Freeport, Bahamas -
The following is a press statement and a video of today's press conference held by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens:
The People of Grand Bahama continue to
experience hardship from the excessive cost of electricity being provided by
the Grand Bahama Power Company / Emera. Hundreds
of our brothers and sisters and fellow citizens are still living in darkness
throughout this Island. Despite the Coalition’s efforts to this point and the
two roundtable meetings organized by the Government with Grand Bahama Power
Company/Emera, the Power Company will not change its policies to make life
better for Grand Bahamians. People’s livelihood and the Island’s economy is under
severe threat by the economic bondage of the Grand Bahama Power Company/Emera.
What is of further concern to us is that several weeks ago the power company
disconnected the electricity of all our Government Schools on Grand Bahama
clearly demonstrating that this company does not respect the Government of the
Bahamas neither the people of Grand Bahama.
The Coalition of Concerned Citizens will
intensify efforts in the weeks and months to come to lower the cost of power in
the immediate future. The Government of the Bahamas is working diligently to
lower the cost of electricity across the Bahamas. Our Government is presently
in the process of privatizing BEC and we are aware that one of the bidding companies
is promising to build a new plant and lower the cost of electricity by as much
as 50%. GBPC\Emera built a new plant in 2012 and there has been no reduction in
electricity rate. We also know that the Grand Bahama Port Authority is
committed to lowering the cost of electricity on the Island, but it seems that
the only one that does not get it is the Grand Bahama Power Company\Emera.
The CCC will be implementing several
strategies designed to produce results. One of those strategies is that we are
calling for a ‘Solar Energy Revolution’, calling for all residents and
businesses as quickly as possible to transition to using Solar Energy. Solar
Energy will give Citizens of this Island the means to control their own
electricity cost. Furthermore, under the
leadership of Osman Johnson attorney at law, an Association for customers of
the Power Company will be formed for the purpose of representing their concerns
directly with the GBPC\Emera and the Regulators.
Also, the agreement that the power company
has with the Government to supply power to west and east Grand Bahama, will be
due for renewal in a few years. In conjunction with our petition the CCC is
calling on the Government not to renew this agreement and allow BEC or another
company to supply power to these districts. This agreement was recently referred
to in the news by Leslie Miller M.P. & chairman of B.E.C. and Hon. Jerome
Fritzgerald M.P. & Minister of Education.
If the Grand Bahama Power Company\Emera
will not change their policies and rates then the people of Grand Bahama will
have to change the Power Company. This
company is Profit driven and not People driven and Grand Bahamians have become
economic slaves to oppressive economic systems such as High Electricity
Cost. Enough is Enough it is time to set
Grand Bahama FREE.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her
private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of
TheBahamasWeekly.com
