"It’s the same horror story repeated by every Bahamian entrepreneur: proposals go unanswered, attempts to meet with officials are stonewalled, and suddenly a project strikingly similar to your own is announced by others. This has been the consistent experience under both PLP and FNM administrations. There is a wall of silence and corruption that suffocates innovation—and it is unjust, unethical, and fundamentally un-Bahamian."

https://chatgpt.com/s/m_68880578e084819…

**Sometimes, it’s necessary to restrain yourself in the face of ignorance—pause, exercise patience, and offer a bit of education instead.**

For those willing to learn—and if intellectual curiosity hasn’t been completely extinguished—let it be made clear:

These Bahamian surnames are of Haitian (French) origin. Their presence is a testament to the rich, interwoven history of migration, colonialism, and cultural evolution across the Caribbean.

Bahamian Surnames of French/Haitian Origin:-
* Dupuch.
* Bastien
* Dorsett
* Moncur
* Delancey
* Laroda
* LaFleur
* Deveaux
* Duvalier
* Le Mance
* Jean
* Pierre
* Chea

These names form part of The Bahamas’ overlooked French-Caribbean heritage—shaped not only by British rule, but also by Haitian resilience, Loyalist diaspora, and wider colonial movement. To dismiss or erase their origins is not only ignorant—it is historically incorrect.

I understand that reading may not be one of your strengths, but I challenge you to make the effort and look up "Caonabo." His historical connection to both The Bahamas and Haiti might surprise you—if you can manage to reason beyond your apparent racial bias. The facts are there for those willing to confront them. Try engaging with history, not just prejudice.

I hear you Sickened—loud and clear. The very idea of Robert aligning with the PLP certainly raises eyebrows, especially for those who view the party as having long exhausted its moral and political credibility. But let's not forget our own history. Hubert Ingraham, once the PLP’s rising star, crossed the floor and transformed the FNM into a potent political force—shaking the very foundations of Bahamian politics and offering the people a viable alternative. He didn’t just switch parties; he redefined the conversation.

Today, we are again at an inflection point. Bahamian politics is in crisis. The FNM is directionless, leaderless, and hollowed out of conviction. Meanwhile, the PLP is trapped in a fog of public mistrust, where corruption and cronyism have become synonymous with its brand. Yet, amid this political vacuum, the appetite for change remains very real. And sometimes, change does not come in the shape we expect.

If Robert were to enter the PLP—not as a loyalist, but as a reformer—it could provoke the kind of disruption that many had once hoped Brent Symonette would deliver. That never materialized, of course—Brent became a symbol of lost potential and political timidity. But Robert, with his intelligence, independent mind, and unfiltered candor, might not follow that path. His entry could rattle the establishment, awaken a dormant electorate, and—"if leveraged correctly—force internal reform. It could even position him as a serious contender for Deputy Prime Minister, or more ambitiously, for the top post itself."

Now, as for standing beside Sebas—yes, the optics are tough. Very tough. You're absolutely right to raise that. There's a real cultural and ideological dissonance there, and it would be naive to pretend otherwise. But politics is rarely clean. What matters is not the lineup on stage, but the principles that one brings to the stage. If Robert stays true to his convictions, refuses to compromise with rot, and anchors his every move in service to the Bahamian people—then perhaps the very thing that now feels so troubling may instead become a stepping stone toward redemption for our politics.

Ultimately, no matter what jersey one wears—FNM, PLP, or otherwise—what Bahamians are desperate for is real leadership, decency, and delivery. If Robert can offer that, then perhaps, just perhaps, he can bring new life to a broken system.

> Historic Political Tremor

***Dupuch-Carron’s Potential PLP Candidacy Rivals Ingraham's FNM Defection***

A Dupuch running on a PLP ticket marks a seismic rupture in Bahamian political tradition—one that reverberates beyond MICAL and echoes through the corridors of power. From Sir Etienne Dupuch’s trailblazing anti-discrimination motion to the family's staunch affiliations with the UBP and later the FNM, the Dupuch legacy has long stood apart from PLP orthodoxy. Now, with Robert Dupuch-Carron entertaining candidacy under the very banner his lineage once stood against, the moment is being likened to the most significant political realignment since Hubert Ingraham’s defection from the PLP to the fnm.

plp Chairman Fred Mitchell and senior FNM officials have chosen silence—an eloquent indicator of just how delicate, and potentially transformative, this development may be.

If even traditional FNM-aligned families are now weighing the PLP as a viable vehicle for representation and delivery, the message from voters is unmistakable: performance now outweighs pedigree. Across MICAL and the southern Bahamas, the call is for real, measurable progress—improved infrastructure, reliable emergency services, and long-term development strategies. To remain competitive, the FNM must do more than reference its legacy; it must reconnect with neglected communities, field candidates rooted in both place and purpose, and present a governing vision built not on nostalgia but on delivery.

If not, this political “earthquake” will not be a momentary tremor—but the first rupture in a generational shift that redraws the Bahamian political map at the FNM’s expense.

