Early Morning Fire Damages ZNS’ South NP Transmitting Station

Advertisement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday, a fire erupted at the ZNS service station located on Baillou Hill Road.

Authorities reported that the blaze was ignited by the facility’s generator, causing it to spread throughout the building and resulting in the destruction of the structure and the media house’s radio transmitter.

The incident led to the 1540 AM signal going silent.

Picewell Forbes – Executive Chairman, BCB

“If you are not an island person and you happen to be on the rock or in your little boat and you fish and you listen to the radio today, you are virtually lost.”

The Executive Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, Picewell Forbes, was on the scene Friday morning.

He expressed the considerable impact the loss will have on individuals living in the Family Islands.

For 90 years, 1540 AM has been the only radio station covering the entire nation, making it a key source of information for listeners.

It provides news updates, mailboat schedules, event announcements and, most importantly… weather reports.

Picewell Forbes – Executive Chairman, BCB

“What’s tragic about this development this morning, losing the national broadcaster, is that we’re now in the middle of hurricane season. That’s why we expedited our efforts in getting the repairs done.”

He said that the cost of replacing the transmitter is estimated at between $200,000 and $300,000, and repairs could take up to three months.

Picewell Forbes – Executive Chairman, BCB

“And the three hundred thousand, is that just for the transmitter or also shipping? The transmitter itself, but we’ll also have to include all the reconfiguration of this building, the restructuring process. So we’re looking at a minimum of one point two to maybe almost two million dollars.”

As for keeping Family Island residents informed while the station remains off the air, Forbes says the corporation is exploring alternative communication channels.

Denielle Miller

“So what is the plan to get information out to those persons in the Family Islands?”

“Forbes says they intend to engage in discussions with the major telecommunication companies.”

Picewell Forbes – Executive Chairman, BCB

“We have to make some adjustments through our social media platforms, and I think we’ll have to have discussions. I spoke with Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Marcellus Taylor earlier, and we’ll have to have some discussions with Sameer Bhatti at BTC and also Mr. Butler at ALIV.”