Since coming to office in August, 1992 the Free National Movement Government has completed the electrification of the following communities in Abaco: Little Abaco including Crown Haven, Fox Town, Mount Hope, Wood Cay and Cedar Harbour; Moore’s Island, and Grand Cay; and the settlements of Blackwood and Cherokee Sound. In East Grand Bahama, the communities of Pelican Point, McClain’s Town, Sweeting’s Cay and Deep Water Cay have been electrified.

Black Point, Exuma; Current Island, Eleuthera; Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Mayaguana and Long Island - from Salt Pond to Gordon’s - have been electrified, and electrical services have been expanded in Cat Island. Electrification of all communities in Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay is underway and when these projects are completed, together with the electrification projects for Farmer’s Cay and Staniel Cay, Exuma, and Water Cay, Grand Bahama, the entire Bahamas will be supplied with electricity.

The Free National Movement has also undertaken an island-wide street lighting project for the island of New Providence with a projected completion date for December, 1997. To ensure that the growing demand for reliable electricity service by the Bahamian population is met efficiently and at reasonable cost to consumers, the FNM government in its second term will:

Review the Electricity Act with a view to:

a) effecting a reduction in current charges to large electricity users such as hotels and industrial consumers;

b) approving a revision of policy regarding the payment of electrical hook-up charges, deposits, and con- tributions toward infrastrcuture by developers, business persons and home-owners;

c) creating additional opportunities for participation by the private sector in electrical construction and development works.

In New Providence

Install an additional 30 MW diesel generator at Clifton Pier Power Station; install a third 132,000 volts transmission line from Clifton Pier to Big Pond; and reinforce the existing 33,000 volts network, by the end of 1998.

Install, by the year 2003, another 30 MW diesel generator at Clifton Pier Power Station.

In the Family Islands

Complete the electrification of all settlements in 1997.

Acquire the power systems at Man-O-War Cay and Treasure Cay, Abaco to improve the quality of service and reduce the cost of electricity in those communities, bringing them in line with electrical costs elsewhere in the country.

Mandate that BEC introduce a demand side management programme, with the purpose of assisting customers to use electricity more efficiently thus moderating the growth of electricity demand.

| CONTENTS | NEXT |