Super Value Food stores is expected to install solar on all of its stores as it stares down a 60 percent increase in the cost of its electricity in the coming months, the company's President Debra Symonette said Friday, adding that the "worst is yet to come" as it relates to energy prices.

Symonette, who made the remarks at the first annual Best Energy Bahamas Energy Expo, said the installation of solar panels on the roof of Super Value's warehouse has saved the company $400,000 per year.

She explained that the company's electricity costs currently account for seven percent of its total expenses.

"The retail grocery sector accounts for a substantial amount of electricity that's used globally," said Symonette.

"If you think of some of the items carried by a grocery store, you would understand why this is. Perishable items account for 50 percent or more of the items sold in grocery stores. These include meat, produce, dairy, frozen food, seafood, and cold cuts. What do all of these products require? Refrigeration."

She added: "Refrigeration results in higher energy costs, but it is critical for preserving food. Ideally, we want to maintain the quality and safety of the food with the least amount of energy.

"Energy consumption must be kept to a minimum if we are to maintain our profit margin. However, we do not only want a profitable store, we also want to help the environment. When we look at the big picture, we know that electricity is produced by fuel, and so an increase in fuel prices results in an increase in electricity prices. The retail food industry has certainly felt the effect of this reality recently, and we are well aware that the worst is yet to come."

Symonette added that along with the increase in electricity costs that are coming due to Bahamas Power and Light's sliding scale increase in the fuel charge, the retail industry is also being affected by the minimum wage increase, the increase in price control items, and an increase in rents.

She explained that given theses costs are out of the company's control, costs have to be controlled along the energy front, especially if grocers do not want to pass increased costs on to their consumers.

"Believe me, we are trying our best not to pass these increases on to the customer," Symonette said.

"And if we must, we try to keep it to a minimum. You'll believe that there are a number of steps which are recommended that are currently being used by some of us in the industry, to combat what we call the energy challenge."

According to Symonette, Super Value has changed display cases to those with doors to keep cool air in; insulated buildings to improve energy efficiency; installed energy efficient lighting; installed motion detection light switches; and is installing more solar, all in an effort to allay the high spend on energy.

She added that staff must also be sensitized about energy saving methods.

"Everyone must be on board if we are going to come out of this fight alive with the least possible damage," Symonette said.

A trio of goals in the first 34 minutes was all Trinidad and Tobago needed to come away with a 3-0 victory over The Bahamas in men's soccer action at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Friday.

That loss has The Bahamas senior men's national soccer team sporting a 1-4 win/loss record to sit in third with three points in League B Group C action in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League. Trinidad and Tobago remains in second place with 12 points and a 4-1 record.

The last time these two teams played, The Bahamas played a more defensive game with just one forward. This game they played with two forwards, and head coach for The Bahamas Nesley Jean said they wanted to play a more attacking game.

"We were in a stage where we wanted to press and get higher up the pitch and closer to their goal," Jean said. "That is why we wanted to push up our team. When we look at it, we have a young team with most of these guys being in their early 20's with some being 16, but no excuses. We are going to make mistakes but this is where we learn. As we keep training together and playing more games, we will get there gradually."

The away team came in with a game plan to attack the Bahamian side early. That worked as they got on the scoreboard in the fifth minute of the game from a rocket shot as the Bahamian goalkeeper Ian Lowe had no chance of stopping it. The shot was in the top-left corner.

Trinidad and Tobago's head coach Angus Eve, who was happy to get the three points for the win on the road, said his team stuck to their game plan.

"We were trying to put them on their back foot as early as possible. We thought we had the players to hurt them, so we wanted to go after them early. We were able to get a goal in the third minute of the game in Trinidad where they played more defensive. They tried to play a little bit more and it opened up spaces for us," Eve said.

The Bahamas had a chance in the 10th minute to get an equalizer but a well-placed cross from Quinton Carey to Christopher Rahming saw the latter putting the ball too high off a header.

Trinidad and Tobago's captain Joevin Jones joined Moses on the scoresheet 21 minutes later with a goal of his own. He was able to put away a perfectly timed pass at the top of Lowe's six-yard box for an easy goal. Trinidad and Tobago's Ryan Telfer got a through ball and was able to find the back of the net in the 34th minute to put the visitors up 3-0.

