BEC Chairman Leslie Miller
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
BEC CHAIRMAN Leslie Miller said yesterday the Corporation has decided to give employees their Christmas bonuses on one condition – they will receive no other bonus until the company is out of debt.
Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Miller said after consultation with the Acting Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Minister of Labour Shane Gibson the corporation will go ahead and pay the $1.4 million in bonuses to staff, despite the corporation’s difficult financial situation.
“This came with an understanding that this bonus business will cease and desist from now on and the staff will only get a bonus if the corporation is profitable.
“So we are giving them one year’s notice, they will only get it if the company is in a good financial position and it will also be based on their performance,” he said.
“This goes for every single person in BEC from Executive management to line staff, it will no longer be automatic. They will have to work. They will not be getting money for nothing.”
Mr Miller also said the corporation changed its mind in respect to the bonuses to “alleviate the probability that BEC staff will rob someone.”
He said: “I took it very seriously when Mr Green said that. I know the majority of BEC staff would not rob anybody, but Mr Greene must know who the people are he is talking about. So if I have to stop him and his fellas from robbing the Bahamian people by giving them their bonus I will. The people already getting robbed from BEC every day.”
Mr Miller said the bonuses range from $700 to $2,000.
Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Stephano Greene said the union is prepared to work with the corporation in anyway it can. He said he is grateful that the people will be paid in time for Christmas.
On Monday, Mr Miller sent a letter to BEC General Manager Kevin Basden telling him that the corporation has decided not to pay Christmas bonuses this year and that it will do so when the company “finds itself in a better position”.
He said the deferral will enable BEC to live up to our financial obligations for the procurement of fuel, supplies as well as other financial obligations.
Comments
banker 11 years ago
They chickened out.
Kalikgold 11 years ago
Yayy! At least now I won't have to be looking over my back for the "alleged" greasy robbers.
Instead, my BEC boys gonna be "balling'!! Kalikgolds all day/ all night!
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
My goodness is Miller saying we have to rob the taxpayers and BEC customers to give people w/ jobs /health insurance /and pensions a Christmas bonus while the corp is losing money so they don,t go out and commit a crime ..My goodness now we are trying to pay people to be moral ?? I SAY DON,T GIVE EM SH@T AND ANY BEC WORKER THAT COMMITS A CRIME , NO BAIL UNTIL JANUARY
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
All I can say is my lights better not even twitch or flicker over this holiday season, you all have your double dippin' paid bonuses sorted into next year. Mess with my lights during the holidays and you get ZERO support or sympathy from me.
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
Mr Miller the public is behind you ,tell PGC and PBD cut the crap ,Miller put your money where your mouth is at helping the public or does politics and the party come first ,,
TalRussell 11 years ago
Yeah the man almost had me go'in his way. So much so that honestly I did have a higher opinion of Comrade Pot Cake Leslie, than I held for hemorrhoids. Well that was until the Chairman of BEC was reported by the Tribune today as having said; "If have to stop them fellas from robbing the Bahamian people by giving them their bonus, I will." C'mon Comrades, admit to it, you didn't know that hemorrhoids actually had a following?
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Pretty pathetic, I must agree...if some are inclined to rob people, they will rob them anyways, even if they do get their bonuses and double dipping...now you are just condoning it and it will be the rally cry from all unions...you can't do that otherwise we need to resort to crime...oh, OK...have it your way then, we will concede to your threat of violence and crime. geesh
banker 11 years ago
Ironically, Comrade Pot Cake's financial advisor in business was once a banker who was arrested for fraud and lost his banking job. As for those hemorrhoids, my grammy used to swear that they could be cured with the fat from an Andros land crab.
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
IF YOU HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO HAVE MORALS THEY HAVE NONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Morals? What are they? Man...I need to lose my morals and start making some money taking advantage of people. Got me too much brought-upsy...need to lower myself down to the scum with all the rest.
TalRussell 11 years ago
Careful Comrade Banker whilst your grammy might be right , best be careful when talk'in bout fellas walk'in around BEC scratching they crabs. That is asking for trouble.
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
ROTFL
bytheway 11 years ago
Just goes to show that while Leslie Miller may be the "chairman" that he's not really in charge. He talked about bringing down the bills we pay monthly - seen no sign of that except when price of gas did go down. How does he bear the humiliation of having everything he says being discounted. Thought he might resign over the "double-dipping" exercise but did he heck! Its all talk and the people still pay!!
