BEC Chairman Leslie Miller
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Electricity Corporation Chairman Leslie Miller yesterday denied “assisting anyone in getting free electricity” and facilitating illegal hookups at his Summer Winds Plaza Complex.
Mr Miller claimed 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.
His comments came after documents began circulating on the Internet, claiming that Mr Miller allowed the End Zone Sporting Lounge to “steal electricity” by having an illegal direct connection. The Sporting Lounge is located in the Summer Winds Plaza which is owned by Mr Miller.
The documents, that were sent to The Tribune, allege that on Tuesday April 15 2014, BEC inspectors discovered the End Zone Sporting Lounge had an illegal direct connection and as a result they disconnected the supply. They further claim that Mr Miller, after being shown the direct connection, ordered the supply be reconnected - even after the owner of the business failed to report to BEC the following day and have the electricity connected legally.
“I removed the direct connection and discovered that End Zone Sporting Lounge was affected, their supply went off. Mr Miller instructed us to reconnect that supply and he would have the owner come in to BEC to establish an account,” the document said.
“On Wednesday April 16, the owner did not regularise the account for End Zone Sporting Lounge, therefore, the supply was disconnected again. While on site at the Summer Winds Plaza, we were contacted and told that Executive Chairman, Leslie O Miller, wanted us to reconnect the supply for the End Zone Sporting Lounge.”
However, when contacted by the Tribune, Mr Miller said the moment he discovered the sporting lounge was hooked up illegally, he spoke with the owner and told him the problem needed to be fixed immediately.
Mr Miller admitted that he allowed the business to stay open that day, but told them they had to report to BEC the next day or face disconnection. “They paid what they had to pay the next day so I really don’t understand what the problem is,” he said.
“I went to him and said ‘Look here you have a problem’ and he went to BEC the next day and gave them a cheque. But in any case, why would the landlord be concerned about who would be getting electricity? They renting the place, they are responsible for their own power.
“See, you don’t understand the mentality around BEC, this is a strange place. This is an all out war against me. No one has ever challenged them before, they got away with foolishness for years and I took on the challenge and infringed on their monthly take home pay and now they resent me and will do anything to get rid of me. But I have nothing against the union, my concern is for the Bahamian people.
“They twisting this entire thing, this is nothing to do with me. My daughter rented the building. When I was told about what was going on, I said ‘I will let you keep your light on tonight because you have a function’ but they had until tomorrow and they fixed it. What is the big deal, It was sorted out? You don’t know how dangerous these people are to BEC. I don’t operate those places, How would that benefit me? These people are incredible.”
Mr Miller also sent the Tribune several documents that corroborate his statements, including a letter dated May 21, 2014 sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works, Phillip Brave Davis and emails from the Assistant General Manager of Customer Services, Peter Rutherford.
In the letters, dated May 15 and 16, Mr Rutherford acknowledged that he met with the owner of the business, who “assumed responsibility for the debt”, therefore “we accepted him at his word and saw no need to have the supply disconnected, as is the usual custom.
Mr Miller said the deposit was made a few days later and the account was then opened.
Comments
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
Just resign already, u busted man.... U and all the others PLP/FNM who did not file financial disclosures need to resign immediately.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
........... and again I say resign
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
As a landlord, when you do the construction, you coordinate with BEC to have a meter installed and that all electrical connections are good. Then when a tenant comes in, they apply for an account and the pre-existing meter is transferred to the new account holder. To suggest otherwise just adds fuel to the fire of misappropriations. Sadly, no surprise there.
The_Oracle 10 years, 5 months ago
So they're attacking you Mr. Miller? If so, it is you that have made it easy for them to do so. You cannot stand on noble ground if you yourself are not noble! "campaigning" for the poor man does not excuse you nor give you free reign. Go fill some gallon jugs at the gas station, reflect on the error of your ways, Think on your bad premise. Pay your bills promptly. It is the right thing to do.
