By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE opposition FNM has launched an official investigation into what caused the island-wide power outage and disruption in land-line and cellular services yesterday.
Party leader Dr Hubert Minnis said the interruption was a serious development that compromised the quality of life in the Bahamas.
"This is not something that should be taken lightly and we are concerned about what happened. With BEC being down for so long, it left people in darkness - anything could have happened.
"We are going to investigate properly to find out what was the cause. It could have even compromised the commercial sector in terms of banking, one has to take this seriously," he said.
"On top of that the emergency systems, 911 and 919, are also down. You may remember I spoke to a US crime report in the House of Assembly that said that our 911 and 919 systems were not functioning properly and when they did work, the ambulance and police had problems finding homes because of our poor numbering systems.
"That is why the FNM began properly numbering homes. It is a serious problem when you cannot communicate with emergency systems, the police and the ambulance. Everything was down. It really takes your nation back to a question-mark, third world status."
Dr Minnis said the FNM will conduct an investigation before they jump to conclusions and will release the results to the public.
Land-line services were restored around noon, while cell phone service was not restored until late in the afternoon.
Emergency numbers, 911 and 919, were still malfunctioning up to press time last night.
Anyone who needs the police or Emergency Medical Services is asked to contact the police control room on 323-0845, 323-0853, 323-0854, 302-8177 or 302-8178.
Comments
TalRussell 12 years, 5 months ago
Oh really Comrade the "new" Hubert A red shirts leader. For five long years we had a red shirts regime who said nothing during the many times BEC left our Bahamaland in complete darkness. Like you did with BTC as you prepped it from day one in 2007 to be sold to foreigners, you also neglected reinvesting in BEC, cause you were also prepping to sell it to foreigners,
To listen to you Comrades today who seem to have so many readily solutions at your command, you'd think you were not in power from 2007 to 2012. Comrade you were in power and it is the red shirts fault that the native's still have peep through the darkness.
Concerned 12 years, 5 months ago
Really now? Is this the best response to someone who want to investigate the source of the problem rather than pointing fingers?
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
HAI HAD NEW TURBINES AND AN UPGRADE COMING FROM HITACHI ,HAS THE PLP CANCELLED IT OR ARE THEY COMING??
242 12 years, 5 months ago
Sabotage? If so by who....
Observer 12 years, 5 months ago
These jokers are seriously dysfunctional. They handed over the broken and crippled entities with the broken down equipment and now they are hoping for the miracle of life to return to them. How unreasonable can some men become? They should investigate their own shoddy performance with respect to the two corporations, one of which they bargained away because the knew that they could not handle it.
Bahamagyal 12 years, 5 months ago
How about we investigate why everyone in the FNM sat back and allowed Mr Ingraham to sell a profitable corporation for so cheap to incompetent fools who cant even keep the lines up. I dont care how many FNMS continue to wipe Mr Ingraham's ass and make exscuses but this mess could not have happened in any first world country and should not have happened here. If u must interfere with services do it at an hour that would minimize inconvenience. Countless businesses lost money and anyone with an emergency would have been stranded. This really is a big disgrace and I sincerely hope the compensation is worth it Mr Houston!
242 12 years, 5 months ago
Did you read any of the article you commented on? Do you know why BTC was down? Do you think selling 51%(not equal to 100) for that price was cheap that means if the 100% was sold a Bahamian company was worth almost half a Billion Dollars....Do you think the old BaTelCo was worth half a Billion dollars? Please answer those questions without insult.
Bahamagyal 12 years, 5 months ago
Do u think the FNM delivered on its promise to the Bahamian people that the sale of BTC would lead to better service? Do u think these MULTIPLE cuts in phone service and the disfunctional 911 and 919 emergency numbers is acceptable? Do u think there would be any negative effects on the business community and tourism? Do u think that bullshit could have happened in any other country without BTC getting its eyeballs sued out? How about you answer those questions since ur the lawyer for BTC
Bahamagyal 12 years, 5 months ago
And im sorry but i dont feel "we're in the process of doing upgrades" is a legit enough reason.
Concerned 12 years, 5 months ago
Considering that the Tribune will delete your post for your ignorant profanity and lack of ability to express yourself clearly without resorting to cussing, I may as well pause to you are an IDIOT. Think bigger than the brain you sit on. Not everything that happens in the Bahamas is political.
positiveinput 12 years, 5 months ago
BTC was sold during the FNM time as government whom promise better service to the people in doing so. That was the individuals purpose of mentioning the FNM. You're saying not everything that happens in the Bahamas is political, but whom else sold BTC and made a promise. Thats the only reason the FNM name came up or should she have said John Doe. Now pause again and move the mirror before you say IDIOT.
242 12 years, 5 months ago
Where did you get your quote? I did not see it in the article. btw Did you hear about the electricity blackout?
positiveinput 12 years, 5 months ago
good response bahamagyal
positiveinput 12 years, 5 months ago
Compensation! lol. The man done say they going to take stock to move forward to decide on compensation with other promotional package. So all they going to do is sell more products at cheap prices where basically they are the ones getting more phones or phone cards sold. From the other week when BTC apologize for the drop in phone calls where it was a fact that cellphone credits was lost nobody open their mouths about compensation. But now that everyone is furious watch this so call compensation. You think you seeing alot of those lil $20 samsung phones around, wait tell the price drop to $15 with $1 top up on it - lol. You could talk down on the old Batelco all you want, but I sure by now cousin James would have done text me saying boy they giving out minutes check ya phone. After their so call compenastion watch who really benefits from it with more product sales to ensure more "loyal customers".
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
THAT WAS THE SHOT ACROSS THE BOW TO SOFTEN UP CWC ,,IT BASICALLY AMOUNTS TO TRYING TO EXTORT A FORIEGN INVESTER . WHEN YOU CAN NOT KEEP YOUR PROMISES ,MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ,CRIME REDUCTION ,JOBS DURING A RECESSION ,YOU MAKE AN ENEMY FOR THE UNEDUCATED TO BLAME FOR THEIR LOT IN LIFE ..THE BAD EVIL FORIEGN INVESTER IS KEEPING YOU DOWN .. THIS IS SUCH A CORROSIVE PLOY BECAUSE WITH OUT DFI WE PERISH ....
positiveinput 12 years, 5 months ago
With out dfi we perish is like saying without water we would perish - correct? Now say you're obtaining that water in large amounts but from a contaminated source. Help me out with this oh educated one.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
WE PRODUCE VERY LITTLE AND WITH OUT DFI OUR WAY OF LIFE WILL VANISH , THE SALE HAS BEEN DONE ,GOOD OR BAD , YOU DON,T GO BACK ON A DEAL THAT LARGE WITH A FORIEGN INVESTOR ,,,YES BTC WAS PROFITABLE BUT IT WAS OVERSTAFFED AND MINUTES WERE THE HIGHEST IN THE REGION BY FAR ..WE CAN NOT HAVE COMPITION ,WHICH MEANS LOWER RATES AND MORE JOBS UNLESS IT WAS SOLD ..WHAT BUSINESSMAN IS GOING TO INVEST TO COMPETE AGAINTS A GOV CORP THAT CAN BASICALLY SET RATES ACROSS THE BOARD AND LOSE MONEY AND STILL STAY IN BUSINESS
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