No more emergency generators, time for better electricity in VI – Hon Fraser
Hon Fraser’s calls came during debates in the House of Assembly in his support for Sheldon Scatliffe as Board Chairman BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) in the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Friday, July 7, 2023.
In the Cabinet meeting of June 7, 2023, chaired by His Excellency, Governor John J. Rankin, at the Premier's Conference Room where all members were present, Scatliffe received Cabinet approval to be appointed as Chairman of the BVI Electricity Corporation's (BVIEC) Board, according to Cabinet statements released on Friday, June 23, 2023.
According to statements of meeting, it said, “Mr. Sheldon Scatliffe be appointed as Chairman of the BVI Electricity Corporation's Board, in accordance with section 4 (1)(a) of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation Ordinance (Cap. 277), with effect from the date that approval for such appointment has been obtained by a Resolution passed by the House of Assembly and subject to section 5 of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation Ordinance (Cap. 277).”
Frequent power outages
Hon Fraser said on moving to Tortola in the early 90s, he could not stand the frequent power outages and was encouraged to get a backup generator by a then-manager of the BVIEC.
“Every time I go to the office… Every week the power would go off, in the middle in whatever you are doing… my job it was required to have computer, and one day I got to the point where I said this was disgusting I can’t take it anymore,” he said.
Hon Fraser said he did not even know what was an emergency generator given he had not experienced electricity surges outside of Tortola, ”And when I look around the territory, every establishment has an emergency generator so it became a norm around here,” he added.
Hon Fraser added, “I want to see that become an exception, Madam Speaker. Where only very, very essential services like the hospital will have an emergency generator. I know there are those who think it's impossible, but I think it's possible.”
Opposition leader, Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) however warned that generators may still have purpose when other forms of electricity fail reminding that the VI is an island that is isolated and there is a need for more forms of renewable energy.
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14 Responses to “No more emergency generators, time for better electricity in VI – Hon Fraser”
Do you have one of those “Men in Black pens” flash bright light and you forget everything “
I’m asking for a friend.
Because in your old age maybe you are becoming forgetful but i for sure can still remember.
How many years you were the Minister responsible for works in the BVI we were using generators then and we still using them today. So your point is?
In opposition, it is quite easy to ask numerous questions about things that said questioners had the responsibility to do something about but perhaps did little or nothing about. Furthermore, in opposition, members are great problem identifiers with little or no solutions, but in government with the responsibility to execute policies often deliver little. One must not only be a problem-identifier but also a problem- solver. Politicians are policy makers who creates policies which are social contracts between government and the people. Politicians are elected to deliver positive outcomes , not just look about self-interest, look good, criticize, make excuses, come to the HoA tardy, etc. Being consistently tardy for HoA meetings is unprofessional, disrespectful to the voters, the people. Madame Speaker, it is way past time for action. Ok. This commentary is about electricity, so let’s get back to it, digressing is a personal weakness. I think I need some rest time under a manjack tree. Any left in the BVI?
Moreover, BVIEC, a statutory body, the lone power company in the territory, is responsible for generating and distributing electrical power across the territory. It is responsible for delivering stable, reliable, safe, quality power supply at a reasonable cost per KWH. It produces power with diesel generators( expensive fossil fuel). It should invest in new, not used, quality generating plants with a definite lifecycle. To get the design lifecycle, will require a robust maintenance and repair programme. Thus programme will require well-trained maintenance and repair teams. Further, the foot print should include a fleet of generating plants with reserve units. The units should operate on established run times per unit schedule. Run times attained, the units should be replaced by a reserve unit(s) and so on. Clearly, units will be required to be taken offline for planned maintenance and repair and unplanned repairs. The VI/BVI is a remote locale from major markets with no Just in time delivery (JiT). Consequently, it should have high/low limits on shelf -ready inventory for critical parts. Moreover, at a certain percentage of the design lifecycle of generating plants, plans for either a complete overhaul or a replacement should take place based on whatever makes the best economic sense. As such, the BVIEC rate structure should include recapitalization cost.
Agree with the Hon Fraser that back-up generators should be the exception, the option, not the rule. Mr. Neil Smith, the current BVIEC Director, has the opportunity and challenge of making back-up generators the exception, the option, not the rule. It takes money to make things happen. The school chiren say that government is a bad pay, owning the BVIEC approx $10M. If true, though government may be the major shareholder in the BVIEC, it paying its bill would help the BVIEC improve its performance. By not paying its bill, government is depending on electricity customers to help fund government day-to-day operations. Government needs to know to the penny what it takes to run government. Government should not depend on statutory bodies, contractors, suppliers, etc to help run government; it should operate on its revenue intake.
Is that what that hairstyle was about?