Leslie Miller
ALL Pines MP Leslie Miller criticised Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd. and the government yesterday for “bringing in foreigners” to assist in restoring power to New Providence when, Mr. Miller claimed, “Bahamians could have done the same job.”
In an interview with The Tribune, Mr. Miller speculated that the government is paying more than $1m to “outsiders” when qualified Bahamians are being overlooked “for no real reason.”
The former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) executive chairman said “never in the history of The Bahamas” has any foreign company ever had to be brought in to assist with restoration efforts. Last week in a press release, BPL announced that two teams from PowerSecure and two from the Caribbean Electricity Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) arrived in New Providence to “ramp up the pace of restoration”.
BPL also said the company sought the help of local contractors.
“They brought in these old, rusty trucks that we have right here on the island not being used because they don’t work,” Mr. Miller told The Tribune. “What I want to know is, how much money is this going to cost us? This wasn’t a gift, they brought in these people and we have to pay them. I bet you any money that will be well over $1 million.
“They have 35 men and 10 trucks from what I understand. We have 35 trucks here that we used to rent. When I was there, we used Bahamians because we preferred the money to stay in the Bahamas. That is $1million that Bahamians could have used.
“This will be one hefty bill. They didn’t want our help. They didn’t want Bahamians to do it; they wanted the money to go outside. We always used Bahamians and we never had an issue and we certainly never took this long.
“This is the first time in the history of the Bahamas that anyone had to be brought in to New Providence. All this is dong is telling our people we are incapable of doing something we have always been doing. I hope in my lifetime this never happens again but I would not bet on it.”
Mr. Miller also said he believes he is being victimised by the BPL for “speaking out” against the utility provider.
“My constituents have been telling me that the guys from BEC said if they want their light on they need to ask the ‘potcake’ to do it,” Mr. Miller claimed.
“Some of the corners still aren’t on and these people playing games because they don’t like me. In the plaza where my business is, every other place was on but me. I called and called and complained and nothing happened.
“I was told a simple line had to be connected to my business; I had to call in a favour to get the line hooked up. There is no doubt in my mind that this wasn’t intentional. They did it because what I said about the crew down there but I don’t really care. I am not going to stop.”
Mr. Miller has repeatedly gone on the record with his belief that surrendering the day-to-day management of Bahamas Power and Light to PowerSecure was a “huge mistake.”
Mr. Miller has said the new management lacked compassion and the experience needed to run BPL.
Sancheska Dorsett, Tribune Staff Reporter
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