The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Electricity Corporation Executive Chairman Leslie Miller yesterday defended his tenure at the power provider against rumours that he will not be reappointed next month.

Mr Miller said he would tell his version of the debacle at the BEC “in full colour” if he were passed over in a bid to cater to union objections with his leadership.

He was unapologetic over his relationship with BEC workers and vowed he would not back down from his hard-line stance on cost-cutting measures.

“I was appointed by the (prime minister) to do a job. He said he wanted to bring down the cost of electricity to the Bahamian people,” Mr Miller told The Tribune.

“The board and I went, on his assignment, to bring that down. I think we have done as good a job as any.

“My duty is not to sit with them (the unions), however when we see things that are going wrong in the corporation, when we see advantages taking place on the

Bahamian people, I will always speak out.

“Whether they like it or not, I was not sent here to appease unions. Now if the government policy is that they got to cater to the union and cater to them at the expense of the Bahamian people then I have a serious problem with that, and when that time comes you all will hear from me in full colour.”

Government board appointments expired June 30, however, Cabinet extended the appointments to August 31, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said last week.

Reflecting on his achievements at the corporation, Mr Miller pointed out that electricity costs dropped more than 20 per cent over the last 18 months.

Mr Miller told The Tribune he had not heard from Prime Minister Perry Christie on his appointment, adding that he was prepared to accept whatever decision was made.

Yesterday, Mr Miller again denied reports that he was asked to step down from his post earlier this year.

“The PM never asked Leslie Miller to step down, nor did Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. That is rumours. I have never had a meeting, Leslie Miller, since I went to BEC I have never met with the two top union leaders who are there now, I have no dealings with them. We hire Frank Carter and pay him a good amount of money – he deals with about three or four unions for the government, that’s not my job.”

“Someone had to take a hit, I work for the Bahamian people and I work on their behalf and whatever it takes to lessen the load that they have to put up with BEC, I was prepared to do so now. If someone else’s stand is that they are for the union, and not for the Bahamian people, well that’s their problem, that’s not my problem.

“I didn’t go to BEC on behalf of the union, I went to BEC on behalf of the Bahamian people.”

Since his appointment at BEC, Mr Miller has been embroiled in several public spats with unions representing workers at the corporation, specifically overtime pay and “double dipping” which allowed employees to collect sick pay and benefits from National Insurance Board (NIB).

“Since I became chairman we have decreased overtime in the first year by $4.2 million. This year we’re trying to get $4 million off it again,” Mr Miller said yesterday, adding that unions at BEC continuously “deflect from the real problems.”

“The overtime has not stopped,” he continued. “One of the (guys) in the union, who goes to the PM and those guys with a bunch of garbage and they don’t even have the courtesy to ask me to come to the meeting and defend myself. Over the last 10 years he has gotten an excess of $400,000 in overtime himself. If they make a decision, whatever decision they make, I will abide by that decision.”

He added: “Then I have the right to defend myself, as I said in Parliament you could do whatever you want to do, but Leslie Miller will defend his version to the fullest extent.”

Mr Miller’s bitter feud with union leaders led to calls for his resignation in June when it was revealed that he, and one of his family-owned businesses, owed the corporation more than $200,000.

It was later reported that $100,000 in cash was paid at BEC’s post office branch toward an outstanding bill for Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace. The sum was reportedly paid for in three payments of $25,000, $50,000 and another $25,000 because the corporation’s main branch on Baillou Hill Road refused to accept the cash, according to sources.