The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said yesterday that he had “difficulty believing” Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller would threaten to leave the Progressive Liberal Party over the government’s failure to ban copper exports.

Dr Nottage told The Tribune he agreed that the government should take steps to ban copper exports because many homeowners and businesses have suffered at the hands of copper thieves.

He said the government would have to consider serious prosecution of those found guilty of the offence.

Dr Nottage made the comments a day after Mr Miller told The Tribune he was tired of begging the government to do something about the vexing problem. He added that if the government did not address the problem, he may have to “go somewhere else.”

Dr Nottage said: “I have difficulty believing that he said that because it doesn’t really compute.

“I do agree that there should be steps taken to ban the export of copper because I am fully aware of the fact that many homeowners, business owners and government corporations, including the one for which I have some responsibility – the Broadcasting Corporation (of the Bahamas) – has suffered at the stealing of copper. It costs a lot of money and it interferes with the broadcast service.

“I am aware of the losses from Mr Miller’s establishments and other people’s establishments.”

Dr Nottage explained that the Ministry of National Security has looked at the issue and is of the opinion that unless persons exporting copper can show that they got it legally by purchase or otherwise then they should be prosecuted. He said the copper should also be seized.

The Bain and Grants Town MP said the government would give copper theft in the country serious attention this year.

“If you recall we have indicated previously that we were looking at this whole question of cash for gold and other minerals. So this is a matter that will receive our attention.

“I think it should get our attention because too many people have suffered from the dishonesty of people who break into their homes and break into their business establishments.”

On Tuesday, Mr Miller said despite his begging and pleading with government for years, his appeals have only fallen on deaf ears.

His comments to The Tribune came after he made an impassioned plea in the House of Assembly on Monday night, urging the government to ban copper export.

Mr Miller said he, with other business owners, have had “millions of dollars” in damage due to copper theft and it “seems the government does not care.”

“This is not the PLP that I know, this is not the government that I signed up to become a part of,” Mr Miller said. “As a member of the PLP, I am concerned about this and I may go elsewhere if nothing is done. We cannot take this suffering anymore. I spoke with the prime minister and I told him. He said he couldn’t believe it was that bad, but I told him nothing is working and the business people are wasting their money. Something has to be done or I may have to go somewhere else,” he said.