ISLAND FM RADIO STATION GOES SILENT

She noted as a small business owner any increase in electricity costs impacts the bottom line.

“(I have seen a) 25 to 30 percent increase here in the electricity bill. I actually made note of it. I checked and I looked at the year before and I said ‘wow, there is an increase in the electricity bill.’ Because I wanted to see how it would affect me as a small business owner,” she said.

Meanwhile, Graham Weatherford, a former business owner, said businesses and residents should switch to solar energy. “I realised that energy costs would shut down businesses and would be more than mortgages. So you’d lose your home because you’d have to pay a bigger light bill than your mortgage or rent. And I said, maybe it’s better to take the money and put it into solar energy. And so along with energy efficiency appliances and certain things you can do in your home I lowered my cost by 99 percent.” Mr Weatherford said many others could also benefit if they tried similar methods.

In October, Bahamas Power and Light announced an increase to its monthly fuel charge which was reflected in consumers’ electricity bills last November.

Customers that consume less than 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month will see their fuel charge rise via a series of rolling two cent quarterly increases, while for those using more than that threshold it will be a 4.3 cents per kWh quarterly leap.

“We lost a lot of other customers who just could not again, and I understand completely, who just could not afford to spend money on advertising at this period

Our company has been around gaming for over 30 years and pride ourselves on quality service and customer relationships. We are moving forward in the market and such are looking for qualified, dedicated, people friendly customer services representatives. We are accepting applications to fill the following position: Assistant Island Manager (Eleuthera)

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Overseeing adherence to company policies and procedures by employees.

• Auditing cashiers work to ensure accuracy.

• Maintain a safe and secure working environment for customers and staff.

• Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data.

• Evaluating, assessing and managing the performance of each employee.

• Ensuring that the opening and closing of shops in a timely manner.

• Ensure safe keeping of company funds.

• Overseeing the selection and recruitment of new employees.

• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Interested person mail their resume to P.O. Box F-40886 or email to careers@chancesgames.com of time. So, it became, you know, an issue of the finances after a while as well.”

Less than a dozen staff members were still employed at the station, according to Mr Carter. Island FM said when it began broadcasting in August 2001, the marketplace was already competitive but noted that it had a “sound that was completely foreign”.

The station also noted that over its lifespan, it experienced many great moments, “including making history as the first private radio station to stage a live debate between two aspiring Prime Minister candidates”.

“It was the lifelong passion of Island FM founder Sir Edward Charles Carter to promote the very best of The Bahamas. So, there was no debate or second-guessing, Island FM was going to be a great promoter of Bahamian music, Bahamian culture and indeed Bahamian Life,” the radio station’s statement added.

“Twenty-two years later and there are now over 25 private radio stations, ZNS and now a sound that is a bit more familiar. Island FM made a difference. It exposed us to our music, helped us to appreciate those rhythms that are uniquely ours. “It saluted our most celebrated musicians while uncovering talent previously unknown. It told our stories through music, creative programming and wonderfully recorded interviews that showed the Bahamian story.”

Island FM also spoke to its popular themed programmes that the company said they will never forget.

“There was no bigger themed show than ‘Sir Charles Carter’s Bahamians’. With his familiar chant of ‘These are Bahamians’, each of these over 750 shows educated and entertained listeners of all aspects of Bahamian life like no previous show ever had,” Island FM said.

“‘Island Classics’ brought the great music of yesterday back to life while ‘Great Hymns of the Church’ did the same for the nonsecular genre. Many of these shows focused on key aspects of Bahamian life like ‘Island Kids’, ‘Junkanoo Talks’, ‘Island sports talk’ and for the arts ‘Creative Nassau’.

“Let’s Talk Health’ for a healthier lifestyle while politics was the order of the day for ‘Parliament Street’ and even the one-of-a-kind show ‘Grumpy Old Men’ which featured music industry giants Ronnie Butler and King Eric Gibson.

“‘Rendezvous’ was successfully produced to help foster a better understanding of our neighbours to the south while our morning show ‘Da Mornin’ Boil’ became a flagship show and the wake-up call for many morning commuters.”

As for whether the station would ever make a comeback, Mr Carter told this newspaper it was definitely possible.

However, he hinted that if it did, there would be a new leader at the helm.

“We, the Carter family and myself – certainly believe in the power of Bahamian music and culture and we do believe that it could be a viable and financially stable and lucrative even business, but it needs some interjection of some young blood, I think, some young energy, fresh energy, probably for capital investment,” he added.

“I think it needs a different approach to maybe how today’s radio market is served best by a radio station and I think this is time that it’s somebody else and not me.”

The station also extended thanks to Michael Thompson for keeping them on the air, Streamco, the Catholic Diocese of The Bahamas and also, fellow broadcasters who the station said, “were always ready and willing to assist.”

“As Island FM steps back and pauses operations we thank it for reminding us of how great we can be, have been and should be. Forward, upward and onward together,” the station said in closing.