A senior Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) official has claimed that an increase in electricity rates would have a positive impact on the economy and the island’s productive sectors.Manager of Regulatory Affairs Dr Adrian Carter argued that position as he also insisted that Barbadians could afford to pay the 11.9 per cent increase being sought by the utility provider.Dr Carter made the comments as he gave evidence on day 13 of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) hearing into the power company’s rate increase application.As he was being cross-examined by intervenor and attorney-at-law Tricia Watson, Dr Carter acknowledged that high electricity prices “can have a negative impact on the productive sectors”.“And that could have an impact on economic growth?” Watson further asked.“It can have an impact on economic growth,” Carter replied.