TalRussell 11 years ago
Comrade Banker my dear friend. Yep, it really took a Comrade with big bullocks to come to this blog and freely admit to being a loyal follower for "crabs," even if it's but a following of one Banker. Behave yourself, before you's start get's Tribune readers a scratching they's private parts. I'm guilty. so where do I sign up for your new group of scratch'ers?
henny 11 years ago
You shouldn't have backed down Mr. Miller. No wonder they make threats. Now Mr. Green's demands have been met. It gives him incentive to do it again!!
Bahamianpride 11 years ago
Paying for votes, Wow.. Politics beats out morals, sound business, and rational thinking.. Leslie Miller tries to take a stand, but the phone calls comes in from the bosses everytime... I would resign and move on with my life if i were him, he is chairman in title alone..
realfreethinker 11 years ago
He wont resign because he also lose the gravy train. dont think for a second aint nothing in it for him
The_Oracle 11 years ago
Let's see, threaten to rob, get paid not to.
Anyone familiar with protection rackets?
While Mr. Miller seemed to be climbing out of the fog, he musse couldn't see the rungs of the ladder and slip! And they think VAT will cure this madness? insanity.
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
Just speculating but the unions may actually realize that what we're squabbling over amounts to pennies, in the mean time someone is at the back door raping the country. Is it true that a company owned or do-owned by Daryl Rolle has been given the contract for the 20 million agricultural school in Andros? If so how long has the company been in existence? If true, what experience does Daryl Rolle have in overseeing such a massive construction project? The DPM must have seen something wrong with this picture..I would hate to think someone created a company for the sole purpose of getting the contract..this govt is messed up. 20 million with an "M". That's more than the teachers and BEC put together.
@Madame Editor can you look into this to see if there is any truth to the story and also some background on the company awarded the contract?
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
Daryl Rolle also got shares in the old Island seafood when the Jewish fellas from jacksonville were allowed to go into business here under Ping ,,He is a trusted "front man " that gives the others there share ,,
TalRussell 11 years ago
Clear signs the PLP's political machine is broken when you're force to resort to paying in advance to turn out the vote come 2017. Gotta assume PM Christie thinks, it's much too risky to run his candidates solely on good performance as a government. Good Old Boys tactics, go'in back to mark'in your 'illiterate.X' vote buying days. .Except the UBP Boys often would used their own, or Wallace Groves money, not the taxpayers Church Collection Coins.
bytheway 11 years ago
PS Anyone seen the PM in town yet??
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
What difference does it make really? This govt has been a sham since day-1. Maybe 3 or 4 extra policemen can do some real work
Reality_Check 11 years ago
A thief himself cannot stop other thieves from T'FEN!!
Greentea 11 years ago
This is absolutely ridiculous. This can only happen when everyone is compromised or the government has zero will to simply do the right thing for the Bahamian people. This government seems incapable of negotiating and always running scared. There is not one real politician among you. Not one serious negotiator, coalition builder or true leader among you. (and aint nothing better on the other side of the aisle either) Members of the PLP- ya'll have given us a weak government. Ya'll might think Miller is a joke but what you miss is that the people who have to vote for ya aint laughin.' The majority with him. I already buy my candles and everything prepared for their foolishness over the holidays and what do you do- capitulate! Even the young fellas silent- Ya'll have the stage for the next three years, Wells, Moss, Major- start speaking up man- they cant do nothin' to you. I thought you three might have some sense- but you are way too quiet. If you all dont step up start planning for life after 2017 now. Ya'll gatta go home. The people asking you to step up and do right and ya'll keep backin' down. Not a damn bit a potcake in ya'll. No fight.
spoitier 11 years ago
When you make statements like "This Government seems incapable" it sounds like you believe that the FNM was doing something different. The truth of the matter is these type of stuff was always going on in the Bahamas, if changes is going to happen, it probably wouldn't happen from any of the two.
Greentea 11 years ago
If I had only said that statement sure- but I also said that I didn't think the folks on the other side of the aisle were any better- And I am commenting on current events. The Mess that is BEC is the child of both party's governments. We have had poor governance for much- though not all of the past 40 years- and as the old folks used to say I fully recognize that- Peter has not been much better than Paul.