ChefSmith 10 years, 5 months ago
It would seem that there is a lot of miss step on Mr Millers behalf. It is not usual for someone who is illegally connected , not to be in the hands of the police facing jail time . I guess he was only looking out for his family ..............its the norm around here these days !
ProfessorTinker 10 years, 5 months ago
Bahamian people wake up and smell the coffee. Mr. Miller news to step down in Grace. Be a martyr for the rest of the crooks or be prosecuted and Disgraced. He did not pay for years, paid in cash which was illegal because of the amount. If he is not able to show a trail of that money so prosecute. What is the problem. I don't get it.
John 10 years, 5 months ago
When is enough, enough? How comes everyone can see the faults in Mr. Miller but they cannot see the wrongs of the union. So yeah, let him resign then and allow crooked and greedy (union) employees to go back to milking the corporation dry. Let them go back to cutting your electricity off every two weeks to make the reconnection fee and let that one who was making all that overtime money go back to his old habits so he could finish off that apartment complex he was building. Work stop for almost a year now.
thomas 10 years, 5 months ago
We are done. This country has gone to the dogs/potcakes. Why must we all suffer because of the greed of a few.
GrassRoot 10 years, 5 months ago
Please don't offend the potcakes. it would be more appropriate to compare the situation to the landfill. Potcakes would do a better job governing.
Purcell 10 years, 5 months ago
Miller does not understand what the problem is every day lately. Either he is the dumbest mother fucker ever to lead BEC or a crook.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
both
Purcell 10 years, 5 months ago
Sorry you are right.
JohnDoe 10 years, 5 months ago
What Mr. Miller is conveniently refusing to say is that it is his daughter and son-in-law that actually owns End Zone Sporting lounge. Mr. Miller is probably right that the Union is out to get him, nevertheless, the issues that the Union are raising are not insignificant as they speak directly to Mr. Miller's moral competence to lead BEC.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
So now we've reached the lipstick phase in the ongoing soap opera of Comrade Leslie.The always controversial BEC Chairman from the very get-go of his appointment by PM Christie, has tried everything you can think of to control or outwit his critics, excepting to stop acting like a jackass magnet, making it so damn easy, if not comical, for his many critics to lineup outside BEC, wanting to grab this Comrade Chairman and smudge rudge all over he ever moving pot cake lips.
ohdrap4 10 years, 5 months ago
As Nicky Kelly stated in yesterdays Punch, with this level of Free flow of information, who needs the FOIA.
In the days of scanners, digital cameras, printer copiers, every citizen must step up and become a whistle blower, just don't use your own cell phone.
this FOIA might make it more difficult for people to get little printouts out of the garbage.
some of the young reporters have chutzpah. Good thing, as many of the old guard are dying out.
thomas 10 years, 5 months ago
Why is it that people with money cheat the system and get away with it? They would rather pay someone off before they pay their bills.
John 10 years, 5 months ago
So Who does those who oppose have in mind to replace Leslie Miller as chairman? And then who will be next for the long daggers of political murder?
Thinker 10 years, 5 months ago
I vote privatization!
Thinker 10 years, 5 months ago
Look at all he comments over Mr. Miller. Clearly, once again, the Bahamian people have spoken and requested for this man to be removed from office, yet he is still in office. Why do you think? This government better join the WTO bc when Revolution happens, Big Gov will need some guns! Criminals in control here.
John 10 years, 5 months ago
Many of the posts in this forum are written by the same set of people under different pen names. So the opinions expressed here does not always constitute a reliable consensus.
ohdrap4 10 years, 5 months ago
According to the Internet Handle Disclosure act, I hereby declare to have only one alias.
how many handles do you have John?
John 10 years, 5 months ago
I only post as John. My original posts were under John 3:16 but the Tribune no longer allows me to sign in on that name.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Hmmmm.....I suspect you're birdie too...
Mayaguana34 10 years, 5 months ago
Mr. Miller is an absolute disgrace and if he still doesn't get why this and his other transgressions are enough reason to resign then his is too stupid to hold the position. With shame and without pride - For the love of God PM, ACT! ACT NOW!!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Yeah it's weird that he doesn't see conflict of interest and abuse of power all over this. These people really believe they are better than everyone else.
