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Good morning.
Today, we build on the progress already made.
We are here for an update on the Power Purchase Agreement between Bahamas Power and Light and Andros Renewable Energy Company Limited, a fully Bahamian-owned company that will construct three new power stations for Andros.
This agreement, signed at the Energy Summit in November 2025, speaks directly to the daily lives of the people of Andros and to the future of the island’s economy.
For years, families and businesses in Andros have lived with power cuts, unstable supply, and the worry that comes every time the lights flicker.
People have had to run generators, throw out spoiled food from fridges, and lose working hours and income.
Investors have sometimes thought twice.
What we are doing today is dealing with those problems in a serious, long-term way.
The three new power stations will give Andros a modern, reliable supply, able to meet what the island needs now and what it will need in the years ahead as Andros grows.
We are not only repairing the past. We are preparing for what we believe Andros can become.
Since coming to office, my administration has treated energy as a central issue.
When electricity fails, everything feels more difficult.
When bills are too high, the pressure shows up in every household and every small business.
Our energy reform work is guided by three clear aims:
- Bring down electricity costs for households and businesses.
- Replace old, inefficient power plants across The Bahamas with better, more efficient systems.
- Provide reliable electricity to communities across all our islands.
This agreement moves each of these aims forward for Andros.
New plants will use better technology and better fuel efficiency, which supports lower operating costs.
Stronger, modern systems mean fewer outages and fewer sudden breakdowns.
A dependable grid supports new investments in fishing, farming, tourism, and small businesses.
There is another important point. Andros Renewable Energy Company is entirely Bahamian-owned.
That tells us that Bahamian engineers, Bahamian financiers, and Bahamian entrepreneurs are prepared to step up and take on big responsibilities.
It keeps more of the value created here at home, supporting local jobs, local skills, and local contractors.
This is the kind of partnership we want across our islands: government setting the direction, BPL held to clear standards of performance and accountability, and Bahamian companies bringing their expertise and initiative to the table.
For the people of Andros, this is about real change in real communities.
In South Andros, places like Deep Creek, Black Point, and Mangrove Cay will see a more stable and modern power supply.
In North Andros, communities such as Lowe Sound, Mastic Point, and Nicholl’s Town will also benefit from improved and more dependable service.
We are also very conscious of the wider context.
Fuel prices remain volatile and climate impacts are increasing. As a small island nation, we feel those pressures keenly.
That is why our national energy reform is aimed at cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient systems.
Each new investment, including what we mark today, must help move us in that direction and create a platform that can support increasing use of renewables and smarter grids over time.
To the leadership of Andros Renewable Energy Company Limited, I extend my thanks. You are placing your skill, your capital, and your confidence in Andros and in The Bahamas.
And to the people of Andros, you have been patient for a long time.
We are answering that call and giving Andros an energy system that supports your plans for your families, your communities, and your businesses.
My government will keep working to ensure that electricity in Andros is a foundation for opportunity, not a barrier to progress.
Thank you, and may God bless the people of Andros and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.