The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

AN Eleuthera businessman says there are “a lot of concerns” on the island and keeping the electricity on is chief among them.

Christopher Cates, the Lumber Shed’s owner, told Tribune Business that last week’s utilities collapse on the island, which saw both electricity and water supplies disconnected for more than three days, he hopes the island can not only get back on track, but stay there.

Mr Cates said: “We have a lot of concerns. We have a lot of issues and the entire country of The Bahamas has issues. So I’m hoping that the new administration will knock them out one at a time. There’s a lot of work to be done. And our electricity clearly is one of the main issues for South Eleuthera, there’s no doubt about it.

The Water & Sewerage Corporation also advised that a recent reduction in water production in Central Eleuthera was because of Bahamas Power & Light.

WSC said the electrical power supply to the desalination plant in Governors Harbour was lost for a period of time during the evening of August 4, 2022.

These water and electricity issues have affected businesses throughout the length and breadth of the island, including Mom & Pop convenience stores and hotels.

With regard to the hotels, Mr Cates said: “There’s a lot to be resolved, man. I’m really hoping that they’ll do it one at a time and we’ll get this thing sorted out, because that’s the future of the island. You know, that’s the future of the growth and the potential and we can‘t tap into it unless we got lights and water. That’s for sure.”

He added: “I think a lot of businesses have managed to cope with portable generators and lot of businesses have invested in permanent generators as a necessity. They just made that investment as a cost of doing business. You just do what you got to do to make it work and when all else fails, you jump in and make it happen.”

Clay Sweeting, Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, said on his Facebook page that he is closely monitoring the matter in hopes of providing a resolution.

“The Island of Eleuthera has experienced much discomfort over the past few months as it relates to intermittent power outages and in the past few days the outages have been extensive and unbearable,” he said on social media. “I have received many calls from concerned residents, the business community and second home owners who are severely impacted by these unplanned outages.”

Mr Sweeting also said: “I definitely share their concerns over electricity, as well as water. I have kept in touch with the Minister of Works as well as Chairman of BPL. Currently, they have enough power generation or capacity to keep the island online. They’re repairing the last engine, I think in Rock Sound. But currently we should be okay for now.”