The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the Bahamas Electricity Corporation having restored supply to “over 70 per cent” of Family Island customers affected by Hurricane Joaquin, “no actual work” has started at Crooked Island because of all of the damage done to its infrastructure by the category four hurricane.

BEC, in its latest update on its restoration efforts, said the corporation has secured “temporary generation” to meet supply demands while officials in New Providence “continue to work towards commencing supply restoration as soon as possible.” The corporation also said “necessary equipment” is being sourced “locally and internationally” to begin rebuilding BEC’s damaged distribution network on the island.

On Sunday, BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller acknowledged that while BEC crews work feverishly to restore power to the islands most affected by the hurricane, Crooked Island remains the one island “that is giving us problems.”

In a statement, BEC said that restoration work began on Rum Cay on Saturday, and already 75 per cent of customers have had their supplies restored. The corporation noted that supply restoration on the island was delayed because of the damage done to the island’s dock by the storm.

However, once repairs to the dock were completed, a vessel took “necessary supplies” to the island and crews were flown in to start work.

Repairs to BEC’s supply to buildings on the island were also completed on Saturday, simultaneous with “pole planting which continues in the affected communities.”

Full supply restoration in Rum Cay is expected to occur within the next 48 hours, the corporation said.

Meanwhile, the corporation said progress continues to be made in Long Island and San Salvador. In Long Island, supply has been restored as far south as Scrub Hill with work continuing further south on the island.

In San Salvador, supply has been restored to several different communities with Halls Landing, Long Bay, North Victoria, and parts of Bonefish Bay joining the list of communities that have had their supplies restored.

BEC is being assisted by the Caribbean Association of Electric Utilities (CARILEC) in the restoration efforts.

“With the assistance of CARILEC teams, BEC has restored supply to more than 70 per cent of those customers impacted by Hurricane Joaquin,” the statement said. “BEC remains fully committed to full restoration as soon as possible.”