Leslie Miller
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Chairman Leslie Miller blasted Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) on Friday for "lacking compassion" and begged the new managers to "get off their asses and do something" to assist Bahamians.
Mr Miller told The Tribune he has been reliably informed that since American company PowerSecure International took over as the new management company of the nation's energy provider thousands of persons have been disconnected.
His comments came a day after police said they suspected toxic fumes from a generator had killed a married couple and left their infant granddaughter in critical condition.
All three were found unresponsive by neighbours on Thursday morning at their Nassau Village home. While an autopsy will have to confirm the cause of death, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said it is possible that the use of a generator that was found attached to the house, and left running overnight, may have contributed to their deaths. He noted that the house was experiencing technical issues and there was no power at the time.
Mr Miller expressed his sincere condolences to the family and said money shouldn't dictate "whether a person lives or dies".
"I was saddened when I heard the news," Mr Miller said. "This incident is unfortunate and money should not dictate whether a person lives or dies. While I was at BEC I tried to work with people. We had plan after plan trying to keep the light on," Mr Miller said.
"This group has come in and hasn't implemented anything. The biggest cost at the corporation is the cost of fuel and there has been no significant attempts made to tie in a long term contract and get the bill down.
"These people are foreigners; they don't understand that people are hurting and suffering. They don't understand that the economy is bad and they aren't concerned about people. All they want is the money. Money rules the world.
"People fell behind because it is tough. I have people calling me every day, crying, saying they have been turned off and the agreement they made has been cancelled.
"People don't understand the effect Baha Mar had on this country. Waiting for this project to re-start is wreaking havoc on the Bahamas. Someone needs to get that damn thing done and up and running. I will say this: people are hurting and angry and someone will pay in the end."
Calls to management at BPL were not immediately returned.
During his tenure as chairman, Mr Miller was involved in a series of controversial incidents at the loss-making corporation, including public spats with BEC’s union leaders over overtime pay to employees and the revelation that he and his family-owned business owed the company more than $100,000.
Union leaders repeatedly called for him to be fired during his time at the corporation.
The government began negotiations with PowerSecure International over the five-year BEC management contract in May, and signed a transition services agreement in late July.
Comments
sheeprunner12 8 years, 6 months ago
Right on ........... Leslie ......... keep the white man's feet to the fire ....... but make sure you pay your BEC bill before they cut off your lights......... BOL
OMG 8 years, 6 months ago
This is the man who doesn't pay his power bill ? How the hell can this country function if you run a power company or national airline continually subsidized by the government. All you do is borrow , borrow and borrow more which is a ticking time bomb for the future. Bloody uneducated jungle bunny.
arussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Anything over $400 your light will be disconnected and they don't factor in your deposit neither. What I notice with this new company now they actually send you a warning via email and I think its fair that they're doing that.
Publius 8 years, 6 months ago
That is not their job or responsibility.
Space 8 years, 5 months ago
Ironically... that's the governments job and responsibility.
viewersmatters 8 years, 6 months ago
the people are hurting and cant pay their bills maybe because the Government had allowed foreigners to enter the country pricing the Bahamian people who live here out of every single cent they have then to add to that increase the cost of living implement VAT ona country thats struggling so hard even more to add allowed foreigners to over price the Bahamians so at the end of the day the people are broke and dont have nothing, cant feed their kids or keep a roof over their heads. The Bahamas is in a very terrible state. Cant tell who is doing more hurt to the Bahamian people on their own island: Government or the foreigners
BMW 8 years, 6 months ago
Why do these idiots always inject foreigner and white man into the equation? Who in gods name signed the agreement with power secure. Man the stupidity just blows me away. People would be doing a hell of a lot better if the government would serve the people and not themselves!!!!! It is their responsibility to move the country ahead, find and give the people the opportunity to work and do better for themselves. Instead they just keep the people down with their own greed and corruption. You would think that after 43 mu%$*)#@@$% years the people would get a chance to do for themselves, have a decent job(not a guvment job) a secure society and the list goes on and on. When will the people of this country wake up and see how they have been played.
sealice 8 years, 6 months ago
this man know's nothing about compassion - he's trying to force the Non Gov't managing company (that the PLP created) to give the shit away for free pre election
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 6 months ago
Miller is a moron...
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 6 months ago
"Lady Smacker" Miller is nothing but a tool or mouth piece of Perry "Vomit" Christie. Vomit uses the Lady Smacker to try deflect blame away from the PLP to others or to say outrageous things to distract us from the real news of the day which is typically fraud, waste or corruption committed or caused by the corrupt Christie-led PLP government or their family members and cronies. The Bahamian people are not so easily fooled anymore Mr. Vomit. It is not Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) or Power Secure who is responsible for the hardship being experienced by the Bahamian people. The hardship and misery of the Bahamian is a direct result of the failed economic and social policies of the corrupt Mr. Vomit-led PLP government.....that's right, the buck stops right on the door step of Mr. Vomit himself! Where are all of the decent paying jobs and the mortgage relief you promised us during the last general election Mr. Vomit? You can be rest assured Mr. Vomit that we will not fall for your lying tongue in 2017!! And, by the way Mr. Vomit, tell your lackey "Lady Smacker" Miller to go pee on the nearest BEC electrical transformer....his head could use some good shock treatment.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 6 months ago
BOL ............. stop hating on da Potcake!!!!!!! ....... he is the last of the Mohicans!!!!!!!!! ......... they will all be gone in 2017 (for good)
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
Senior Jackass Miller and the PLP deceptacons insulting Bahamians intelligence
People aren't so ignorant as not to see the PLP blaming the "lacking compassion white foreigner" for doing exactly what they were contracted to do.
The PLP finding themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place on another front, had to immediately lower the high cost of power because it was causing the rapid collapse of too many businesses, destroying what little economic activity is left in the country.
It would be unquestionable political suicide going to a referendum and subsequent election, simultaneously taking responsibility for 1000's of power disconnections, so they contracted a foreign entity to assume responsibility for disconnections.
BPL entered a detailed contractual agreement with these lying, good for nothing pirates, outlining the course of actions necessary to achieve government main objective of lowering the cost of electricity.
Dumb ass PLP deceivers are now attempting to fool Bahamians by deflecting the blame for mass disconnections on the "white foreigner" who is simply following their instructions!
Jackass does as jackass is.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 6 months ago
Still no word on BPL Plan of Action or HOA with the government ...... typical Brave Gestapo tactics and hiding government information from the public
sheeprunner12 8 years, 6 months ago
ANY WORD ON WHEN THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT AND THE BUSINESS PLAN WILL BE RELEASED TO THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC ..........BRAVE????????
Feb 9 was over 3 months ago (that is not "soon") ............. Are you creating a specially concocted MSA/Plan for us to read????? ........ How come we have not heard one word from the new white BPL boss ........ Pam Hill??????? .......... this just seems so shady
BaronInvest 8 years, 6 months ago
You need "fuel" to generate electricity. D- !
Clamshell 8 years, 6 months ago
Maybe Mr. Miller could get off his ass and find the $43 million gone lost from Road Traffic in the last year and use it to pay the poor people's power bill. Same old PLP story: Steal all da money, blame da white man.
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