-

***"Torch Out”***

-
***When lifelong supporters begin to say “the torch is out,” it is more than a slogan—it is a verdict. The FNM’s symbol, once seen as a bright beacon of hope, reform, and forward motion, now risks becoming an emblem of unmet expectations and broken promises. For many stalwarts—myself included—this is not mere disappointment. It is a reckoning.
The torch once lit the path to a better Bahamas. But today, amid silence, stagnation, and missed opportunities, that flame flickers dangerously close to extinguishment. If the FNM has any intention of reigniting that fire, it must re-engage the Bahamian people with clarity, courage, and competence—starting in the very communities now drifting away.
Until then, “Torch Out” will echo not as a whisper, but as a declaration—the people have moved on, and they are not waiting in the dark.***

Both major political parties are complicit. Rather than addressing this, they distract the public with immigration debates and climate rhetoric. This isn’t about policy—it’s about protecting corporate profits while overbilling Bahamians.

The real question—why are we paying more for less?—must be at the centre of the next election. *If politicians won’t answer it, then they don’t deserve to lead.*

** Betrayal of public trust. **

Indeed, the 800 kWh threshold was not a neutral line; it was a trigger point—a cleverly designed pivot after which both base and fuel rates spike, compounding the total cost at an aggressive multiplier. The result? Bills increase exponentially even when consumption only increases marginally. It punishes those who fall outside the "low income–low usage" model—not the wealthy elite, but ordinary working Bahamians who need A/C in the summer, a refrigerator for their children’s food, and lighting after dark.

"You are absolutely correct that the fuel rate above 800 kWh was already inflated in 2024, and the July 2025 bill confirmed a $46.80 increase in that specific tier—even though the rate per kWh decreased slightly. That disconnect between actual cost and per-unit rate proves the deeper manipulation: it's not just about the numbers on paper, it’s about how they’re stacked against you behind the scenes."

To claim that "bills have gone down" in the face of this data is not only disingenuous—it is, as you aptly noted, deliberate deception, bordering on misconduct when such statements are made in the House of Assembly.

As for FOCOL's $20.1 million net income—the public has every right to question whether BPL is being operated in the national interest, or as a commercial profit engine masquerading as a utility. The revelation that URCA approval was waived for fuel cost adjustments in the first three years of the FOCOL deal only strengthens the suspicion that this was engineered without adequate consumer protection.

To tell everyday Bahamians—teachers, civil servants, small business owners—to "use less" as a solution, while private energy contracts balloon in profit, is not a public policy. It is a betrayal of public trust.

* We see it.
* We feel it.
* We pay it.
And we will not be silenced by political storytelling.

The numbers speak for themselves. So do the people now.
Thank you for your insight—and your courage to say what others have tried to bury in silence.

**Electricity Bills Have Increased — Not Just Consumption**

> “We are not confused. We are reading
> our bills. What we are paying today is
> more—much more—than what we paid last
> year. And we will not be silenced by
> spin.”

In a recent press conference, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis stated that electricity bills in The Bahamas have not increased, but rather that energy consumption has risen, particularly during the summer months. He suggested that a proper comparison of electricity bills would show Bahamians are “paying less this summer than they paid last summer.”

Respectfully, that statement does not align with the facts.

As a private resident who tracks my household expenses closely, I reviewed my Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) bill from July 2024 and compared it to my bill from July 2025. The data is clear and indisputable:

July 2024 – Electricity Usage and Charges

* Total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used: 1,151 kWh

* Total Current Charges: $340.11

* VAT: Not applied

* Total Payable: $340.11 (excluding past due)

July 2025 – Electricity Usage and Charges

* Total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used: 1,372 kWh

* Total Current Charges: $460.70

* VAT (newly added): $41.88

* Total Payable: $502.58 (excluding past due)

While it is true that my usage increased by approximately 19%, my electricity bill increased by 47.8%. That is more than double the rate of consumption growth. This increase cannot be explained away by usage alone. The cause lies in the billing structure itself—one that includes punitive tiered rates, surging fuel charges, and a new 10% VAT on electricity, which did not exist last year.

Key Cost Increases That Drove My July 2025 Bill Higher:

* The fuel charge for usage over 800 kWh jumped by $46.80—from $75.61 in 2024 to $122.41 in 2025—despite only a slight decrease in the rate per kWh.

* I crossed deeper into the higher-cost tier (over 800 kWh), which is charged at elevated base and fuel rates, compounding the total.

* A 10% VAT, newly applied, added nearly $42 in taxes on top of an already inflated bill.

So no, Mr. Prime Minister—bills have not simply increased because people are using more electricity. They have increased because the rate structure is inherently aggressive, fuel surcharges are excessive, and new taxes have been quietly imposed on basic household utility consumption.

***This government has a duty to be honest, transparent, and responsive. Telling people their bills haven’t gone up when the numbers say otherwise only deepens public mistrust.***

We are not asking for miracles—we are asking for truth. And the truth is this:

> Bahamians are being charged more for
> electricity this year than they were
> last year. No amount of spin can
> rewrite the numbers printed on our
> bills.