Mayaguana34 10 years, 5 months ago
BTW besides his daughter and son in law as operators of this place - When and why would an Executive Chairman be involved in discussions about individual accounts?? BEC has a deep management team of professionals - why would they need the chairman to tell them how to handle a clear case of theft!! The interference is obvious!! I would also love these reporters to ask the logical follow up question to his claims of doing things to benefit the bahamian people - What exactly has he done to reduce energy costs and consumption in this country?-
realfreethinker 10 years, 5 months ago
Miller is nothing more than a fraud. a wolf in sheep clothing
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
What do you have against sheep? ;-)
EasternGate 10 years, 5 months ago
Just like a true PLP. Ain't gat no shame. Resign man!
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
One afternoon three Comrade PLP MP's were engaged in a conversation about if they were laying in they casket and peoples be weeping, what is it they would like to hear the mourners say about them?
First PLP MP; "I would want them to say that I was a great MP for the people, and a loving Husband and Father.
Second MP; You know what I want to hear is not only was I a good and honest MP, but I tried my best to improve the lives and conditions of my constituents.
The third MP; "I would like to hear them say......Look...did Pot cake just move he lips?
Reality_Check 10 years, 5 months ago
The real problem is our corrupt PM who has allowed these jokers like Miller, Wilchcombe, Roberts, Gray, Davis, Maynard-Gibson to permeate our entire political system which is no longer a democracy but rather a kleptocracy with Christie as the most god-faring christian kleptomaniac of the kleptocrats. The Leslie Miller's of this world all take their cue from someone like Christie who has no moral compass or sense of right from wrong. The depth of Perry "Vomit" Christie's evil bent makes all who have come before him (except possibly Hubiggity) seem like choir boys. This man already knows what his legacy will be and therefore could not care less about our country! Christie is the chief instigator of most of the serious economic crimes that have been committed against the Bahamian people (other than his favoured cronies) in recent times and for this he may yet face a day of incredible reckoning before an International Court.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Reality-Check how can you explain that despite a train wreck like Pot cake being the gift to the opposition that keeps on giving, it seems like they're in a even bigger political train wreck than is Pot cake? I mean, how more embarrassing can it get for leader Minnis. when after making his media splash announcing to to PM Christie how he and ALL his MP's will vote "No" on the government's budget and your MP's for Montagu and Marsh Harbour skip the hell out on you?
Clamshell 10 years, 4 months ago
In any halfway decent society, this guy would be chained to a dungeon wall somewhere. He'd be more honest if he just robbed people with a mask and a gun.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
It's appalling that a government appointed chairman does not have a clue what conflict of interest or abuse of power means
DillyTree 10 years, 4 months ago
Folks, this is the same man who refuses to understand why paying his bill of $100,000 in CASH is a problem. What else do you expect?
URD 10 years, 4 months ago
The Commissioner of Police needs to step in here. This thing is clearly illegal.
baldbeardedbahamian 10 years, 4 months ago
it may be a coincidence but none the less interesting that the hon. leslie miller's new son-in-law is running an unregulated and possibly illegal gambling operation which generates thousands of dollars of cash money weekly, this money cannot be deposited in any bahamian bank.
i, for one, would like the hon. leslie miller to provide the public and the police, who should be otherwise be prosecuting him, with details of where he obtained $100,000 cash, i know i dont have that much lying around.
on the subject of the rbpf, do you remember greenslade assuring us all that a numbers racket prosecution would happen soon, that must have been a year and a half ago, this man has lied publically and if he had a ounce of honour would have resigned. i now trust him about as much as his politcal masters.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
All these persons mentioned will not resign.................... they are either protecting their salary, retirement pension or their legacy. This is what its all about for them............... the only problem is that the U30 generation will catch eternal hell. For their sakes, I hope Jesus come before they look around for retirement ....................... the cookie jar will be empty
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