Speak up!

President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood, has lambasted the current administration for the “deafening silence” on the rate adjustment hearings being held by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) in which the Barbados Light & Power Company (BLPC) is seeking a hike in basic rates.

Dr Yearwood voiced his concern during a Democratic Labour Party public meeting at the corner of Pine Plantation Road on Sunday, where he referenced recent comments by BLPC Managing Director Roger Blackman who warned that there might be implications for the quality of service if the increase is denied.

According to the DLP President, such comments should not be taken lightly.

“How can the sole electric company in your country threaten the people of a sovereign government, supposed to be a republic, and you have a government that is silent. You have all of these organisations sitting down, and you are allowing a private entity to literally say to Barbadians ‘[if] I do not get more money, I will turn off the lights on you’.

“How can this be normal? How are we just sitting down,” he questioned.

Dr Yearwood stated that the cost of living crisis continues to be a growing concern for Barbadians, and since the cost of energy determines the cost of products and services in a country, the need to keep electricity rates as low as possible should be a top priority to the current government.

“Barbadians are experiencing a cost of living crisis, and the Barbados Light and Power has been reaping the rewards over the last 11 years. The average payout to shareholders was $48 million in profits… and in all of this, the Fair Trading Commission that is supposed to defend Barbadians, actually is allowing the [interim rate] increase.”

He added: “The reality is if the electricity bill goes up, it affects the entire economy… Don’t mind people talking foolishness about how it’s only two or three or six dollars and they have Barbadians who can afford that. That cost will ripple through the entire economy, so the price of everything else has to go up.

“When you go to the fish market, when you go to the supermarket, refrigeration costs, the lights that you see on here… everything is going to go up. So it’s not just a little 12 or six dollar increase. Even if it’s a 12 or six dollar increase, we know there are Barbadians who cannot afford that. That is just where we are.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb