The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE OPPOSITION’S finance spokesman yesterday urged the Government to introduce a more-targeted energy assistance programme for vulnerable Bahamians given that high electricity costs can become a health issue for seniors who depend on powered medical equipment.

Kwasi Thompson, the East Grand Bahama MP, made the call during debate on the Older Persons' Rights, Protections and Care Bill, stressing the Government should go beyond simply stating that tax relief, concessions and discounts on utilities may be made available to older persons.

He said electricity is not merely another household expense for some elderly Bahamians, particularly those who rely on medical equipment that requires a continuous power supply or medications that must be refrigerated. “For some elderly Bahamians, an interruption in electricity is more than just an inconvenience; it is a health issue,” said Mr Thompson.

He recounted two cases in East Grand Bahama involving patients who depended on oxygen equipment and said both died at home after power interruptions left them unable to access the equipment.

“Electricity is a part of their healthcare,” Mr Thompson said, arguing that the Government should establish clear programmes that tell vulnerable elderly customers exactly how much assistance they can receive when they cannot afford their electricity bills.

The call comes as Bahamian households continue to face elevated energy and transportation costs. Newly-released July consumer price index (CPI) data showed gasoline prices were 21.4 percent higher than a year earlier, while diesel prices increased 33.4 percent and transportation costs rose 12.9 percent. Overall inflation was 3.6 percent year-over-year.

Mr Thompson said those increases have an even greater impact on seniors living in communities such as McLean's Town and other eastern settlements of Grand Bahama, where residents can face long journeys to Freeport for medical appointments and other essential services.

He said the Government has tools available to provide relief to households facing higher energy costs, and argued that assistance should be easily accessible to those who genuinely need it.

The Government already provides utility assistance through the Ministry of Social Services to individuals and families whose water or electricity has been disconnected, or who are facing disconnection, with assistance capped at $600 per year.

The Government's broader energy policy has also included measures intended to reduce electricity costs for vulnerable BPL customers, including the equity rate adjustment, which was introduced to reduce bills for many residential customers and create a safety net for BPL's most vulnerable subscribers.

Mr Thompson's proposal came as the Opposition continues to press the Government for greater relief from rising energy-related costs.

He separately renewed criticism of the Government's decision not to adopt an earlier Opposition proposal to temporarily cap VAT collected on fuel when international oil prices rise, pointing to Barbados as an example of a government using tax policy to cushion consumers.

But Mr Thompson argued that relief must extend beyond fuel prices to households facing the more fundamental challenge of keeping their electricity connected.

“For the most vulnerable families, we ought to examine and implement a targeted caregiver financial assistance,” he said, arguing that support should help families caring for elderly relatives without financially overwhelming the household.

Mr Thompson said the same principle should apply to older Bahamians who are struggling to meet basic utility costs, particularly when electricity is directly tied to their health and ability to remain safely at home.