By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said the PLP government is moving diligently to address the cost of power in Grand Bahama and throughout the Bahamas.

He said that they expect to begin discussions shortly with the GB Port Authority and the GB Power Company to look at the use of alternative energy as a means of power generation on the island.

"In our charter of governance, we clearly indicated that we are going to work in conjunction with the parties involved regarding the use of alternative energy," the minister said.

Dr Darville indicated that the possibility of the use of compressed natural gas has been on their agenda for sometime.

He noted that natural gas is much cheaper and the cost does not fluctuate on the international market.

Several major businesses have closed because of the high cost of power. Local activist and attorney Osman Johnson said the high energy cost by the GBPC "strikes at the core of the economic viability of Grand Bahama".

Mr Johnson called on the PLP government to make good on its campaign promise to address the issue with the power company to bring down energy costs.

Dr Darville explained that the high cost of fossil fuels has been the main issue concerning the cost of electricity in Grand Bahama and the Bahamas, in some Caribbean countries, and throughout the world.

In order to attract industry to Grand Bahama and create the thousands of jobs for Bahamians, he said something must be done about the cost of power.

"The Bahamas government is putting things in place not only in Grand Bahama, but in the Bahamas to address power concerns," he said.

"The PLP is moving diligently, but as you are aware these are not simple things; they are very complicated and it takes time to implement necessary policies and legislations as well as to work with the parties involved to accomplish that goal," he said.

"We are already in communication with the parties involved, and EMERA has put in two new turbines and this was put in with the intention or the ability to convert them to use other forms of fuels, so it puts us in a good position to look at alternative energy which we are doing," Minister Darville said.