Emac 11 years ago
I agree that the FNM and PLP are both incapable of taking this country to the next level. But to put the FNM in the same category as the PLP is a fallacy. No matter how you put it, Ingraham was a worker. You can call the man a dictator or whatever. The fact is he was not afraid to make decisions. I can't respect no leader who always ducking and dodging or is always too tired to respond to critical concerns of the people. BE A MAN and face the music!!!
TalRussell 11 years ago
If only these bonuses, double dipp'in BEC workers would keep the Christmas lights on, we might stomach their greed. Finally, I sincerely hope this Christmas, they do say thank you, to all Bahamalander's whose taxes they are helping themselves to. Basically, they don't give a damn, if Santa skips the homes of thousands of little ones on Christmas Eve. For goodness sake it's hard for parents to encourage their little one's to be good – when the grown-ups helps themselves to more than their share.
digimagination 11 years ago
This is so pathetic it makes one want to weep!
TalRussell 11 years ago
Comrade Digimagination imagine the many out of paychecks parents who this Christmas will try putting on a smile while holding back the tears. Still, they will read the little one's stories all about the joys and goodness of Christmas. Promises of another Christmas when Santa will not forget to stop by.
eyeswideopen 11 years ago
Just when I thought he grew a pair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HolandObserver 11 years ago
Ok, let me sum this up....agitate for double dipping to resume: check; threaten to rob if bonuses are not paid: check. Something is very wrong with the way Mr Miller is being undermined as Chairman of BEC. Well I guess that I dare any other MP to challenge the Unions. They may have themselves in the same situation that Leslie Miller finds himself in now. Why hasnt the PM intervened in the BUT and Ministry of Education wrangle. Something usual is going on here!!!!!
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
He has intervened, he's intervened too much and in the wrong places. If he had put together a competent team instead of a bunch of tired old cronies, he could rest assured that these run of the mill situations would be taken care of. He could then focus on top priority issues, rather than jumping into every discussion of potcakes loose on the street. Do you see Barack Obama running to Israel to interrupt Bibbi and John Carey? No, he's hired a competent employee whom he trusts has knowledge of his area and good negotiation skills. He's concentrating his efforts on what he believes is the top priority initiative for his administration. Our PM on the other hand is popping up all over the place just like bad money. I doubt he even knows what his top priority is.
He likes to please everybody, "WRONG". He has both Belinda Wilson and Stephano Greene believing that they don't have to listen to what anyone says because they can go running to him. He causes confusion.
Regarding Stephano's publicly broadcasted "will have to rob" statement, Brave Davis Minister of Works should have chastised him publicly but he said nothing, Bernard Nottage National Security Minister said nothing, the Commissioner of police said nothing. They each condoned the "do what you have to do to have a good Christmas" mentality. (Whatever "good* Christmas means"). Serious about crime? Young fellas on the street are quoting Stephanie at this very instant and saying "see, he get what he want, I guh do what I have to to get what I want, even if I have to rob a bunch of people"
Personally I believe they do not like Leslie. He is outspoken and could not be confused with the most tactful individual around. Over the years he must have rubbed some people in the party the wrong way. They sent him there not because they like him, but they believed that bulldoze mentality would have cleaned up the mess in time for the smooth transfer of a profitable company to another crony in another trumped up sales deal. Reality for them puts votes against cleanup, if Leslie is embarrassed in the fallout, who cares?
Might be a good thing, if they piss him off enough, he'll spill the goods on all of them. He did call someone a murderer the other day after all...
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
@thisisours,,,the company in question is not profitable ,is grossly overstaffed and charges some of the highest rates in the region for horrible service . For so long at BEC ,and BTC when the gov owned it, while charging outrageous rates and none of the money went to newer more effiecent equipment it all goes to salaries ,pensions ,fake overtime and double dipping while "taxing" the hell out of the public w/ outrageous rates,,
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
Yes I know, but it could be. It would require a hatchet man, someone with the guts to do what would have to be done. Bring on Leslie, at least that's my theory...
bahamalove 11 years ago
The following article shows that Barbados is making the tough decisions. And this is being done by a country that already has VAT implemented. We need to start doing the same. Let's start with Fred Mitchell and his excessive travelling.
• BRIDGETOWN
Barbados’s Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler, has announced cost-saving measures that will result in approximately 3,000 public sector employees on the island losing their jobs. Sinckler made the announcement in a ministerial statement to the Barbados Parliament yesterday.
“We have estimated that it will affect 3,000 employees across the public service, central government and statutory entities.
