Bahamians should not condemn Dr. Rodney Smith for asking for a $400,000 annual salary as president of The College of The Bahamas, Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said yesterday.
"People are only hitting out at him because he's a black Bahamian," said Miller, when asked his opinion on Smith's request.
"If it was a damn white foreigner, I'm sure you wouldn't get all this fanfare. That's typical negroes. A black man is only worth so much."
He added, "Would it have been the same if it was some white foreigner out of Canada, the U.K. or the U.S.? As a country, we need to grow and get real.
"He's trying to be productive and we're trying to persecute him. At least he's working for it right and not making it in overtime.
"I wish him the best. I hope Bahamians would ease up off the man and appreciate him for what he's bringing to the institution. He was there before. The [presidential search] committee chose him over anyone else. So now remunerate him according to his ability and get the job done."
Miller said considering that presidents of other universities in the United States take home nearly half a million dollars annually, Smith's request is reasonable.
"I have no problem with the man making whatever it is he is entitled to make based on salaries elsewhere," he said.
"It will shock Bahamians the [number] of people in this country who are making more than $400,000 a year and probably doing less than what this man is expected to do."
He added that there is nothing wrong with the government announcing Smith as its choice for COB president before locking down a contract.
"Normally you get the position first and then you negotiate the salary," he said.
"First of all, he has to be good enough for you to want him right? Once that happened, then you can discuss salary."
Smith left COB in 2005 amid a plagiarism scandal.
As COB searched for a new president, Smith applied and was shortlisted along with three other candidates months ago.
In August, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald announced that Smith was selected for the position.
Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash has said the government should not reappoint Smith.

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