By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday said he has “no idea” what Prime Minister Perry Christie was thinking when he appointed Leslie Miller as executive chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation in view of Mr Miller’s reported admission that he owes the corporation nearly a quarter of a million dollars in outstanding electricity bills.
Dr Minnis said it is obvious Mr Miller was not properly vetted, but things would have been “a whole lot” different if he had been prime minister.
His comments came after it was revealed that Mr Miller and one of his family-owned businesses owe the corporation a total of $239,533.33, according to The Nassau Guardian.
The Tribune understands the revelation has prompted BEC officials to launch an official investigation into which employee leaked Mr Miller’s private information.
“I do not know what was in the prime minister’s head when he made his selections for senators and chairmen, etc,” Dr Minnis said. “I can confidently say as prime minister I would properly vet certain individuals. I cannot have individuals there owing a corporation tons of money and subsequently put them in charge, it is not right.
“I don’t know what was in his head and how he came to that conclusion. In my situation, he (Mr Miller) would have not been in such a post. It is hypocritical. You must lead by example. You must show that you are making the necessary provisions to deal with the matter that has to be resolved.
“How do you think the public would respond? I’m not following the law, but I say you must do it, I’m exempt. That is not right. We cannot have two sets of society and two sets of laws. If I were prime minister that circumstance would never arise. I would not even be here discussing that issue today; it would not arise. We would’ve dealt with that before. It would’ve been paid. It would’ve been brought up to date. That would not be a matter today for me to deal with.”
According to published reports, BEC’s records show that a Harrold Road building, registered with BEC under Mr Miller’s name, owes the corporation $46,373.77.
Those records also show that a Harrold Road Bowling alley, owned by Summerwinds Investments Ltd, owes the corporation $193,159.56.
Mr Miller told The Nassau Guardian that the bills were high because of the recession. However, he said, Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace, his Harrold Road business pays “something” on their BEC bill every week.
Last week, Mr Miller said BEC is on course to lose $30 million this year. He blamed the employees for the corporation’s current financial problems.
Comments
B_I_D___ 10 years, 6 months ago
Here we go again...wonder who is going to get fired this time for leaking information about PLP MP's misbehaving?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
My thoughts exactly. It's like Queen Victoria is running this country
GrassRoot 10 years, 6 months ago
that is all that BEC can do, launch an investigation into who was the whistleblower? How about offsetting the open tab against Mr. Miller's ongoing compensation?
TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago
Comrade "Pot Cake" Leslie is ether one of PM Christie's biggest embarrassments, or he's a "Star Cabinet Appointment?" I have personally tuned in several times and heard this man while being interviewed, and each time when he was asked; if he too owed BEC for he lights bills, Comrade "Pot Cake" Leslie brushed it off as nothing more to it, than his enemies playing dirty politics. Really?
Cornel 10 years, 6 months ago
They should start at BEC and fire everyone who has an electric bill which is past 30 days outstanding. Start at the top and work down to the bottom. Then re-orangise the entire company. Once they fire the staff with delinquent accounts there will most likely only be 4 employees left so it may be a bit of a tough go for a while but it will help with getting things straight
GrassRoot 10 years, 6 months ago
no one left to turn of the lights.
Reality_Check 10 years, 6 months ago
Christie's outright arrogance in appointing and continuing to support Miller as Chairman of BEC is only exceeded by his brain dead arrogance in ignoring the wishes of the Bahamian people as expressed in the outcome of the recent referendum he instigated at a cost to the Public Treasury well in excess of a million dollars. Christie has taken on a persona similar to that which Idi Amin had as the dictatorial President of Uganda....in fact Christie is even beginning to resemble Idi Amin in physical appearance. Amin's diseased brain eventually became mush, driving him to madness and in the process he inflicted the most cruel and inhumane treatment on the Ugandan people. Perhaps Christie's increasingly frequent episodes of irrationality can be attributed to a disease or other ailment. I remember well his recent silly attempt to have his cake and eat it to by trying to explain his position on a matter in a very self-confused episode in the House of Assembly wherein he maintained that Christie as PM was of one mind whereas Christie as Minister of Finance was of another mind and that, as a result, he was having great difficulty in making up his two minds! Yep, all certainly does not appear to be well upstairs for Christie.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
His two minds. LOL
sheeprunner12 10 years, 6 months ago
The easy solution to this is for BEC to publish all of the deliquent accounts and their amounts in the newspaper, so the whole nation can know what is going on ....... ridiculous!!!!!!!
