Christie orders probe into BEC

As of Thursday, July 17, 2014

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has ordered a ministerial report on the Bahamas Electrical Corporation in the aftermath of concerns over an $100,000 cash payment made on behalf of its chairman Leslie Miller to settle outstanding debts and the spate of confidential leaks.

Mr Christie told The Tribune yesterday that he expected the report before the end of the week, adding that it outlined recent steps taken by the Ministry of Works at the electricity corporation.

He said: “For me personally, I have to speak to the minister responsible, a report is coming to me. (Mr Davis) knows that I have a view that I have shared with him with respect to this matter, but they are in the process of advising me of certain steps they are taking at the ministry level, which has responsibility for BEC and which will impact BEC.”

“The Deputy Prime Minister is abroad and returning, so as soon as he returns,” Mr Christie added, “I think over the next 24 hours.”

Mr Christie was speaking on the sidelines of a UNESCO Steering Committee Meeting on Underwater Cultural Heritage at Breezes Bahamas yesterday.

He said the report is expected to address “everything to do about BEC”.

The BEC chairman has been locked in a bitter feud with the corporation’s unions since he was appointed to the post in 2012.

Mr Miller has said he is being attacked by disgruntled BEC employees and union leaders who have launched an “all out war against him” in an effort to have him fired because he is trying to make changes at the corporation.

Controversy escalated last month, when it was revealed that Mr Miller owed the corporation more than $200,000. Following the reports, a $100,000 cash payment was made on an outstanding bill for Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace – a transaction that was later said to be against BEC policy.

During this time, documents were also circulated on the Internet claiming that Mr Miller allowed the End Zone Sporting Lounge to have an illegal direct connection. The sporting lounge is located in the Summer Winds Plaza, which is owned by Mr Miller.

The BEC chairman told The Tribune that the moment he discovered the sporting lounge was hooked up illegally, he spoke with the owner and told him the problem needed to be resolved immediately.

The latest in the BEC saga is the leak that media network Jones Communications owed more than $100,000 to the electricity corporation.

According to a BEC report published in The Nassau Guardian, attempts to disconnect Jones Communications’ power supply were repeatedly circumvented by Mr Miller.

However, Jones CEO Wendall Jones told The Tribune that he had a legitimate payment plan to settle arrears, adding that the revelation was an attempt to drag his company into the ongoing dispute between Mr Miller and the union.

asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago

Blah, Blah, Blah, empty words. Nothing that the P.M. says these days is worth the hot air that expels those words. The Nation needs an open, transparent, honest, LEADER!

Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago

Notice how Christie ain't ordered nuttin' bout all da purported tiefin' goin' on at Bank of Bahamas (BOB) cause it seem he is da one as Minister of Finance who ok'd all dem multi-million dulla loans made ta his cronies dat Demeritte an' McWeeney has since written-off. Tings so bad at BOB, our peoples National insurance money gatta be used to replenish BOB's capital from all dose big time loan write-offs to friends of Christie!

asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago

There is SO MUCH out there that just stinks the whole government should be investigated. BOB, BEC, Dump, Nygard, PMH,NIB, and the list goes on. Can we have the English back to run an above board country, PLEASE! I am sick of feeling less than equal, bamboozaled, and RIPPED OFF!

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago

And so on...yes we need to get all of the "so on's" cleaned up then we might just have a performing nation.

hurricane 10 years, 5 months ago

The "Comrades" xyz fool will be gere in 5...4...3...

hurricane 10 years, 5 months ago

ie here

GrassRoot 10 years, 5 months ago

Ha, this is a matter for Minister Pinder not Davis. It has to do with proper reporting of cash transactions.

Clamshell 10 years, 5 months ago

Complete, total and blatant corruption. The nation has become a thieving kleptocracy and the legal system is sickeningly corrupt and near collapse. Steal, steal, steal. I agree with the other comment: Bring back the British rule, we were better off.

TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago

Oh my how do I be kind and honest with PM at same time? Comrades I think we are all sharing in with the reasons why our PM has been experiencing severe conniptions from the pure rage he too must be feeling over what all we been reading in the Tribune, about the funny going on’s at BEC, so much so that suddenly we have our nation's chief executive, who's so damn outraged that his definition of a fit and proper way to act is to sound the alarm bells directly to BEC's “Pot Cake” Chairman Leslie and his DPM/ Minister BEC "Brave," that they should as the two men's in charge at BEC, to immediately conduct an investigation into themselves and report back their findings to him and 'within' 24 hours. Comrades I swear I ain't making this wobbly stuff up all by myself ... cause even some them PLP cabinet members have secretly encouraged me to be honest with what I blog.

Like Wrecking Bell

……..//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epF1oZ4A0RI

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago

Conduct an investigation into themselves is right. I expect him to do nothing. He has more than enough evidence to ACT. All he is doing now is giving the appearance of doing something. He did nothing about BOB, he did nothing about Nygard, he did nothing about Ishmael, he will do nothing about BEC.

sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago

he say that to deflect from the issue............. just like instead of saying he retiring he talking about Minnis een ready........ Perry is a super bullshitter.

TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago

Comrades stay tuned...some big red shirts news is coming soon.

asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago

General, i don't give a shit if the British own me as the current owners i have are much worse slave masters than the British. At least with the British there are rules and regulations that are upheld and those caught breaking those rules and regulations are held accountable. The Yellow and Red tribes please sell us back to the British, we do not want to be abused by you any longer.

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