursday, 18th February 2016.
Review committee updates port incenses
The Hawksbill Creek Agreement Review Committee (HCARC) members held a press conference at the Ministry for Grand Bahama on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 to inform and educate licensees and the public on the work of the HCARC.
Specifically, the HCARC engaged in open dialogue with the licensees on the work of the HCARC and on the recommendations of the HCARC made to the Government of Bahamas (GOB) on the governance structure of Freeport and the economic revitalization of Freeport and Grand Bahama Island.
The frames of reference were articulated by Prime Minister Christie in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, 3rd February and included a 20 year extension to tax concessions on earnings, real property taxes and capital of port licensees.
The extension of these tax concessions were recommended in exchange for a number of structural and functional changes to the way business is conducted in Freeport. Recommendations include a new majority owner for the GBPA; a seat on the board of directors by a government representative; the transfer of the regulatory regime from the GBPA to government agencies and an appeals process for licensees and an equity interest offer to the government in exchange for the value of the tax concessions.
The press conference was led by HCARC Chairman Dr. Marcus Bethel, accompanied by Committee Members Maurice Moore, Kevin Seymour, Cassietta McIntosh, Dr. Doswell Coakley, Chevonia Mcbride, and Terrance Roberts. Committee Members not present were Sir Baltron Belthel, James Smith, and W. Albert Gray. Read more
Dr. Nottage touts “progressive” government agenda
In a rather rare but candid interview with the media after the adjournment of the House on Wednesday, Minister of National Security the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage talked policy and politics.
He characterized the current Christie administration as arguably “the most progressive government The Bahamas has ever seen.”
He was referring to a progressive and aggressive legislative agenda and policies that resulted in fiscal reform, gaming reform, welfare reform with the introduction of the Conditional Cash Transfer System or R.I.S.E.; Urban Renewal 2.0; the National Development Plan; energy reform with restructuring of BEC and a regulatory regime governing the exploration of petroleum products; healthcare reform with the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI); the establishment of the University of The Bahamas; agriculture reform with the establishment of BAMSI and even recreational (public parks and beaches) reform with the establishment of an Authority to govern the manner in which public spaces are managed and administered.
Inclusive in this progressive government agenda is the approach to the future development of the island of Grand Bahama. Policy initiatives include the establishment of a Ministry for Grand Bahama affairs; the extension of duty free concession to both western and eastern Grand Bahama beyond the port area; and a review of the tax concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement as regards corporate governance and ownership and economic development.
Even in the challenging area of crime, the Citizen Security and Justice program with its social engineering, job training and placement and parole/probation components are also viewed as progressive initiatives in addressing the social challenges confronting the country.
Legislation and policies to bring about gender equality and equality for the disabled in addition to focused attention to the special needs of children and adults living with autism and other developmental challenges are seen as progressive initiatives.
But this is not the first time Dr. Nottage has said this about the policies of the PLP government. At a PLP convention several years ago, Dr. Nottage credited the PLP government with the introduction of many of the most significant and transformative pieces of legislation and policies that the country has ever seen collectively creating the modern Bahamas. Those transformational changes took place under the leadership of Sir Lynden Pindling. This characterization of the PLP government as an agent of change drew a swift and sharp rebuke from the editorial board of the Tribune in the form of not one but three editorials.
All in all, Dr. Nottage told the media that the current government “has a package of policies which are best for the (Bahamian) people” and that if people want what is best for them, they would support the PLP.
New regulations for poultry import take effect
“Effective the 1st of March, all persons wishing to import poultry meats and products will be required to first obtain a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources to do so,” said the Hon. V. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources during a press conference at the Ministry, Wednesday, February 10.
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Passport Office issues notice on hand written Bahamas passports
“The public is advised that as of 19 February 2016 all handwritten Bahamas passports will be canceled and become null and void. All those in possession of those passports should immediately surrender them and obtain an electronic passport.
“This public advisory is another reminder as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued public notices to this effect last year. Please be so advised.
“Notices to all foreign missions and border points will be sent to that effect.”
URCA releases 2016 fee schedule
On Thursday, 11th February, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published its Fee Schedule relating to the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 (ECS 02/2016), revising the previous schedule which was published on January 29, 2015.
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CG Paulette Zonicle named new dean of consular corps college
Mrs. Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C., has been appointed the new Dean of the Consular Corps College in Washington, D.C., becoming the first Bahamian to hold that position.
Consul General Zonicle was informed of her appointment in a letter from Katherine H. Moss, Director General of the Consular Corps College, on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
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In Passing…
The Canadian Correctional Consultants paid a courtesy call on the Minister for National Security the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage this week. The group was in Nassau for several weeks to assist in the launch the parole and probation component of the Citizen Security and Justice program at the Hilton Hotel. The group will work closely with the Department of Corrections in the design and execution of this program geared to reduce overcrowding at the Department of Corrections and to reduce the rate of recidivism.
Vice-President of Student Affairs, College of The Bahamas (COB) Dr. Eslyn Jones made a presentation of an assortment of items for Hurricane Joaquin Relief to First Assistant Secretary of NEMA Chrystal R. Glinton on Thursday of this week. Some 149 members of the college family were adversely impacted by the powerful category four hurricane that caused extensive damage in the central and south east Bahamas late last year. Also in attendance for the presentation were Director of Campus Life Darvin Toussaint and students. The presentation took place at COB’s Harry C. Moore Library.
The Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company recently launched their latest product called “PARK ‘N GO” where frequent flyer customers can purchase any of four packages valued at $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 depending on the frequency of travel. Customers have the convenience of a proxy card issued to them, allowing for access to and exit from the LPIA parking lot of their choice without the hassle of having to pay every time.
About the author: Elcott Coleby is a Deputy Director at the
Bahamas Information Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Chemistry (B.Sc) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He provides
frequent commentary on public policy and communicates the works of the
government. Address all comments to the following email:
egcoleby44@gmail.com
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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