Déjà Vu at BPL: When “Risky and Ill-Conceived” Suddenly Becomes “Visionary”

Look who’s suddenly rediscovered the magic of “fuel hedging.”
Today it’s being reported that Bahamas Power and Light’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Anthony Christie, proudly announced that BPL is “exploring fuel hedging options.” You know, those same options that apparently ensure “consistent fuel availability” and “mitigate price volatility.” In other words, the exact reasons the last administration had the program in place in the first place.

Forgive me if I don’t burst into applause — because haven’t we been down this road before?

This is the same Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government that, under then-Minister Alfred Sears, let the previous fuel-hedging program expire while everyone in Cabinet pointed fingers at “whose desk the file was on.” Remember that? They didn’t exactly cancel it — they just forgot to renew it, which in government-speak means: we cancelled it, but quietly.

At the time, the official line was that the hedging program was “risky, ill-conceived, and not workable.” Strong words — until global oil prices went up, electricity bills skyrocketed, and Bahamians started asking why their light bills looked like mortgage payments. Suddenly, that “risky” FNM idea didn’t seem so bad after all.

And now, here comes Anthony Christie at a fancy BICA conference, re-introducing hedging like it’s some brand-new breakthrough. “Fuel management and financial strategies to deliver stable energy,” he says. “Mitigate price volatility,” he says.
Funny — that’s almost word for word what the Free National Movement (FNM) said when they launched the same strategy years ago. I would say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case it’s more like a desperate case of political amnesia.

But let’s be fair — maybe Mr. Christie is just the messenger. The real decision-makers — the ones who love being in front of the cameras, full of soundbites and slogans about “a New Day” — are nowhere to be found. Because how do you face the public and admit that you killed a working program, watched bills explode, and then had to sheepishly bring it back like nothing ever happened?

The PLP government has effectively performed the political equivalent of deleting an assignment, failing the course, and then photocopying your classmate’s old homework just to pass the resit. And we, the Bahamian people, are the ones paying the tuition.

So yes, welcome back to fuel hedging — the policy that once was “too risky,” now apparently “essential.”
It’s about time.
But let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t innovation. It’s a U-turn wrapped in a press release.

Still, if it finally brings some relief to Bahamians tired of choosing between air conditioning and groceries — I’ll take it. Just don’t call it a “New Day.”
Call it what it really is: The last administration’s idea, the New Day PLP administraion’s salvation, and tomorrow’s press conference.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason; it is their nature and people of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas deserve better.

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