A representative from an Abaco resort has strongly criticized the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) over a string of recent "unthinkable" power outages, which have taken their toll on residents and the local tourism industry.
Green Turtle Club representative John Sawyer claimed that while the resort is currently winding down operations for its annual maintenance period, the recent outages, some of which lasted for over half a day, had made their remaining guests "very uncomfortable".
"It's been unthinkable. You know, 12-hour blackouts and then two days later we have another nine-hour one. It's been horrible," said Sawyer.
A BEC statement claimed that the lengthy blackouts were due to problems with the firm's backup battery systems and the continued theft of copper grounding, particularly in the northern end of the island.
BEC has argued that the ongoing copper theft left key equipment and material, including overhead power lines, vulnerable during lightning strikes.
Timothy Roberts, a reporter for The Abaconian, felt that the continued outages had serious consequences for the island's hotels and resorts.
"It spoils the vacations of many of the tourists that are here. There's the concern that it'll leave a bad taste in the visitors' mouths. They spend a lot of money to get here and then they have to endure power outages," stated Roberts.
He confirmed that the Water and Sewerage Corporation's (WSC) backup generators also failed during the power outages, resulting in a lack of running water for parts of the island.
"The utilities here just makes it a real hardship being here sometimes," said Roberts.

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