Nearly 20 more Bahamians joined the unemployment line in the country’s second city following a round of redundancies at the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC).
Calling Thursday a “tough day for all of us,” Vice President of Power Generation Whitney Heastie said the 19 layoffs were “necessary” to turn the island’s only utility company around.
GBPC, owned by Canadian energy company Emera, is coming off the opening of its $80 million West Sunrise Plant. The modern facility promises to be a key moment in the utility’s revitalization, which should ultimately result in lower electricity prices for struggling residents and businesses.
Heastie revealed that the redundancies mostly came from the now obsolete Peel Street Station. “When we did the full assessment, taking into account changes in technologies and practices, we came up with the best skill set to run the remaining assets at the Peel Street Plant,” he told Guardian Business. “We have an obligation to stabilize prices with the right skill set and the right roles to fulfill that goal.”
At present, Grand Bahama is paying more than three times the cost of electricity in nearby Florida.
According to the latest numbers from the Department of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Grand Bahama stands at 17.2 percent. That actually represents a recent decline from 21.2 percent.
Caption: The opening of the new power plant has improved efficiencies and changed operating procedures for the island’s only utility provider. ERIK RUSSELL
