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Ragged Island to have 95 percent solar power by June

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said yesterday that in early June, 95 percent of power in Ragged Island will be generated “from the largest, most modern solar field” in the country.

Safety protocols considered for future Straw Market opening

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister has suggested there could be new health and safety protocols implemented at the Nassau Straw Market when it re-opens to safeguard vendors and visitors from contracting COVID-19.

Stimulus setback: Capital works 'on hold' over $200m cutbacks

Capital projects designed to stimulate the COVID-ravaged Bahamian economy have been placed "on hold" due to the Government's $200m spending cutbacks, the deputy prime minister said yesterday.

‘We need new ways to prevent flooding’

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said major flooding in Pinewood Gardens last week shows new ways of preventing flooding are needed because climate change is rendering traditional mechanisms obsolete.

First steps to 'eating a planning elephant'

A Cabinet minister yesterday pledged the Government is taking the first steps to "eat the elephant" and end the 10-year wait for Land Use Plans that are demanded by Bahamian law.

'Show me the money' on digital permit plan

Bahamian professionals yesterday said “show me the money” after a Cabinet minister expressed hope that a fully integrated digital system for handling building permits will be in place by year-end. Architects and engineers responded alike after Desmo

BPL cuts bond to $580m raise

Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) has cut the target for its upcoming bond issue to $580m as it places reliance on “selling our turnaround strategy” to obtain the credit rating it needs.

BPL spends $1.6m on equipment to restore Abaco electricity

BAHAMAS Power and Light has spent just over $1.6m on equipment and materials as teams work to fully restore electricity in Abaco and its cays following Hurricane Dorian.

Rebuild could cost ‘billions and billions’

A Cabinet minister last night predicted it will cost “billions and billions” to rebuild Abaco and east Grand Bahama’s infrastructure after the “awesome challenge” laid down by Hurricane Dorian.

INSIGHT: We’re being taken for fools but our patience is going to run out

THE Bahamas is not a real place. Perhaps that mantra is never more fitting than when a country that pays exorbitant fees for mysteriously concocted electricity bills has so often been in smouldering darkness.

BPL - I had to pull the plug: Bannister says board was in total collapse

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister conceded yesterday Bahamas Power and Light needed new leadership after its board of directors in recent times remained “locked” in dispute on every critical issue at great cost to the company.

Contracts awaited for repairs on GB justice centre

THE Ministry of Works is awaiting tender documents from local contractors on Grand Bahama for roof repair at the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre which has a severe mould problem.While in Freeport recently, Works Minister Desmond Bannister had indicate

Minister disappointed by turnout at contractors seminar

PUBLIC Works Minister Desmond Bannister was very disappointed over the poor turnout to a one-day seminar hosted by his ministry for local contractors in Grand Bahama.

Deal imminent to get BPL 'out of dark ages'

A Cabinet Minister yesterday confirmed that a deal for Nassau’s new power plant could be signed as early as next week to bring the energy sector “out of the dark ages”.Desmond Bannister, minister of works, told Tribune Business that the signing of a

Road repair fines increased to $10k

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday tabled an amendment to the Roads Act, which seeks to raise the fine for infractions from $75 to $10,000.

Bannister: We can learn from Shanghai

THE Bahamas, in its push for more comprehensive and modern development, can take cues from the full-concept Shanghai master plan recently exhibited in China, according to Works Minister Desmond Bannister.In a communication to Parliament yesterday on

Bannister pledges safety measures after Munnings Road death

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister pledged more precautions and safety measures will be implemented on Munnings Road to avoid future fatalities.

TAKE-OFF FOR $14M ELEUTHERA AIRPORT

OUTLINING the government’s agenda for Eleuthera’s infrastructural development, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said $14m will be budgeted for a new airport in North Eleuthera.

We won’t be bullied by unions

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday said that neither the government, nor the wider public, would tolerate blackout threats from unions at Bahamas Power and Light as the company plans to offer voluntary separation packages to workers in a “rightsizing” exercise.

Bannister blasts ‘shoddy’ seawall

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said the Minnis administration is concerned about receiving quality work from contractors, after revealing a seawall in High Rock, Grand Bahama was “improperly” built and taxpayers did not receive value for the money spent.

Minister promises to address govt building repairs

MINISTER of Works Desmond Bannister visited several government buildings on Grand Bahama last week and promised to address urgent repairs at the post office building and the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre in Freeport.He also toured the new fire stati

No tender process for road contracts worth $86m

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister revealed yesterday that nine road works contracts worth $86m collectively were awarded without a public tendering process under the former Christie administration.

‘Shanty towns have to go’

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said the government is working to fully “eradicate” shanty towns, focusing on clean up and removal as opposed to regulating these areas.

$200m PLP contracts escaped any tendering

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said yesterday the former administration issued $200m worth of contracts without going through bidding, as he announced that there will be changes to the tender and bidding processes at the Ministry of Works.

BPL on target ‘for best summer yet’

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday suggested Bahamas Power and Light was on pace to deliver to consumers its best summer on record.

Police launch works inquiry

A “very serious investigation” is underway at the Ministry of Works involving the misuse of government supplies, Works Minister Desmond Bannister confirmed yesterday.

Bannister: We will check defects claim

THE government will investigate allegations regarding the standard of work at Baha Mar, Works Minister Desmond told The Tribune yesterday, following the resort’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian’s massive law suit against China Construction America (CCA).

'PLP started Dillet project - not us'

THE multi-million dollar project to renovate the Stephen Dillet Primary School this summer began without ministerial approval under the former Christie administration, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said yesterday.

Bannister unveils plans for two schools

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday confirmed that government has resurrected plans for a new primary school in Carmichael with a tender exercise for a school in Inagua “ready to go”.

New policies now in place at BPL to prevent irregularities

FOLLOWING Ernst & Young’s (EY) revelations regarding irregularities in procurement decisions at Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) under the former Christie administration, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said yesterday new policies are now in place, which will be “scrupulously followed”.

Bannister dares Fitzgerald to sue

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday denied defaming Jerome Fitzgerald while insisting yesterday the former education minister launched an attack on the Carmichael MP’s parliamentary privilege.

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