Miller opposes plan for BEC

BEC Chairman Leslie Miller

As of Thursday, February 27, 2014

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BEC CHAIRMAN Leslie Miller yesterday criticised the government’s plan to privatise the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and split it into two new separate entities – a plan he said is not in the best interest of the Bahamian people.

Speaking with the press, Mr Miller said he thinks it is “stupid” to allow a foreign entity come into the Bahamas and sell Bahamians the same electricity BEC has been providing for over 50 years. He said BEC should be managed and owned by the people and he will “fight” with everything he has to ensure that what happened with the sale of BTC does not happen with BEC.

“I have no interest whatsoever in what is going on with regard to having another foreign entity come into the Bahamas, as was the case with BTC, turn it around quickly, rake the profits, send it back to their home and the Bahamian people, in my opinion is left with a product that is not up to par,” Mr Miller said.

“I don’t want anyone to tell me that any foreigner can come in here and do things better than Bahamians. Bahamians was running BTC for the last 60 years and did a better job than who is here now and I daresay, that I believe in our heads God put all of us brains that is equal to anyone on this planet. I believe in Bahamianization and I believe that the government, whatever it does, should ensure that BEC is left to be managed and owned by the people of the Bahamas. That is my personal belief and I will fight for that with all I have in me, that what took place at BTC does not take place at BEC. Now some may disagree with me on that at the highest order, but I could care less, I was elected like everyone else.

“With regard to these companies that are making proposals, all of those companies from what I understand are making proposals on the basis that they will put up a new plant on Clifton and sell BEC electricity. I have one problem with that. We have been producing for the last 50 years by ourselves, what I need a guy to come here and produce for me here? So they want a PPA, which is a Power Purchase Agreement. I put up a power plant out Clifton, I generate the electricity and I sell it to BEC. You ever hear something as stupid as that in your life? BEC is the producer of electricity for the entire Commonwealth of the Bahamas, except for Freeport, Grand Bahama, and here you are getting a company to come to Nassau to produce electricity for an entity that has been producing it for over 60 years and you buy from them? We need to sit back and review this.”

Mr Miller said he agrees that an international partner is needed to provide the capital that BEC does not have, but the government should not allow them to make decisions and they should not be “full fledged partners.”

“My personal view on that is I do not think we should allow no foreign entity to be in charge of such a vital entity in our county that the fella could pull the plug on you if you don’t pay your bill,” he said.

“Bahamians should be responsible for making those decisions. That should be our responsibility to produce electricity for our people. After all BEC is owned by the people of the Bahamas. We have the capability to run it ourselves but we do not have the money hence you go and partner with an international partner that has the financial capability to have the technical acumen to assist you and get you where you want to go. That doesn’t mean you have to make them full fledged partners with what you are doing.

“There is no need to split BEC in two. BEC is a small entity and BEC’s major market is New Providence. BEC carries the load for all of the Bahamas, except Freeport, so there is no need to cut BEC the way they are doing it. I do not agree with it and in most countries where that took place in small economies it did not work and it will not work in my humble opinion. We all got our views and my view is there is no need to split BEC in two. The country is too small, and the economy is not broad enough. But these people could come with all kind of ideas and don’t forget these the same people who had the brilliant idea to sell BTC so you know how much respect I have for them – zero.”

Last year, Prime Minister Christie revealed that the Government intends to create two new BEC entities into which the relevant assets, liabilities and operations of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation would be transferred.

The first company, a new transmission and distribution company (“NewCo”) will be wholly owned by BEC and will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, and expansion of NewCo’s electricity transmission. The company will also be responsible for distribution systems, billing, collection, customer services and other relevant services across the Bahamas. The second company will be a new generation services company.

“This company will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, financing of BEC’s current electricity generation facilities and certain other assets located across the Bahamas, as well as the development of new power generation plant. It will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with Newco,” Mr Christie said.

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 8 months ago

How will creating two companies to supply power reduce our costs? If anything that would raise the cost....

paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 8 months ago

It sounds like an ENRON concept, designed to do just as you suspect.

TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago

No secret I had said before the 2012 General Elections there were some in the PLP souls who should not even be considered by Christie to contest a PLP House seat. You know what, my opinion must remain in tact. But like Pope Francis says ,all souls are people and I guess I am willing accept the Pontiff's feelings on this point.

Bahamas4Bahamians 10 years, 8 months ago

Are you suggesting that Mr. Miller should not have been elected for his solidarity to the Bahamian people, TalRussel? Please clarify.

Bahamas4Bahamians 10 years, 8 months ago

This will be long.. PLP's will be coming to a slaughterhouse for general elections in 2017 at this rate.

Unless of course they legalize marijuana, gambling and gay marriages for Fred and friends.

TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago

Comrade Bahamas4Bahamians on this I plead that even people solidarity can take a wrong turn.

