The power outage that impacted thousands of people on New Providence and Paradise Island over the weekend forced Atlantis to close its casino on Friday night, and other businesses to shut down operations on Saturday. Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) officials said the meltdown that triggered the blackout was the result of a fire that caused a "catastrophic failure" of BEC's generators.

Up to last night, some people were still without electricity hours after BEC said all customers were back online. The impact of the outages was far-reaching and overwhelming for some. According to a statement from Atlantis, portions of the resort were without power on Friday night, including the casino, Royal Tower and Beach Tower because of generator issues. Several videos of a darkened Atlantis were posted to Facebook over the weekend.

While the statement gave no indication of what the estimated losses are, it is likely to be substantial. Atlantis said power was restored to those areas on Saturday morning "when Atlantis' emergency generator power was reestablished".

"Our emergency management team continues to monitor and assess the situation," the statement said.
Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) was also impacted.

While PMH's generator kicked in immediately, Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Herbert Brown said officials had to turn the air conditioning off for nearly an hour in the medical block because of insufficient power. Brown said there was no impact on the Critical Care Block. The medical block houses female medical and private medical wards.

Bay Street
Only shops on the northern side of Bay Street had power on Saturday afternoon. At some locations, employees sat in dark stores, some of them fanning themselves.

Though Blanc Du Nil didn't have power, it was open for business. Store manager Joyce Gaitor, said she was trying to make the "best of a bad situation". However, she admitted that business was slow because she was forced to turn away several customers due to the store's inability to process credit card payments.

"This is our busiest day and six ships are in and with six ships we would have a very good Saturday," she said. "And so ... it's affecting big time."

Gaitor estimated that the store lost about $5,000 in sales on Saturday.

"We couldn't open up until noon because we have electric shutters, so we had to have someone come in to open them and when I'm ready to close we have to have them come back to close," she said.

She said the heat in the store also turned some customers off. Temperatures rose to about 80 degrees fahrenheit on Saturday afternoon. The Fendi store suffered similar problems. Store manager June Hall said Fendi could not process credit card purchases either.

"I have no AC," Hall said. "It's hot obviously and it has impinged on our business because we are a high-end company."
"Very few people walk around with large amounts of cash and even if they go to the ATM they are only allowed a certain amount a day anyway. So it's really been hard."

During the interview, customers entered the store and complained about the lack of power and inquired whether Fendi had paid its electricity bill. Electricity has since been restored to Bay Street.

Losses
BEC, which is already troubled, also suffered financial losses. Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said the blackout caused corporation over $500,000.

"The (engine) parts alone were over $80,000," he said.

Miller apologized to Atlantis and the other businesses that were impacted.

"These things should not happened," he said.

In their homes, many residents were frustrated. S. McPhee was one of them. McPhee, 28, who said she's always vigilant in her crime ridden Englerston neighborhood, added that the power outage left her even more "on edge". She told The Guardian yesterday that her power was off Friday and Saturday. She knocked on wood as she indicated that her power had been on for most of Sunday afternoon.

McPhee said she didn't mind the electricity supply being off in the daytime; however, she said the nighttime outages are always worrisome.

"I live in a high crime area, " she said. "[Without lights] it is a big threat because you don't know who's lurking or who's walking around with what. So that would be my [concern] with not having any electricity because the streets are dark."

McPhee said she also found it hard to sleep, but not because it was hot.

"I found myself all throughout the night getting up and looking through the windows while cars were passing... and checking the doors throughout the night," she said.

BEC officials said power was fully restored yesterday, but, again, some residents were still in the dark last night.

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