jackbnimble 10 years, 6 months ago
I'm glad they embarrassed his @@!! Frankly wee need more whistleblowers to hold out leaders' feet to the fire! Unfortunately, like the Ishmael Lightbourn saga, this too will be swept under the carpet and I guarantee Mr. Miller won't be goin' nowhere!
To their credit, hypocrisy is in it's finest hour under this current administration!
No doubt there is more to come!
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Sometimes my biggest fear is Dr. Hubert Minnis becoming prime minister of this country. ......“I do not know what was in the prime minister’s head when he made his selections for senators and chairmen, etc,” Dr Minnis said. “I can confidently say as prime minister I would properly vet certain individuals. I cannot have individuals there owing a corporation tons of money and subsequently put them in charge, it is not right..... If Mr. Miller was vetted before being appointed it would have certainly been revealed that he was allowed to owe these large amounts to BEC under the FNM government. Hubert Minnis was a member of Hubert Ingraham's FNM government. Secondly you cannot look at a balance, by itself and say 'wow this is a large amount.' If the bowling alley's monthly billing was $10,000.00 a month, then yes $193,000.00 would be a large amount to be owing to BEC. The account would be some 19 months in arrears. But suppose the bill is $60,000.00 a month. Then the account is only some 3 months behind in payments. Then those who leaked the information should also say if there was any agreement with Leslie Miller and his companies, this one or the previous one, Hubert Minnis' government to pay off these accounts over time. It is dangerous to pull information and use it out of context. For example if you pull up the BEC accounts for Super Value. Even though this company is known for paying its bills, BEC's records may show them owing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars on any given day. The account for Atlantis may be in the millions. Yes leaders must pay bills and fulfill their obligations like the rest of us. That is not being denied But we must be careful not to throw this country into chaos and cause irreparable damage to be done, by going on witch hunts and crucifying the messengers. Going in the public media and encouraging rebellion and uprising among the masses it totally irresponsible and very dangerous. It a good thing to know that some of our leaders are still human and that they, too felt the pain of the wrath of this recession, in their personal lives and in their private businesses. May calm heads prevail. .
Cobalt 10 years, 6 months ago
Bullcrap. Once again your bias support in favor of the PLP has spurred you into talking utter nonsense. Every sensible Bahamian living in this country knew that Leslie Miller owed BEC thousands of dollars. The fact that you have a comprehension problem is probably the reason why you were unaware of this. And if you were indeed aware, then you're just as bad as PGC for attempting to rationalize Mr Millers position. The fact that Leslie Miller owes BEC a significant amount of money disqualifies him from his position as chairman of BEC. Not only is he guilty of unadulterated hypocrisy, but he is also guilty of a conflict of interest.....and to be completely honest, this is nothing surprising seeing that this has become the hallmark of the Christie administration (ie Lightbourne and VAT). How can Leslie Miller complain about an existing financial deficient when he himself is one of the biggest contributors to the deficit. You try and accuse others of contradicting themselves, but yet you attempt to rationalize Leslie Miller's financial disposition when he stands in stark contradiction to the daily, productive operations of BEC. You attempt to question the opposition leader for his choices while neglecting the wave of boneheaded decisions made by Perry Christie the Prime Minister. Why are you so concerned about Hubert Minnis the FNM when it's the PLP who are in the drivers seat anyway??? It doesn't matter how much any of us owe BEC. The fact is, the money is owed. So put-up or shut-up. I used to give credibility to some of your posts.... but now I'm seeing that you're just a bias, partisan, PLP fool.
thomas 10 years, 6 months ago
Miller acknowledged that he made no payments since October 2013
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Actually the article in the "Guardian" said that the Miller Family was making weekly payments to BEC!
thomas 10 years, 6 months ago
The paint company is delinquent as well and no payments were made since October 2013.