Bahamas4Bahamians 10 years, 8 months ago

What are you saying my dear. Are you of the view that a foreign partner is the best bet for BEC and therefore MR. Miller should be silenced? I'm trying to grasp your point.

TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago

Sorry, I am not paying much attention these days to the noise coming from the office of the BEC Chairman. I ain't ready wrap my head around not selling or selling BEC or anything the government owns, whether it be to foreigners or Bahamalander's, when I am still trying to digest what some prominent PLP's think is a logical defense of Comrade "Tax Dodger" Ishmael, now that it has been reported he owes, not only the $7000 on he residence in unpaid taxes for 20 years but hasn't paid another $100,000 in taxes dating back to 1993 on a commercial property a company he reportedly owns? You do understand why I am incapable of listening to anything being said by the PM, much less a small "all but politically fried" Potcake?

Bahamas4Bahamians 10 years, 8 months ago

i hear you clearly

Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago

It is utterly beyond comprehension why ANY citizen or resident of The Bahamas is allowed to run up Property tax arrears of $100,000 far less an individual appointed to be the Government's VAT enforcer. Gibson and Roberts' attempts to play down this gross moral failing on the part of Lightbourne is really shameful but is exactly what we expect from this pair. Leslie Miller's assertion today that government ministers should not have to be transparent about whether or not they are tax delinquent tells you everything about how the political elite treat the electorate with sheer contempt. If Miller doesn't like being accountable then HE SHOULD GET OUT OF POLITICS.

B_I_D___ 10 years, 8 months ago

Mr. Lightbourne ain't got nothing on Leslie Miller...Miller owes more than that for just his BEC bills...why do you think he was so adamant in the other tabloid that he does NOT want any of the tax information released...Willing to bet, all told, between property tax and BEC bills, that man probably owes closer to a million than a measly 100K.

moncurcool 10 years, 8 months ago

It is amazing the stupidity that people are allowed to say and they go unchallenged by journalist. While I agree with Miller in regards to not selling BEC, the argument is flawed. If you admit not having the finances to grow the company yet you want to have an international partner to pump in the finances and yet not give them full partnership. So you want my financial resources but I have no day or full partnership. Would he operate like this as a businessman?

TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago

Comrade Honest man you are a good and smart thinker. You know what, over lunch I am going try make it a point to discuss " the political elite of past and present and how they treat Bahamlander's" and later today might come back on this Tribune blog page, to cover points discussed over lunch. Thanks cause its a subject dear my heart.

Honestman 10 years, 8 months ago

Miller is speaking purely as a politician not as someone with any grasp of the argument as to whether privatization of BEC is the right choice for The Bahamas. The fact of the matter is that BEC is a drain on the Bahamian tax payer - everyone knows this. So the question is whether or not we the consumers should continue to suffer grossly inflated fuel bills in order to keep hundreds of people in jobs that are not needed or on exaggerated overtime. Privatization would allow shareholders to do the work that government is afraid to do while bringing in modernization and expertise. End result, better service and lower fuel bills. Government could achieve the same result by retaining ownership of BEC but does anyone seriously believe that it has the guts to take on the BEC Unions and deliver the cost cutting and changes in working practices that are so badly needed?

spoitier 10 years, 8 months ago

You are 100% right on everything you are saying and I hope they follow through with it. However, these PLP is a bigger hypocrites that the FNM because isn't that the same reason why BTC was sold?

Greentea 10 years, 8 months ago

Spoitier- Peter ain't better than Paul. The problem is hypocrisy itself- not whether one can be a bigger hypocrite than the other.

spoitier 10 years, 8 months ago

Both are hypocrite like you said, I'm not trying give either of them a free pass because both parties are worthless to me. So the question to you is who do you turn to now?

GQ 10 years, 8 months ago

The problem with BTC when it was purchased by C&W was that the same inefficient persons who got jobs because of politics are still underperforming on the job. The only way BEC will be any different is to clean house, bring in new people (Bahamians) and train them to perform their jobs professionally. You will not be successful if the "Old Dogs" that are currently in place does the training because of their bad habits. Really this is what we need to do with ALL of those who have been in government. Just a bunch of retreads.

voltairehumor 10 years, 8 months ago

BEC has been run into the ground for the last 60s years...

TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago

I ain't saying it is true about the whispering around the PLP cabinet table that has it that any PLP who does not ignore what Potcake has to say, does act against the PM. Wasn't it Potcake that said no more double-dipp'in of paychecks at BEC? Ain't the poor peoples lights still be cut off by the meterman's? Which hotel owners owing BEC upwards into the million dollars have you driven by lately since Potcake become Chairman 2012 and you seen the hotel rooms in darkness? Take one picture of the darkness cause the Tribune will pay you at least $300 for exclusive publishing rights to such dark photo. Yep, Potcake might be bark'in but PM ain't listening none.

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