Criticism Is Not An Energy Policy

ABAGAIL CARTWRIGHT’S DEAN’S BLUE HOLE

Prime Minister Philip Davis, in his national address last week, gave a frank assessment of the country’s power crisis, particularly in New Providence. He did not dodge the obvious: Bahamians are frustrated, the system is under strain, and fixing decades of challenges will take time.

More importantly, Davis presented a plan in plain language. He outlined measures including LNG, grid modernization, permanent generation, battery storage, solar expansion and the phasing-out of rental generation. He did not promise an overnight miracle. Instead, he acknowledged that the road to a modern, reliable energy system will require patience while his administration’s energy reforms are implemented.

Bahamians have every right to be angry, agitated, and annoyed. When the electricity goes off, businesses lose revenue, families are inconvenienced and household appliances are put at risk. Frustration is justified.

But frustration is not a policy—and neither is criticism.

In his response, Opposition Leader, Mr. Michael Pintard, did what he has become known to do. He criticized the Prime Minister and the Government, even insinuating that the government is incompetent, but where was the alternative? If the Government’s approach is wrong, what would an FNM government do differently? How would it deliver reliable electricity faster, at a lower cost to consumers, and with less burden on taxpayers?

If Mr. Pintard believes LNG, grid modernization, permanent generation, battery storage, solar expansion and phasing out rental generation are the wrong solutions, which would he abandon? More importantly, what would he replace them with?

Anyone can identify the problem. Bahamians experience it every time the lights go off. Leadership requires more than telling the person in charge to “fix it.” A government-in-waiting should be able to tell the country HOW IT WOULD FIX IT.

Prime Minister Davis is in the chair, and the responsibility is his. He has accepted that responsibility, declaring that “the buck stops with me.”

Now comes the harder part: delivering. This crisis will not be solved by criticism, political sound bites or finger-pointing. It requires solutions, accountability and, above all, steady leadership.

Prime Minister Davis and his team have accepted the responsibility and laid out a path forward. The measure of that plan will ultimately be in its execution. At this critical moment, The Bahamas needs a government prepared not merely to talk about the power crisis, but to do the difficult work of fixing it. We are fortunate that the PLP is at the helm, and we are confident that they will deliver.

-Abigail Cartwright