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Bannister: You’re going to see definite movement on Andros shanty towns

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister on Friday pledged that the government will take the necessary action to deal with unregulated developments on Andros, saying Bahamians can expect to see “definite movement” on the matter soon.

BPL ‘can’t plan against’ recent power failures

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday blamed recent power outages in New Providence on bad weather and technical issues, saying such power failures are problems officials “can’t plan against”.

Code violations: Tip-offs wanted

Under-staffed regulators cannot catch all building code and planning violators without tip-offs from law-abiding Bahamians, a Cabinet minister has revealed to Tribune Business . Desmond Bannister, minister of works, told this newspaper in a recent i

BPL bailout has cost us millions: Bannister warns mountain of bills must be tackled

The Government was forced to pump "millions" into Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) during COVID-19's peak due to customers' inability to pay, it was revealed yesterday.

Minister warning over shanty towns

ANY non-governmental organisation found employing or helping undocumented migrants build illegal structures on government land will be dealt with according to the law, according to Works Minister Desmond Bannister. His comments came after he told re

Bannister: Recent outages not due to power issues

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister stressed that recent Bahamas Power and Light electricity outages are not due to power generation issues.

BPL-Shell deal has issues to resolve

A Cabinet minister last night revealed "there are a number of legal issues to be cleared up" before Shell North America's multi-fuel power plant deal with Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) can proceed.

Water Corp’s ‘intolerable’ woe eased in $69m save

The Water & Sewerage Corporation is facing a greater-than 60 percent revenue slump just after being rescued from an “intolerable/emergency-like situation”, it was revealed yesterday.

BPL offloading Aggreko units, says Bannister

BAHAMAS Power and Light is currently in the process of getting “rid” of its Aggreko units, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said days after a fire occurred at one of the company’s plants. “BPL has a number of rental units called Aggreko units to w

$3m allocated to renovate LPIA fire station

MORE than $3m has been allocated for the renovation of the fire station at Lynden Pindling International Airport in order to keep up with international standards, according to Minister of Works Desmond Bannister. Yesterday during the contract signin

$40m repair bill for broken down roads

The government must invest $40m in roadworks throughout The Bahamas “just to get through this year”, a Cabinet minister has revealed, as it aims to plug “a huge hole” in deteriorating infrastructure.

‘PLP tried to buy the 2017 election’: Bannister accuses Christie regime of spending millions

Minister of Works Desmond Bannister yesterday accused the Christie administration of trying “to buy an election” through doling out “tens and tens of millions of dollars” in contracts and jobs just 24 hours before it was voted out of office in May 2017.

VAT exemption level may rise to offset BPL levy

The government is “likely” to raise the $300 VAT-free threshold on electricity bills to minimise the impact from Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) $650m refinancing, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday.

Shell deal still ‘very much live’

A Cabinet minister yesterday asserted that the deal for Shell’s new power plant “is very much live” despite Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) seemingly making a $70m investment on its behalf.

20 years to repay bailout

BAHAMAS Power and Light customers will pay for the company’s rate reduction bond for the next 20 years to bail-out the company – but the highest increase in electricity bills is only expected to last through 2020, according to Works Minister Desmond Bannister.

‘Paying the price’ for BPL’s failings

A Cabinet minister yesterday warned that all Bahamians must now “pay the price” for Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) failings even as his House of Assembly address left more unanswered questions.

Abaco cays in BPL cables funding offer

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the government will have to give a “deadline” for several of the Abaco cays that have pledged to finance the provision of underground utility cables post-Dorian.Desmond Bannister, minister of works, told Tribune Busi

GB and Abaco homes 'failed building code'

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said many homes in Abaco and Grand Bahama contravened the country’s building code before Dorian made landfall. “I have seen so many homes in Abaco and in Grand Bahama that did not meet requirements of the code either

Micro-grid to be created to supply power in North Abaco

BAHAMAS Power and Light is planning to create micro-grids to generate power in North Abaco and the cays in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, according to Works Minister Desmond Bannister.“If any one of you has been in Marsh Harbour you can see that state

Cost of restoring water and power to Abaco '$110m'

IT will cost about $110m to restore water and electricity services to all of Abaco, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said yesterday.

BPL works to restore power in New Providence blackout

ABOUT 30 percent of New Providence had power restored by 6pm last night following an island-wide blackout early Monday, according to Minister of Works Desmond Bannister. At a press conference, he explained that water likely impacted an engine at sub-

Infrastructure deficit 'can't be quantified'

The Ministry of Works has $100m less than desired in its 2019-2020 capital works budget to tackle a Bahamian infrastructure deficit its minister has described as “unquantifiable”.Desmond Bannister, minister of works, told Tribune Business that many o

$10m needed to complete building of sports stadium

MORE than $10m of the Ministry of Works’ capital budget will be spent to complete the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium in the upcoming fiscal year. According to Minister of Works Desmond Bannister yesterday, $10,070,065.53 is committed to the project,

Road expansions 'a huge difference' for commerce

The road expansion package unveiled by the prime minister will “make a huge difference” to commerce and Bahamians’ “mental well-being”, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Fleet of new vehicles for Ministry of Public Works

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of keys for a fleet of new vehicles - valued at $1.6m - to various departments at the Ministry of Public Works, including the family islands.

Digital building plan submission to come in 2019

A Cabinet minister yesterday pledged that the electronic submission and approval of building plans “will happen this year” once the necessary funding is in place.

Absence of PLP is a voluntary dereliction of duty, says MP Bannister

CARMICHAEL MP Desmond Bannister expressed “profound disappointment” yesterday over the Official Opposition’s boycott of Parliament.

Minister: We need a shift in culture at ministry

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister has called for a fundamental shift in the culture at Ministry of Works and its auxiliary offices, saying the agency has not had the best reputation over the years.

Minister: Come see me when you have a deal

A Cabinet Minister yesterday told Tribune Business he had informed investors pitching a $500m Long Island project to “come back and see me when you have a Heads of Agreement”.

$92m BPL debt: More than 50% over month old

More than 50 percent of the $92m owed by customers to Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) at-end October 2018 represented arrears owed from previous monthly billing periods.

Court complex in GB to receive $2m renovation

MINISTER of Works Desmond Bannister signed a $2m contract on Monday for the extensive repair and renovation of the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre in Grand Bahama.

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