The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE government is “not going to be silent” about the nearly 20 persons who were laid off from the Grand Bahama Power Company last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday.

He explained the government is looking to see how they can assist those who lost their jobs following the opening of the $80 million West Sunrise Plant which GBPC officials hope will ultimately replace the old steam generation plant.

The power company confirmed last Thursday it had made 19 of its staff redundant as part of a restructuring to “retire” the steam generation plant.

“The government is trying to see how it is able to assist those persons who were laid off,” Mr Christie said.

“The government has a deep concern about the way in which matters are taking place in Grand Bahama with specific reference even to the company itself and that we are looking at it and we are not going to be silent about it.”

The Prime Minister explained that Labour Minister Shane Gibson is currently looking into the matter, which is “under active scrutiny” and discussions are ongoing.

The company’s vice-president of generation, Whitney Heastie, told Tribune Business last week that the redundancies were part of a process that began 18 months ago when talks were started with the trade union representing GBPA’s line staff.

He explained that phasing out the steam plant was necessary to generate increased efficiencies and lower power costs.

The West Sunrise Plant opened at the beginning of last month and employs 35 Bahamians who have completed the company’s training programme.