The Bahamas had another chance at scoring just before the half-time whistle when William Bayles struck the ball from outside the 18-yard box to call the Trinidadian goalkeeper Niklas Frenderup into action. He made his first save of the game and denied The Bahamas an opportunity.

With Trinidad and Tobago scoring at such a high rate, it appeared that they had more in their arsenal. However, The Bahamas' side did not concede another goal in that first half and the visitors went into half-time up 3-0.

Jean said he expected Trinidad and Tobago to come out like this.

"We expected them to be aggressive. If you watched the last two games that we played them, we knew they were coming because we played them close the previous two games. Our guys are young and they are going to make mistakes," Jean said.

In the second half, the Bahamian side was playing a lot more relaxed and composed. They were unable to find the back of the net although they had several chances to score. They did not concede any more goals.

One of those young players who Jean spoke about is center back Roen Davis. He had some key defensive plays and even created some attacking for The Bahamas.

"I just wanted to go out there today (Friday) and play some defense and not give up a goal," Davis said. "It was a tough game today and we have to learn from our mistakes. I learned to not step too high and to compose myself."

Playing on the side of Davis was veteran Lesly St. Fleur who said that it is a learning process.

"It is a pleasure playing with them," St. Fleur said. "Being an older player on the team, I learn from them and they learn from me – we have to learn from each other to make the team better. It is a young squad and we have to keep them going with a mix of veterans to keep the team going."

Both teams left The Bahamas to play their final game of the tournament. The Bahamas' team is in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take on that country in a match where they have to win or draw to stay in League B. A loss will relegate The Bahamas to League C. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has one point. That match will take place at the Arnos Vale Stadium in the capital city of Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Jean said that they will be ready for that match.

"We need to get our heads up. They did well today (Friday)," Jean said. "We are going to tweak a little because they (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) are a different team. They play a different formation. We did our studies and we will be ready."

Trinidad and Tobago went home to play the Group C leader, Nicaragua, who has one more point than them. That game, which will be played in Tobago today, will determine the winner of the group.

Police are on the hunt for two men suspected of killing a man and injuring another during a shooting on Finlayson Street on Saturday night.

Two men were sitting on a wall near a home around 10 p.m. when two armed men approached and began shooting at them.

Both men were hit several times.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the two men lying on the ground in front of the home.

One of the men died at the scene. The other was taken to hospital. Police did not provide an update on his condition.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Dear Editor,

We are writing to express our concerns about the lack of affordable and social housing in The Bahamas.

The lack of affordable housing has become a major issue for many Bahamians, as the cost of housing continues to rise, making it increasingly difficult for low-income and middle-income families to find a decent place to live.

The government's efforts to provide affordable housing have been insufficient, with many families still struggling to find housing that is both affordable and safe.

The current housing crisis in The Bahamas is a major social and economic issue that needs urgent attention.

In addition to affordable housing, there is a critical need for social housing.

Social housing is designed to provide safe, secure, and affordable accommodation for low-income families, seniors, and those with disabilities.

Social housing can help to address the housing needs of vulnerable populations, providing them with the stability and support they need to lead successful lives.

The provision of social and affordable housing is not only a social responsibility but an economic one.

Affordable housing is a key factor in reducing poverty and homelessness, and can have a significant impact on the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities.

The lack of affordable and social housing can and has led to a range of social problems, including increased crime rates, poor health outcomes, and decreased economic productivity.

It is time for the government to take urgent action to address the housing crisis in The Bahamas.

We believe that this can be achieved through a combination of a more comprehensive policy and robust investment in the housing sector, including the development of social and affordable housing programs, increased tax incentives for developers, and support for non-profit organizations that provide housing and support services for low-income families.

In conclusion, the lack of affordable and social housing in The Bahamas is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

We call on the government to take immediate action to ensure that all Bahamians have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.

Sincerely,

— C. Allen & Eden Merry Johnson

The post Need for social and affordable housing in The Bahamas appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Need for social and affordable housing in The Bahamas appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.