Rolling Outages: The Cost to Bahamian Businesses

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – From food stores to office supply businesses, power outages are forcing companies to spend more just to keep their doors open.

Many say the constant use of generators is eating into profits and testing their patience.

For Bahamas Office and School Supplies, keeping its Windsor Field Road location operating during outages has meant relying on generator power instead of BPL.

The company’s Vice President, Audrika Turnquest, recently spoke about the challenges of keeping the business running amid the ongoing outages.

Audrika Turnquest – Vice President, B.O.S.S.

“At this location, in particular, yes. There were more noticeable outages here. We did lose some IT equipment that cost me to replace. I know other businesses that had other issues that I’ve heard.”

Turnquest’s concerns echo what many business owners have been saying throughout the summer. Power outages are cutting into profits and forcing difficult choices. The strain has been felt across industries, leaving business leaders pressing for answers and solutions.

One of those voices has been Chamber of Commerce Chairman Don Williams.

Don Williams – Chairman, Chamber of Commerce

“Some members have faced unrecorded losses in terms of burner from the generators. They’ve lost inventory. You’re losing staff as well, because you have to send staff home. You have to account for that, and you’re not in your costs. So, it is even equipment failure just within the organization, so whether it’s your freezers, whether it is your POS machines, it’s been a constant struggle. We say over and over that this is not a countrywide issue.”

Don Williams – Chairman, Chamber of Commerce

“Problem so severe that the Chamber has been speaking with some officials in the Ministry of Finance to see how we can get some form of compensation back to businesses. So we’re having that open dialogue with them. In the meantime, we’re looking forward to seeing what BPL can provide at the same time to businesses. Maybe some form of rebate, something back that keeps the ball rolling, that allows the business to recoup some of those costs, remain efficient.”

Williams says businesses are still looking for answers and, more importantly, a clear path forward.

Don Williams – Chairman, Chamber of Commerce

“That’s something that we were hoping to get from the Prime Minister’s address. And we look forward to, hopefully, BPL or BGC, whoever’s in charge at this point, as I know the buck tends to switch between the two organizations, but those are the type of answers that businesses are looking for, aside from what are the immediate helping hands that are going to come and now give us necessary rebates or cash outs, or concessions.”