Former Prime Minister Questions Half a Billion Dollar LNG Project

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Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis is questioning the cost of the Davis administration’s new LNG terminal.

His comments come after ground was broken for the New Providence LNG Terminal at Clifton Pier, a project the government says will improve power reliability and lower long-term energy costs.

Minnis says his administration had already advanced plans for an LNG plant, at a significantly lower cost.

Dr. Hubert Minnis – Former Prime Minister

 ”I was shocked when I heard the cost that the government has, uh, has placed on the construction of this new plant.”

“When we were doing it, the cost was $215 million. We had a plan where… [a] gas company wanted to build the plant for us. Their charge was $285 million, which was $75 million more than we would have done it, BPL would’ve done it for us. And therefore, we moved away from the view of having the oil company build it with this astronomical $285 million.”

The former PM adds his government rejected a more expensive private proposal, choosing instead for Bahamas Power and Light to build the facility.

However, according to Dr. Minnis, the plan also included a public ownership model, with the government eventually selling its shares to Bahamians.

Dr. Hubert Minnis – Former Prime Minister

“We got them to agree at that time that we and BPL would build the plant at 215 million, and 65% would be owned by government, 25% would be owned by the people, and 15% would be owned by the gas company, and that was the agreement.

“We also had agreed that after three years, the government would start to offload its 65% to the Bahamian people so that more people can become involved and be a part of this new economy.”

The groundbreaking for the new LNG terminal comes as New Providence is being rocked by frequent power outages.

Western New Providence has been hit exceptionally hard, especially the Killarney Constituency, which he represented for just under 20 years.

Minnis later turned his attention to recent comments by Golden Gates MP and Labour Minister Pia Glover-Rolle, who publicly raised concerns after residents in her constituency were left without electricity for days.

The former prime minister praised her for speaking up on their behalf.

Dr. Hubert Minnis – Former Prime Minister

“What she demonstrated to me was that she was listening to the people, and yes, she’s a minister, yes, she’s government, but her people and the populace at large still have concern. And as a representative, her first priority is the people, and she demonstrated clearly that she was defending the people. She went beyond politics.”