The Tribune

THE firing of one and the suspension of a second Bahamas Electricity Corporation employee sparked an eruption at BEC this week that has made it clear that unionists believe that they — and not the people of this country — have the last word on the management of the corporation.

The government, representative of the Bahamian people, was told by the union leader: Fire BEC chairman Leslie Miller or when the lights go out, we won’t turn them on.

To that Bahamians have angrily responded. In no uncertain terms many of them have – regardless of their political affiliation — given Mr Miller their full support.

“Let’s go Leslie Miller! I’m a big FNM, but right is right. I’m on Miller’s side. Get ‘em. Fire these people and get people in there who want to work,” was one message from the public that seemed to encapsulate the sentiments of all the others. And he continued: “Miller you seem like a true leader, continue as such, sir. Implement the shift system today! In the words of the union, not tomorrow, today. Stop this overtime. Every time the current is turned off without evidenced cause, fire all those on shift. We’ll see how much our neighbour is responsible for each other’s actions then.

“Don’t worry about the support of the union, you have the support of the Bahamian people, the true bosses of BEC...and we say to fire them! Miller has been very patient and has tried to negotiate with idiots who only want to delay the process. You gave them a chance Miller, now it’s your time.”

One look at our files will show that the BEC union has been the most militant of them all. They constantly try to convince the public that they are not for sabotage, but reports in the files of The Tribune contradict that statement — there are some among them who are.

Over the years the unions have taken the prime minister hostage. It started with Pindling, who cowered under their barking voices, strong language, and unreasonable demands. Sir Lynden thought he could not exist without their backing— and in his day he might have been right. Today they want to talk with none other than Prime Minister Perry Christie. But today’s times are different — thanks to former prime minister Hubert Ingraham, who had the wisdom to open the airwaves to private enterprise and give the people a public voice. And now, the voice of the Bahamian people have entered the debate. Government would be well advised to listen to the people, because it is they and not the unions who have put the MPs where they are today.

Government appointed Leslie Minister as BEC chairman. He is the only minister to date, who is not only a businessman, but has the courage to face the union and say: Enough! Yes, the Bahamian taxpayer has been taken advantage of for far too long. So has the nation.

This country is pricing itself out of the tourist market because of its high rates. And the rate most complained about is the high cost of electricity — in other words BEC.

Mr Miller has been appointed by government to bring those rates down. We are among those who believe that if government corporations and ministries were properly managed, there would be no need of a VAT discussion or the necessity to raise taxes. Millions are being lost, not only through political interference, favouritism and corruption, but through lack of strong management.

The overtime scam at BEC could never happen in the private sector, but protected by the union, it is entrenched at BEC. Today it is so much a part of the system that no one sees a kernel of dishonesty in it. In short, hard working Bahamians are being taken advantage of by a handful of unionists.

FNM chairman Darron Cash blames Mr Miller for creating the unrest at the corporation by firing one employee and suspending another who had the “backbone to stand up to him.”

We do not know the details of these two incidents, but whatever they are, they can be reviewed without a demonstration. However, we believe these incidents are an excuse for the unrest, but not the real issue. We agree with Mr Miller who says “this whole thing is about rostering and overtime and everything else. This just them wanting an excuse to do what they have to do. They been doing it now for 30 years and it’s time now for them to stop.”

Mr Miller pointed out that the union has 500 members. Of that 500 only about 150 people are demonstrating. “The rest,” he said, “don’t want to bother with them. They are trying to do everything they can to bring the corporation down to its knees. But that will not happen as long as as I am chairman. This is not about a fired employee. This is about money. The big mouth ones making all the noise are the ones who made $80,000 a year in overtime and they don’t like that it is changed. We took money out of their pockets and they are mad.”

Mr Miller might have added that that money came from the pockets of the average hard working Bahamian who has been complaining that his electrical bills are too high.

Mr Miller pointed out that overtime last month normally would have been over a million dollars, but as a result of the rostering system was cut to $400,000.

We are pleased that Mr Christie had enough backbone to inform union leaders that he had no intention of allowing them to “hold a gun to his head” and force him to make a swift decision that might not be in the best interest of the Bahamas. We hope that Mr Christie realises that he hasn’t the mettle to handle this situation. He has appointed Mr Miller to do the job.

We know that Mr Miller is no angel. But he is certainly the no-nonsense man needed to tame this union, which is used to bullying its way to the cookie jar.

This community need not have suffered the inconvenience inflicted upon it by this union, if instead of being bullies, they would have taken their grievance to the Industrial Tribunal. Now that it has been made clear that BEC provides an essential service, and as such cannot entertain strike action, union leaders might learn to exercise their lungs in front of arbitrators, rather than disrupt the lives of fellow Bahamians by turning off the lights and taking to the streets.