Rachel Scott

Thousands of New Providence residents endured another evening of power cuts Thursday as large swaths of the island were shut off, with no clear indication from Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) when they would be brought back online.

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said he had not intended to play a “blame game” when he said last week the Free National Movement (FNM) was the reason New Providence's electric grid is “in a state of collapse.”

A weekend fire at the Exuma Healthcare Centre resulted in “minimal damage,” according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

As residents across New Providence continued to face power outages over the holiday weekend, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright said yesterday the government is shameless in its handling of energy policy, which he labeled a “complete and utter failure.”

Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) leaves a House Republican Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Miller faced a Tuesday deadline to withdraw and be replaced on the ballot.

As repeated power outages have led to questions over the state of New Providence's power grid, Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) Chief Executive Officer Dareo McKenzie said yesterday that the company, which took over the island's transmission and distribution (T&D) system, is still searching for more employees.

While it was announced two years ago that a newly-formed Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) would take over Bahamas Power and Light's (BPL's) New Providence transmission and distribution (T&D) system, BGC CEO Dareo McKenzie said yesterday that the transfer of the assets is still ongoing.

Former Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) CEO Whitney Heastie and former Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister yesterday rejected explanations from BPL and Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) officials, who have blamed aging equipment, unsanctioned connections and summer temperatures for challenges with the electricity grid, leading to repeated power outages on New Providence.

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said yesterday that the Free National Movement (FNM), in its recent criticism of the government's energy policy, is trying to undermine the work of professionals and “create anxiety” among the public.