business@tribunemedia.net
MONDAY, JULY 17, 2023
$5.60
$5.63
$5.70
$5.71
council still ‘Use renewables’ to solve ‘Is active?’ demands Andros electricity woes Thompson By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Writer jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
t A8F IBWF UIF MBOE TBZT AFTER a series of DPNNFSDF QSFTJEFOU problems with power generation, Darin Bethel, president of the North t 1. DIBMMFOHFE UP MJWF Andros Chamber of ComVQ UP DMJNBUF QSPNJTFT merce, is challenging the government to look into a long-term energy plan for North Andros that includes an increased use of renewable energy. A recent fire at the North Andros Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) plant resulted in widespread damages to the generators there. BPL has commissioned two generators from Mechanical and Electrical Ltd(M&E) and sourced a third from another Family Island to provide electricity throughout North Andros. Mr Bethel is apprehensive about the long-term
use of the fossil fuel generators and is calling for BPL and the government to look into renewables as a lasting solution to many of North Andros’ energy woes. He said “[The generators that] are used, they are very old and I believe that BPL is going to try and use those generators here for a long period of time. And that’ll be sad because the Prime Minister has become the poster boy for climate change. He has talked about retaining
benefits by way of carbon credits. “I think you have a clean slate in North Andros and it would look very hypocritical for the Prime Minister to now go back and put fossil fuel generators in Andros when he has an opportunity and we have the land mass. This is a chance for him to show he believes what he has been saying about climate change. This is an opportunity for renewable energy.” Mr Bethel contended that as the largest island
in The Bahamas and the fifth largest island in the Caribbean, Andros provides a unique opportunity to display the country’s commitment to climate change by having the landmass powered by renewable energy. He added that locals are keeping up with communications from BPL and are eager for a transition to renewable sources. He said “Andros is unique in that we have the landmass. This can provide an opportunity to set the tone and show that we are moving to a new global ideal. “On the ground, we are waiting to see if they give us something old or something new. And if it is something new it has to be in the area of renewable energy.”
SEE PAGE B6
Gas dealers hopeful despite lack of talks By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net PETROLEUM dealers said that the lack of a margin increase does not signify a failure in their negotiations with the government. Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s (BPDA) vice-president, told Tribune Business they are waiting on a follow-up meeting with the government on their concerns in the industry but “will not go negative” by trying to lay down an ultimatum for the government on the margin increase. Mr Bastian said: “We believe that at the end of
VASCO BASTIAN the day both the government and ourselves would be able to come together and have this issue resolved and move forward with resolve. “We want to continue our talks and move forward
SEE PAGE B6
Jitney drivers want fare increase to $2 for adults By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net JITNEY drivers are proposing that fares for adults should go up to $2, but are awaiting the go-ahead from the government. Harrison Moxey, the United Public Transportation Company’s (UPTC) president, told Tribune Business that in their proposal to the government they want bus fares for adults to go up to $2 from the now $1.25, but senior citizens and school children would remain the same. He said: “There are a few different scenarios out
there, but we believe we can get $2 for the adults across the board and we will be satisfied to leave everybody else, the school students and the senior citizens. “It has been over 15 years since we had an increase. We’ve seen the taxi drivers have already gotten theirs, but we haven’t gotten ours yet. But we’re hopeful.” JoBeth Coleby-Davis, minister for housing and transport, told reporters that they plan to go on an extensive town hall meeting programme to advise the general public on the new rates. “We’ve been
SEE PAGE B6
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Writer jsimmons@tribunemedia.net KWASI Thompson, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, released a statement yesterday urging the government to provide an update on the Fiscal Responsibility Council and to produce the overdue Fiscal Strategy Reports. He said: “We demand that the government provide a fulsome update on the status of the council - including its current leadership and composition. Also, the government must advise of what steps it is taking to ensure that the FRC promptly publishes all of its tardy reports and begin to meet the reporting timelines stipulated in the law.” In January, Kevin Burrows, the former council chairman, confirmed to this paper that he is no longer involved with the council and that it is understood the representative for the
VASCO BASTIAN financial analysts may have changed. Mr Thompson said that he was “astonished” by the government’s failure to ensure that the council is active and demanded to know if the council is currently functional and receiving a stipend. He said: “The Opposition is astonished that the Davis administration is once again failing in it’s responsibility to the public in failing to ensure that the statutorily mandated Fiscal Responsibility Council (FRC) is
SEE PAGE B6