Calls for a protest against Belco’s recently announced bill increase along with pollution from its plant are circulating via social media.

No one is claiming to be the organiser of a protest, which the posts say will happen this morning, and at least one group is distancing itself from any protests being discussed online.

On September 29, Belco announced it would be increasing the Fuel Adjustment Rate from 16.513 cents per kilowatt-hour to 24.517 cents per kilowatt-hour.

A protest for last Friday had also been discussed but never materialised.

The Bermuda Clean Air Coalition, a group formed to protest pollution following the commissioning of the North Power Station, said it was not behind any planned protests.

A spokeswoman for the group told The Royal Gazette: “This is not a march being put on by BCAC. I have received calls asking if BCAC is co-ordinating/leading this protest. We are not! There may be individuals who support our BCAC efforts who are behind the march, but this decision did not come from the BCAC strategic team nor was the BCAC strategic team consulted.“

She added that while BCAC was not organising the protest, “many” of its members planned to turn up to support it. She was unable to provide approximate numbers expected to participate.

One anonymous social-media post said: “I apologise for the late cancellation on Thursday evening!

“This is a serious issue and by no means are we not going through with it!

“On Monday, we are asking all to come out as was planned for Friday! There has been a lot of good feedback on this matter! I’m confident that we are going to have a huge turnout, so please pass this information on! We will make our stance on Monday to address all of our concerns!

“Platform — There is no way that we are paying for the fuel adjustment!

“We need thousands to really make a statement! Let’s do this.”

Another post said: “Let us be ready on Monday morning! We are still coming out in numbers to show this government, the Regulator Authority and Belco that we will not stand for any more smoke screens, nor are we any longer going to tolerate the cost of these increases!

“Please spread the word that we are moving forward and are expecting no less than 10,000 Bermudians to show up ready to protest! I will give farther information by 12pm today!

“Get ready to make this stance Bermuda! We need to come out loud and strong! Taxi drivers, government workers, fishermen, contractors, business owners, schoolteachers, your children, grandchildren! Everybody and their grandmas.”

The post then shifted to address the Bermuda Police Service, adding: “We are not rioting, we are protesting Belco’s decision to raise their fuel adjustments! We are also protesting their disregard and for the health of the residents of Bermuda!”

A post on Saturday said: “Some of the talk shows and social-media sites are also saying that the March is postponed until 7am this Monday, October 9, 2023.

“I actually went yesterday — Friday morning in the torrential rain.”

Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, held a press conference on Friday announcing that the Government had initiated an inquiry into how Belco was allowed to increase energy bills by 20 per cent overall.

Belco had submitted a recommendation to the RA for the 48 per cent increase in the Fuel Adjustment Rate segment of the bill, saying that it was necessary because of “global events”.

The RA approved the request and the new fuel rate kicked in at the beginning of the month.

Mr Roban said he had sent questions to the RA to establish if it acted within the law when it approved the increase.

Michael Dunkley wrote a post on his Facebook page questioning why the Progressive Labour Party was only now learning of the changes to the rates.

The Shadow Minister of National Security, Health and Seniors said the press conference raised more questions than it answered.

Mr Dunkley wrote: “Is the minister implying he only learned of changes to FAR after it was announced publicly?

“The cost of living has skyrocketed under the PLP and droves of people have left the island, making matters worse!”

Senator Doug De Couto, Shadow Finance Minister, said: “With respect to any protests or public actions, it should be self-evident that we support the right of all Bermudians to protest and assemble peacefully.

“However, we do not condone violence of any sort, whatsoever.”