For days now, residents across Abaco have been living through worsening power outages as BPL rolls out load shedding across the island. These outages are frequent, prolonged, and deeply disruptive. Families are exhausted, communities are stretched thin, and people are trying to live normal lives while the most basic service keeps failing.
On the cays, the impact runs even deeper. When the power goes out, the water goes with it. Most homes rely on cisterns operated by electric pumps. Without electricity, the pumps stop. Without the pumps, there is no running water. As a resident of the cays, I know what that means in real terms. I have hauled water by the bucket to flush toilets and bathe my children. No Bahamian family should be forced to live like this.
Our economy is now feeling the strain. Visitors who expect reliability and comfort are growing frustrated. Some are leaving, and others are sharing negative experiences that damage Abaco’s reputation and our tourism product. Small businesses are suffering as well. Many must rely on backup generators to stay open, and the rising cost of diesel fuel makes that burden even heavier. These businesses are trying to survive. They cannot compete if they spend more time running generators than serving customers.
What makes this hardship even harder to accept is that Abaco has the infrastructure that should support stable power. The Wilson City plant houses four modern 12-megawatt MAN diesel engines that are less than twenty years old and built to last far longer. Across the world, engines just like these have operated for decades. So why can’t Abaco rely on the ones we have? The truth is, without proper funding, maintenance, and spare parts, even good equipment fails. BPL is underfunded, and Abaco pays the price.
This is especially troubling because Abaco contributes so much to the national treasury. Business license fees, VAT, property taxes, import duties, fuel tax, and departure taxes. The numbers add up into the millions. Yet in return, we face an airport in disrepair, a port still not restored, and a power system that breaks down when we need it most. Abaco gives and gives. What we receive in return falls far short of what any fair government should provide.
We cannot continue to function as if Abaco is an afterthought. Too often, it feels as if decisions are made in Nassau with little regard for how they affect the lives of people here. Abaco deserves more than this. We are not a remote extension of the capital. We are a community that works hard, contributes heavily, and deserves a fair share of national resources.
Through all this, the linemen and BPL workers on the ground remain heroes. They work long hours in difficult conditions and serve with heart. But they cannot fix structural failures that stem from poor planning and inadequate support from the government. They need the resources and leadership that match the seriousness of Abaco’s needs.
Abaco will not settle for less. It is time for the government to do right by the people who contribute so much to this country.