What must happen immediately (not in another consultation, not in another press release):

* Zero-rate VAT on electricity up to a defined social floor (e.g., 800 kWh/month) and on all fuel pass-throughs. Stop taxing inefficiency.

* Publish the full hedge book, forward curve assumptions, and the “over/under recovery” account monthly. URCA must compel it.

* Independent forensic audit of BPL’s fuel procurement, rental generation contracts, and hedge unwind/expiry decisions from 2020-2025. Name the losses.

* Cap the percentage of generation allowed on rental ADO units and publish the per-kWh cost of every generation block on a rolling basis.

* Fast-track 150–200 MW of utility-scale solar + storage under transparent PPAs, with publicized levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and take-or-pay terms.

* Real net metering with bankable credits for households and SMEs; end the fiction of “self-generation encouragement” without a tariff that pays.

* Time-of-use tariffs so consumers can actually shift load and see a price signal—otherwise “use less” is just rhetoric.

* Legally bind BPL to a fuel charge stability band for 12 months, backed by a properly governed hedge program (not a political promise).

* Consumer restitution mechanism for provable over-recoveries during periods when BPL mis priced or misapplied the fuel rider.

Until these steps are executed and verified, every press conference about “heat” and “consumption” is an insult. Bahamians are not paying for electricity; they are paying for institutional failure, opaque fuel math, and government take on top of both. Call it what it is: a shakedown. And it ends when we force transparency, strip the tax off the fuel line, rebuild a professional hedge with public oversight, and replace the diesel addiction with real, measured renewables—not promises.

*The bottom line*

At ≈ 34 ¢/kWh, Bahamian households now pay twice the world average, 75 percent more than the U.S., and neck‑and‑neck with Britain’s crisis‑era cap—without Britain’s subsidies, winters, or wage levels. That is not the price of electricity; it is the price of chronic mis‑hedging, diesel addiction, and a tax regime that turns every kWh into a revenue stream for the Treasury.

In plain language: BPL has manoeuvred The Bahamas into an elite club no country wants to join—one defined by punitive power costs that strangle disposable income and choke investment. Until fuel risk is professionally hedged, VAT stripped off the fuel rider, and large‑scale renewables fast‑tracked, every monthly bill will keep reminding Bahamians where they rank on the global pain index.

BPL is not a utility anymore. It is a state-sanctioned shakedown. What landed in Bahamian inboxes this week is not a “summer spike”, it is a systematic transfer of household and business cash flow to cover years of political cowardice, bad fuel policy, and a tariff architecture written to protect the monopoly first and the consumer last.

Here is the cold arithmetic from my new bill:

> Usage: 1,372 kWh for the period.
>
> Base energy charge: $157.21 ( $71.70
> on 201-800 kWh @ 11.95¢ + $85.51 over
> 800 kWh @ 14.95¢).
>
> Fuel charge: $261.61 (800 kWh @ 17.4¢
> + 572 kWh @ 21.4¢).
>
> VAT (10% on the whole lot): $41.88.
>
> Current charges this cycle: $460.70.
>
> Total due with past-due balance:
> $591.38 by August 11.
>
> Effective tariff this month:
> ~33.6¢/kWh on current charges alone;
> ~43.1¢/kWh if you include the past-due
> they’re dragging forward. More than
> 56% of your subtotal (before VAT) is
> fuel. The Government then taxes that
> fuel pass-through.

So, after promising that prices would “level off” by early 2024, we are in mid-2025 paying 70%+ more on the fuel line than the hedged ~10¢/kWh they inherited in September 2021 — and 100% more once you cross 800 kWh. Meanwhile, Government trumpets a 1.1¢ “Summer Energy Rebate” while your bill still jumps 25-40% month-over-month because the structural problem (diesel dependence, abandoned hedge, rental engines burning ADO, and VAT on top of it) is untouched.

The Government just tabled an Order to (1) lock in BPL’s new base tariffs (remember the 14.9% hike on the first 900,000 kWh for the biggest customers) and (2) re-enable fuel hedging—the very tool whose lapse detonated this crisis. They’re also authorizing BPL to stuff into the fuel charge everything from “upper cylinder lube oil” to FX and bank fees, IPP purchase costs, and even the costs and fees of hedging itself. In plain language: we pay for their mistakes coming in, and we pay for their “solutions” going out. That is not regulation; that is organised extraction.

Bahamians should not whisper it:

Bahamian households and businesses are being shot in the back by a Government-owned utility that failed to protect consumers with competent fuel risk management, then taxed the fallout, then congratulated itself for shaving off 1.1¢ while effective bills exploded by 25-40% in a single month. This is not a “never-ending nightmare”; nightmares end when you wake up. This is a policy choice: tax the fuel, abandon the hedge, rent the most expensive engines, bury the true numbers, then lecture the public about consumption and weather. BPL’s fuel line is now a fiscal pipeline, and VAT on top of it is the State dipping twice. Enough.