“We have agreed that, if possible, there should be an even split in the proposed retrenchments between central government and statutory entities; but if not possible, then the split of 2,000 from the general service and 1,000 from the statutory entities must be imposed.”
He also disclosed that effective January 1, there will also be a freeze on all increments. “Effective January 1, 2014, there shall be enforced a freeze on the payment of increments for the next two years. Appropriate arrangements will be made for the lost of income to be properly factored in to the computation of overall pension benefits... both the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Ministry of the Civil Service, including the Personnel Administration division, have been mandated to continue consultation and negotiations with the workers’ representatives to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to safeguard the rights of all workers affected by these measures and to craft interventions aimed at mitigating the dislocation which will undoubtedly be caused, including those interested to enter into retraining and redeployment programmes in the private sector,” he said. He said all members of parliament, permanent secretaries and personal assistants were taking a ten per cent salary reduction.
Ministries have also been instructed to immediately cut travel budgets by 50 per cent. According to the finance minister, the governing Democratic Labour Party government is trying to plug a gap of BDS$143 million annually, including BDS$34 million in the last quarter of the year.
Alex_Charles 11 years ago
BEC will ever go bankrupt so long as the tax payer is paying for the service in which they own....wait
TalRussell 11 years ago
Prime Minister Christie and Cabinet Colleagues why don't you take this bonus money and apply the funds to those Bahamalander's you can help who have an incentive to help themselves, not more reason to slouch off taxpayers. PM where in the hell did you come up with this "all exclusive to government workers dollar matching plus bonus program?"The more they cut of the peoples lights, the higher is they pay.
proudloudandfnm 11 years ago
Miller was 100% right. Perry caved. Unbelievable lack of teamwork. Now after all of this drama we the people get to pay the bonuses.....
Anyone else feel chaffed?
john33xyz 11 years ago
This "agreement" to not pay xmas bonus next year MEANS NOTHING if it remains written in their Contract / Industrial Agreement. Unless that is changed it's just talk - cause next year they will say the same thing - "It's in our Contract" - and it will be.
john33xyz 11 years ago
I wonder it there is a loophole in the new Sexual Predators Act being debated in the House right now - that if you are selling your daughter into sexual service to help pay your BEC bill then that is ok and you won't be prosecuted ?
I mean, why not ? Nothing seems too good or enough for our BEC people - they are clearly more important than "ordinary" Bahamians.
SurDavid 11 years ago
BEC = Corruption
John 11 years ago
Politics, like religion, determines whom you sleep with. In the bible days even though Adam walked and talked with God on a daily basis, he gave in to his wife and ended up in bed with satan. aka, Lucifer, the wicked one, the prince of darkness, the great deceiver, the prince of hell., the desolator. the anti-Christ, 666, the (mark of) the beast. In this case Brave Davis was like Pontus Pilate when, he said ," I find no fault in this man', (meaning what Leslie Miller was trying to do was pure and unblemished) but yet Brave Davis gave the order to "*PAY THE BONUSES AND CRUCIFY LESLIE MILLER "((he doin he job an makin da res a us look bad anyway)) Poor Potcake..dog eat he lunch still!* ."Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end." @ Leslie "Potcake" Miller. - 1 February 1975. Letter to Winnie Mandela by Nelson Mandela**
pablojay 11 years ago
I have no problem with BEC paying employees a Christmas bonus simply due to the fact that that it is typical of the PLP ,who have no vision, not realising that this issue would come up around this time of year . It should have been taken cared of around August to give the employees enough time to prepare for it, but since it is so close to Christmas ,it should be given to them.Waiting to see what the government will do next year, their usual capitulation,i guess.
TalRussell 11 years ago
I won't even waste time posting that NO government worker should be entitled to taxpayers funded bonuses. Didn't this same government not accuse folks over at NIB of receiving bonuses? Comrades firstly, at the outset, it is but in the fantasy BEC unionized labour law does the question of Christmas bonuses exist. In fact there are no bonuses clauses of any type in labour law. This leaves it entirely up to the employer to decide, and if they so wish to offer bonuses. Even if previous bonuses have been paid out it's the employer who decides, if and when they will continue payouts. PM and cabinet colleagues stop passing the political buck. Keep this up and soon Bahmaland dollar will become monopoly money. Try getting Comrade Rupert to give you $200 worth of his Super Value groceries in exchange for your Do Not Pass Card
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