Works Minister Desmond Bannister  has allayed the fears  of  Bahamas Electrical Workers Union  that once Wartsila comes in to manage the new BPL  plants that Bahamian workers will be left behind.

Minister Bannister said he does not know if that is true.

He said, “we have to be able to put that in place and utilize the people who know how to do it, that doesn’t mean that our people don’t have the ability to learn. 

“However, these generators are going to be here next month and the Bahamian people have demanded of us a certain level of excellence and a certain high standard in generation.

“That learning curve  is not going to happen overnight, all of us are going to have to be patient and put the mechanisms in place to make a difference for the workers of BPL and for the Bahamian people, but the Bahamian people come first before anybody else,” he said.  

Back in November BPL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shell North America to build and manage a new plant at Clifton Pier, as well as provide 220 megawatts of power. 

The Bahama Journal understands that Wartsila will be providing 132 of the 220 megawatts promised by Shell. 

When pressed by the media on why  is BPL footing the 95 million dollar bill, Minister Bannister said, “there’s a whole plan that BPL has and I’m sure the CEO and the Chairman would be happy to share all the particulars with you.”  

The Minister maintains that this contract is a new paradigm that is beneficial to the Bahamian people.

He added that the deal will help to relieve the company of that rental generation concern.