The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday rebuked Bahamas Power and Light CEO Pamela Hill over her comments that the utility provider was not in any talks with the government to forgive any of its numerous delinquent accounts, saying these types of discussions were “above her head”.

Mr Miller, in his usual frank tone, was dismissive of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) insisting that ultimately it didn’t have the final say on whether it would write off consumer debts because “nobody could dictate what the government can do.”

“With the greatest respect, BEC is owned by the people of the Bahamas not the CEO,” said Mr Miller, who once served as executive chairman of the electricity provider under its former name Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC).

“Y’all getting mix up here. They have a contract to manage BEC so they don’t have the final say as to what goes on in BEC. As far as anything the government is the ones who fund BEC not BPL.

“With the greatest respect they only managing it so ain’t nobody could dictate and say what the government (can do) or (say) no discussions taking (place). “(Those) discussions (are) above her head as far as what the government intends to do. If the minister says they intend to write off those bills that cannot be collected that is a decision by the government not BPL.”

The MP was asked to comment yesterday following the morning session of the House of Assembly where he explained that while there were around 3,000 persons who could be classified in the delinquent category, much of the money owed simply could not be collected.

“Most of these delinquent accounts that y’all are talking about, count some over 20 (and) 30 years old. Persons who would have died, persons who would have moved from place to place (and) persons whose bills were in dispute. We wanted to write most of those old debts off years ago.”

He continued: “But BEC kept them on the books just for the books to look good. But why have stuff on the books that you never gonna get?”

On Wednesday, Ms Hill told reporters at a press conference that BPL officials were “not in any talks” with the government over a forgiveness or write-off programme regarding delinquent accounts.

She said there was currently no programme “of that kind” at BPL and she encouraged customers to continue to pay their bills on time in order to remain connected.

Her comments came three weeks after Deputy Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis announced that the government is working on a series of operational agreements with BPL hoping to get the corporation to forgive the debts of consumers who have been unable to settle balances for prolonged periods of time.

At the time, Mr Davis, who has BPL in his Cabinet portfolio, said he had been informed that some 3,000 persons have fallen into this classification, insisting that officials now have to look at these clients on a case-by-case basis to determine how best to resolve each matter.

However, when asked about the programme on Wednesday, Mr Davis shifted from his initial comments made at Parliament and called the initiative a “consideration” and not something that was concrete.

“We have to discuss the context in which it will be done and how it will be laid in the context of their (BPL’s) overall business plan,” he said on Wednesday.

“That is a matter we will deal with at an appropriate time, it is just one of many issues we have to address ... it was something that was for consideration. As the minister I am considering it and I am asking them to advise me on how it can done.”

During Wednesday’s press conference, Ms Hill said she believes Mr Davis is taking his time to structure the plan, but insisted that the company and the government have not started discussions.