The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Trade union leaders representing the Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s (BEC) line staff yesterday expressed impatience over the reform process, and have made their own presentation on the way forward.

The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s (BEWU) president, Paul Maynard, said he had expected that PowerSecure would have taken over BEC’s management by now.

He added that the union had made its own presentation to BEC on the way forward.

PowerSecure was selected as the management partner for BEC in May. It signed a $900,000 transition services agreement with the Government on July 22, and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said at the time that the Carolinas-based firm would finalise its business plan over the next 60 days - a timeframe that gave a September 22 completion date.

   Mr Maynard told Tribune Business: “The union made a presentation on the way going forward. I understand that their proposal is progressing very well. That’s the last I heard.

“I would have hoped that they [PowerSecure] would have taken over by now but it is what it is. I would have liked to have them take over by now so we can begin the process of reorganising the Corporation.”

Mr Maynard added: “Everyone is just waiting eagerly to see how it will pan out.  It’s a process. We need to hear what they want to do. We are now waiting to see what it is they they want to do.”

Bahamas Electrical Manager Union (BEMU) president, Clinton Minnis, said  the union has yet to officially meet with PowerSecure executives.

“Our only meeting was when they signed the agreement. That is when we were introduced to the top executives. A meeting was promised to be held in August but that never came to fruition,” he added.