The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) yesterday blamed an underwater cable break for leaving residents of Current Island, off North Eleuthera, in “dire straits” due to prolonged power outages that have lasted more than a week.

Arnette Ingraham, BPL’s corporate communications manager, told Tribune Business yesterday that electricity supply was restored to the island at 1pm yesterday. “There was an underwater cable break that occurred,” she said.

“We needed a diver to go down to repair the break. So once we got a diver there, and the weather conditions were good enough that he can go down and repair the cable, that’s when power was restored and we didn’t get that done until about 1pm yesterday.”

Current Island residents, though, voiced displeasure over what they described upset as a lack of communication from BPL over what was causing the outages and how long they were likely to last. They also plan to seek compensation from the state-owned electricity monopoly for the spoilage of food supplies, due to the loss of refrigeration, and other damages.

George Taylor, in a message to Tribune Business, wrote: “This island has been grappling with severe electrical outages, and the situation has reached a critical point, leaving the residents in dire straits during this scorching summer..... Unfortunately, the residents of Current Island have been experiencing frequent power outages for an extended period, but the situation has escalated in recent weeks.

“As of this writing, the island has been without reliable electricity for over a week, and there is no clear resolution in sight. The consequences of these prolonged outages are devastating. The Bahamas’ summer heat is unforgiving, and without electricity, the residents are left to suffer in sweltering conditions. This lack of access to basic cooling appliances, such as air conditioning and fans, has made life unbearable, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable members of the community.”

Mr Taylor continued: “The loss of perishable food supplies due to the absence of refrigeration is a significant concern. Current Island does not have a local food store, and residents heavily rely on the weekly arrival of the mail boat for their supplies.

“With the extended power outages, their food provisions have spoiled, leaving many families without access to essential sustenance. The citizens of Current Island are in desperate need of assistance. They do not have access to back-up generators, and their reliance on external food deliveries makes them exceptionally vulnerable in situations like this.

“It is imperative that local authorities and relevant organisations step in and provide immediate relief to the residents of Current Island. This situation not only impacts their daily lives but also jeopardises their health and well-being,” he added.

“This incident underscores the critical need for infrastructure resilience and exploring alternative energy sources for The Bahamas, particularly in remote areas like Current Island. Long-term solutions are necessary to prevent such crises from recurring.... The residents of Current Island are in dire need of assistance, and it is my hope that this message will help mobilise resources and support to alleviate their suffering.”

Mr Taylor subsequently told this newspaper yesterday: “This was just a ridiculous power outage. We have been out for over nine days, and between that time we were just getting lip-service. BPL very rarely, if ever, wants to reimburse anyone when you can justify that their services have been responsible for damages.”

Bertie Munroe, another Current Island resident, added: “Yesterday made a week and four days, and there has been no power, so what do we say and how do we act going forward?

“This was devastating for Current Islanders, and sometimes it isn’t what happened but it’s what we do when something happened, and how we act when something happened. It’s like when someone died and you don’t even show condolences. It shows disrespect and that we don’t care, and all I’m asking for is a bit of sympathy for Current Islanders.”

Mr Munroe also blamed a lack of communication from BPL despite the utility’s assertion that it sent a “community notification” to island residents. He added that he had never heard nor seen it, and was unaware when power was expected to be restored or what caused the outages.