Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis is urging officials at Bahamas Power and Light to provide a definitive timeline of when all electricity would be restored.
At last report, officials said that 40 percent of its customers in New Providence were still without power after Hurricane Matthew ravaged the capital, Andros and Grand Bahama.
The Opposition Leader said it is understood that the odds are against BPL, but more information must be provided.
“Under the most difficult circumstances, the workers at the Bahamas Power and Light Company (BPL) have been working extremely hard to restore electricity to all Bahamians on New Providence. As they work tirelessly to restore power, it is time for BPL management and the government to provide the people still struggling without power with a timeline for the restoration results,” he said in a statement.
“From the beginning, BPL has said that after it completed its assessment of the damage they would begin working from the largest areas affected to the smallest areas. This means that BPL and the government by now should have an idea of when and where work will be occurring every day until the work is completed.
“Bahamians have a right to know the schedule that BPL plans to follow in their efforts to restore power to the entire island. Right now too many Bahamian families and businesses have been left in the dark – both literally and figuratively. They need this information so they are able to make plans and start their own restoration efforts.”
Dr. Minnis noted that many Bahamians are still staying with family and friends with no knowledge of when they can return to their homes.
“As of Wednesday morning, about 40 percent of New Providence was still without power and these residents’ only request is to know a tentative timeline of when they can return home,” he said.
“There are certain areas in Seabreeze and Southern Shores that will take a long time to recover from this storm but it is time to allow everyone else to know when they can take steps to try and return to normal.
“Though Hurricane Matthew struck The Bahamas with all of its force -last week, it is clear that the storm has not broken the resiliency of the Bahamian people. I know in my heart that The Bahamas can and will come back stronger. We will get through this working together with our neighbours, friends, and family to help each other rebuild.”
