DLP inaction cost country millions

The former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration has been accused of criminal negligence in its failure to follow through on a 2011 Cabinet decision that gave the green light to eliminate the sale and use of inefficient lighting in Barbados that would have saved the country at least $600 million.

Minister of Energy Kerrie Symmonds, an attorney by profession, levelled the charge as he introduced the Control of Inefficient Lighting Bill, 2021, which provides for the phased elimination of the use and sale of inefficient

electrical lamps – incandescent bulbs – in Barbados.

He insisted that the financial interests of individual consumers, businesses and the country were “injuriously affected” by the previous government’s inaction.

Symmonds drew the House of Assembly’s attention to a 2011 study, conducted by consultancy firm Castalia Strategic Advisors, on a phaseout plan for energy efficient lighting in Barbados.

He noted that, according to that study, the country overall could cut its energy bill by a third – approximately $100 million to $200 million annually – by eliminating the importation, sale and use of inefficient lightbulbs.

The Energy Minister said although Cabinet gave the nod to a plan that was submitted by what was then the Division of Energy and Telecommunications in September 2011, up to the time the DLP was ousted in 2018, no action had been taken.

Against this background, Symmonds said “the constituent elements of criminal negligence are here before us”.

“The constituent elements of having a duty of care, a duty to act, and that duty not having been taken, that duty is observed only in the breach. The constituent element of being able to point to a breach, the breach is clear.

“Since 2011, Cabinet instructed that something be done – that the Division of Energy in the Prime Minister of Barbados’ Office at the time take certain steps to make sure that there was the phaseout plan for inefficient lighting, to come and do exactly what we’re doing here and they ain’t do anything ’bout it and cost every taxpayer, cost every business house, every industry operator in Barbados a loss of money.

“That takes you into the third constituent element, Sir – the causation. They caused them to lose money; and the last of the elements would be the damage – the sums of money lost,” Symmonds charged.

Symmonds, pointing to this situation as just one of the many examples of the failings of the previous administration, lamented that the country continued to be imperiled “because of wilful disregard and under-accomplishment” of the last government.

However, the Energy Minister said, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration, since coming to office and becoming aware of the Cabinet decision that was not actioned, took action that has led to the Control of Inefficient Lighting Bill, 2021 being taken to Parliament.

He said this followed consultation with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the representative body of people importing the products at the centre of the legislation.

“We felt that, in view of the fact that seven years had elapsed, we had to consult with the Chamber and we did so and the Chamber came back and they indicated that as far as they were concerned it was still an issue, but it was an issue that the market had started to respond to by its own volition.

“They noted, however, – and this is where Cabinet benefitted from the consultation – that there are still some areas where you cannot get the equivalent or the energy efficient equivalent of the incandescent bulb,” Symmonds explained.

Against this background, 12 exemptions – bulbs for airport runway lights, automobile lights, freezers, heating equipment, lab equipment, lighting equipment, medical equipment, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators, stoves and stove hoods – have been granted.

Under the Control of Inefficient Lighting Bill, 2021, standards are set by the Barbados National Standards Institute (BNSI) for imported electrical lamps and electrical lamps for local distribution, sale or use.

Over the next two and a half years, bulbs that do not meet those standards, excluding those exempted, will be prohibited.

“The policy is to phase out the availability of these bulbs and to do so in a way that is manageable and does not immediately impact on consumers. We do not, equally, want to be unkind or unfair to those people who sell those bulbs, so we’re giving them a fair period of time to make the necessary adjustment, after having gone out of our way to make sure we did the necessary consultation before we came here,” Minister Symmonds explained.

Prohibition on imports and sales are scheduled to take effect in January next year, starting with the most inefficient lights, incandescent bulbs, which waste most of the energy they produce.

“The incandescent bulb has outlived its usefulness and it is more a liability than it is a value, and we have to move the whole country in the direction of energy efficient lighting, saving Barbados substantial sums collectively,” Symmonds insisted.

The Energy Minister explained that restriction on imports will begin on January 1, 2022 with the 15-watt bulb, although the sale of those products will be allowed to continue until June 30, 2022. The next day, July 1, 2022, the importation of 25-watt bulbs will be restricted while sales will continue until December 31, 2022 only.

Import restrictions on the 40-watt bulbs will begin on January 1, 2023, while sales will be prohibited from July 1, 2023; and importation of 55-watt bulbs will be prohibited from July 1, 2023 and the last day of sales allowed will be December 31, 2023.

Minister Symmonds noted that assistance can be provided to vulnerable households that are unable to afford the approved bulbs. (DP)