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Again I will say If Mr. Miller's electricity is $40,0000 or more a month a bill of $190,000.00 would not be out of the ordinary. If he had a signed agreement to pay an accumulated bill over a period of time, as many persons were allowed to do under the FNM government, then there is nothing untoward about this. This courtesy was offered to the general public and you cannot fault Mr. Miller if he took advantage of it. If Leslie Miller had gone into the BEC's chairmanship owing thousands of dollars, then all of a sudden his accounts showed he owed nothing, without there being records of payments, then that would be great cause for concern If Mr. Minnis was a part of an administration that allowed Mr. Miller and others to owe thousands to B.E.C and other government corporations, and they had no problem with it as the government, then he should not use this situation to gain political mileage as the opposition In the absence of all the facts you cannot draw a credible conclusion about the matter. Your argument is weak, very weak so you attempt to attack me personally rather than address what I have posted. Now read what you wrote and re-read what I have posted and see who is the fool!
Cobalt 10 years, 6 months ago
No..... I attacked you because your post is nonsense and difficult to discern. So is the above post that you just wrote. I don't mean to be rude but your vocabulary lacks structure. There are sentences in your post that don't even include periods. This makes it very difficult to understand your argument. Anyway. Whatever.
John 10 years, 6 months ago
How can vocabulary "lack structure"? So now do you have to be an English major to post here? Wat if I is a Bahamian who never finish skool, then I ger can't express my opinion den!
Cobalt 10 years, 6 months ago
Not at all John. Express yourself all you wish. You are a born bred Bahamian and have the right to express your opinion.
Fitmiss 10 years, 6 months ago
So let us get this straight. They hire someone to promote Vat which is implementation of tax collection who was behind on his own taxes. Next someone was employed in another high position of the electrical corporation who owed on his own electricity bill. So I guess we will soon find out that the person in charge of Water & sewage do not pay their water bill either. In the meantime you and I are turned off for a few dollars.
Cobalt 10 years, 6 months ago
Exactly
John 10 years, 6 months ago
What happened to the person in charge of National Insurance?
Honestman 10 years, 6 months ago
On the Geoff Lloyd radio show this evening it was stated that Leslie Miller has just paid in an amount of $100,000 towards his outstanding debt to B.E.C. The question that has to be asked is why did it take revelations in the two daily newspapers to persuade Mr. Miller to make this payment? If Mr. Miller had the money then why did he not use it to reduce his debt without being prompted? As Chairman of B.E.C. he ought to have realized that his chairmanship was compromised by this inordinate debt to the Corporation. We can only hope that the debt has not simply been transferred to another government entity.
thomas 10 years, 6 months ago
Happened to be in BEC while a vey large cash payment was being made by an employee of one of his companies. He came up with thousands in cash overnight.
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Was that the guy with the wheelbarrows full of coins?
John 10 years, 6 months ago
@ Cobalt: The meaning of Cobalt: Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27 "Miners had long used the name kobold ore (German for goblin ore) for some of the blue-pigment producing minerals; they were so named because they were poor in known metals, and gave poisonous arsenic-containing fumes upon smelting". So this means you are blue in the face especially when you are hot (not Black like you claim) and are spewing poisonous fumes... arsenic to be exact... fits you to the 't'. But I an immune to your hate filled attacks. Thank God!
Cobalt 10 years, 6 months ago
How you know so good??? That's exactly where I got my name. Chemistry 401.... not Wikipedia. My classmates dubbed me that name because that was the element I chose to work with. Ironically, it has served me well.
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