By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WITH PowerSecure now in full control of the operations of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, sweeping changes have been implemented at the executive level with former BEC General Manager Kevin Basden now assuming a new role as consultant/advisor to Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), The Tribune understands.
According to an internal memo sent to employees by BPL Chairman Nathaniel Beneby, Deepack Bhatnagar, who has been leading the process of energy sector reform, will serve as executive director of BPL.
Mr Bhatnagar will oversee the activities of BPL to ensure that PowerSecure delivers in accordance with its business plan. He will also serve in a full-time capacity at BPL, the memo said.
The document was circulated to employees yesterday shortly after the government and PowerSecure signed a management services agreement for BPL.
The memo also named American Jeff Wallace as CEO of BPL, effective on Monday.
Donna Smith is BPL’s deputy chairperson. She will work along with Daphne Simmons, Patricia Hermanns and Andrew Rodgers who are all directors on the board.
“The government, BPL, the unions and PowerSecure are all committed to achieving the goals to benefit the people of The Bahamas,” Mr Beneby said.
“Additional areas of focus for the business plan include identifying opportunities for improved customer service workplace safety. A board of directors with experience has been appointed to oversee BPL and we will be installing a new senior management team, including new BPL Chief Executive Officer Jeff Wallace, whose first day as CEO is today (Monday).
“Mr Wallace has more than 35 years of utility experience and has spent the past 10 years as the vice president of fuel procurement for Southern Company, where he has been responsible for managing $7bn in fuel procurement, planning and delivery programmes for 85 power plants. Over the coming days and weeks, Mr Wallace will be hosting meetings with staff.
“Kevin Basden has assumed his new role as consultant/advisor to the board and with his wealth of knowledge will guide the board and executive team. We wish to thank Mr Basden for his years of dedicated service to the corporation and are assured that he will be instrumental in helping achieve BPL’s objectives.”
The memo further addressed questions of staff reductions but did not go into specifics of PowerSecure’s plans in this regard.
“Of course, a central question for all employees is whether the new business plan will result in staff reductions. We recognise that this is an extremely important, personal and sensitive topic for the employees of BPL, the government and for the leadership of BPL. There is no more important responsibility than to look out for the well being of the employees. We know the employees will determine the success of BPL and believe they will benefit from the world-class utility we strive to create with BPL.
“As we turn from BEC to BPL, senior management will communicate with you on the question of staff reductions.”
He said the Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union (BEUMU) and the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) will have an important voice in this discussion, further pledging forthright communication with employees over the coming months.
Comments
EasternGate 8 years, 10 months ago
Here we go again. I am so weary of Civil Servants who have lived of the public purse for more than forty years, waiting in the wings for another Government appointment. This is why senior government employees will not rock the boat, and allow politicians to do all the shit they want!
Publius 8 years, 10 months ago
Truth
OMG 8 years, 10 months ago
So Mr Basden couldn't sort out BEC as manager but is now an advisor. What a joke.
realfreethinker 8 years, 10 months ago
I thought potcake was running BEC. Which rock did he crawl from under?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
He will advise until he "retires" sometime in the next year.
GrassRoot 8 years, 10 months ago
He is already retired. Becoming an external advisor in this business means that they do not expect you to come near a phone, email or office, collect your checks and stay the fxxx out of their hair. the question is low, mid or high six figures.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
Sounds about right
Bahamaland 8 years, 10 months ago
Does anyone know the average salary and benefits for board members appointed by the government? I think it varies based on corporation and NIB, BEC and BTC should be the top three.
John 8 years, 10 months ago
OK so explain this to me. With the exception of about 5 or 6 people the management of BEC will remain the same. And for this the Bahamian consumer will be paying up to $5 million a year! Why didn't they bring in these folks as consultants, keep the Bahamian management team in place, train them, give the consultants a performance bonus and send them home when BEC is turned around. What did the country benefit from the sale of BTC? It took the same Bahamian who was fired when BTC was sold to bring BTC to the level where it is now. The foreign CEO was fired after a few years of fumbling. Why are we still buying the ,uncle tom, story that foreign is better?
Sickened 8 years, 10 months ago
Because... 'D' average!
John 8 years, 10 months ago
Maybe you are D average but there are hundreds of high level management, government, medical, legal religious and civic posts around the world. Stop eating "D" og food
Dont_tread_on_me 8 years, 10 months ago
Sounds like nothing more than a perry shuffle for a few UNQUALIFIED PLP supporters to steal money from the Bahamian taxpayers and get a seat in the new Bec.
A donkey could advise us to put solar in the out islands..., good job guys! You are pathetic
We don't need foreign advisors to tell us that. How about this idea? 6 water turbines in the harbour underneath the bridges could probably power the entire Nassau so all citizens could have free power!!!!!
But then the sunshine boys couldn't rape and pillage the Bahamian energy sector with its monopoly..... Oops we can't let that happen, it would help the Bahamian public but that's no what we stand for
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
Had a foreign executive explain to me why foreigners are preferred as managers in his business in lieu of Bahamian managers. Managers are expected to make the best business decisions possible. In the rest of the world, there is about six degrees of separation between anyone and anybody. In the Bahamas, there is zero degrees of separation. You can make one phone call to influence anyone. Oftentimes this lead to bad personnel decisions, bad business decisions (I een layin' off my cousin), and bad ethical decisions.
It is the same reason that we will never get rid of the Privy Council. You can get a fair shake with them, whereas you can't get a fair shake anywhere else, even the government, as Sarkis Izmerlian learned to his rue.
So, you will continue to see "foreign" is better as long as we are an insular closed society, accepting the status quo of corruption, cronyism and the cabals that govern the daily lives of ordinary Bahamians who have no choice in the matter.
A quick survey in my office, shows that Bahamians would rather work for a foreign manager, because promotions are not based on 'who you daddy is' or 'who you family is', but rather on merit and hard work.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 10 months ago
Sooooooooo, what will he advise them on??????????? He was a poor GM, so what can he do differently now as advisor?????????? .............. this SHIT has to stop ............ it is like putting Wendy Craigg to advise the PM after she made a boo-boo as Central Bank boss
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 10 months ago
People like Kevin Basden and Wendy Craigg are allowed by Christie to continue being a burden on honest hardworking Bahamian taxpayers as an outright bribe to ensure they keep their lips sealed. There are dozens and dozens of them working out of the PM's office just like Basden and Craigg.
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