A Bahamas government official on Thursday confirmed that daylight savings time could quite possibly be extended to correspond with a legislative move by U.S. lawmakers who aim to conserve energy.
“In the wake of the announcement by the United States, the Government of The Bahamas is reviewing the implication for The Bahamas of adjusting the period for daylight savings time,” David Davis, undersecretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, said on Thursday.
“In the next week or so they will make a determination having regards to our peculiar circumstances as to whether we will follow suit.”
According to Vincent Peet, Minister of Labour and Immigration and Leader of Government of Business in the House of Assembly, the government wants to first see what will best suit The Bahamas.
“There is no decision taken yet on that, but the government will look to see what the impact is on such a decision being made by the U.S government. I’m sure in due course we will take a decision that is in our best interest,” he said.
Earlier this month, U.S. President George W. Bush signed the proposed legislation making it law.
In July, Congress and Senate members passed the proposed bill to begin daylight savings time three weeks earlier – on the second Sunday in March – and extend it by one week to the first Sunday in November.
Originally, the bill proposed to have daylight savings time extended by two months – one month would have been added in the spring and another in the fall.
According to some American Senators, farmers complained that a two-month extension could adversely affect livestock and airline officials said it would have complicated scheduling of international flights.
During daylight savings time clocks are turned forward one hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
The new law is the first comprehensive energy legislation to be passed in over a decade in the United States.
U.S. officials said it aims to strengthen the United State’s electrical infrastructure, reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil, increase conservation and expand the use of clean renewable energy.
Mr. Davis said The Bahamas government has to consult with stakeholders who will be affected by any changes to the time.
“We are normally concerned about economic implications and whether the business sector and other persons in society will have to make adjustments,” he said.
“The initial reaction is that it may be beneficial to tourism. I do expect an announcement to be made within the next week.”
Mr. Davis said these changes to the time could possibly be made “via regulation”.
Daylight savings time begins at 2am on the first Sunday of April and reverts to standard time at 2am on the last Sunday of October.
By: Tosheena Robinson-Blair, The Bahama Journal
