Leslie Miller
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Executive Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation Leslie Miller has said there is no “tangible evidence” of improvements at Bahamas Power and Light, as he called CEO Pamela Hill’s comments on the matter an “insult to every Bahamian paying a light bill”.
Contending that a “spade should be called a spade,” the former Tall Pines MP said “the country is out millions” and all it has to show for it is “a long list of things we could have achieved all by ourselves.”
Mr Miller lost his post at BEC in 2015 after the government signed a transition services agreement with American company PowerSecure for management of BEC, now called BPL.
He asserted on Thursday that the current executives are “constantly hiding behind past failures” and “continue to avoid providing tangible evidence of their so-called successes.”
On Wednesday, BPL CEO Pamela Hill defended PowerSecure’s $1.1m performance bonus under the former Christie administration, pointing to “step by step improvements” and “higher reliability” of BPL’s services as justification for the controversial incentive.
Ms Hill insisted that while none of BPL’s issues will be resolved in an “overnight fashion,” there have been “overall improvements” in BPL’s reliability and efficiency to date.
She subsequently pointed to the acquisition of an additional 40 megawatts of rental power generation in New Providence and “new generation” on some Family Islands as initiatives that have “helped to improve our reliability.”
In response, Mr Miller called her assertions “ridiculous”.
“How in the hell can you say this [expletive]. She knows damn well that her group has done nothing to improve the state of electricity in this country,” Mr Miller said.
“Where is the tangible evidence of what she is saying? All the damn things she pointed to, are things we are spending a ridiculous amount of money on. And we aren’t getting any value for the [expletive].”
According to Mr Miller, before the PowerSecure deal, consumers in the Bahamas paid 31 cents per megawatt-hour.
He said that figure has now been increased to 43 cents per megawatt-hour.
“Their involvement was supposed to fix things? Tell me what they’ve fixed since coming here. Electricity costs have doubled since they came on board.
“Where is the long-term fuel deal? Where are the improvements to Clifton? Where is the reduction in cost?
“You’ve got to be [expletive] me. Stop it. Seriously, stop it. We had Clifton operating at peak capacity. Clifton is key to power in this country. They’ve failed miserably.
“They’re still renting equipment at Blue Hill and aren’t doing anything to correct that situation because they know regardless of how much they spend and lose, they’re getting paid,” he contended.
PowerSecure’s five-year management services agreement, reportedly worth as much as $25m, was promoted by the former Christie administration as being the answer to sub-par electricity service and high electricity bills. It was signed in early 2016.
When contacted for comment about Ms Hill’s remarks yesterday, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s (BEWU) President Paul Maynard urged consumers to, “in their haste to question PowerSecure’s performance bonus,” not overlook “the life of luxury and comfort” being provided to many of the company’s executives.
Mr Maynard said while BPL has had some success, more needs to be done to improve the company’s “day-to-day quality.”
“We’ve seen some failures since they’ve been here,” he said. “BPL came in here and met this place in a mess. Systems needed to be improved and corrected and they’ve attempted to do that.
“But the fact remains, the contract signed mandated they be paid. There is no way around that. With all that said, many of these executive board members, their salaries and bonuses need a second look.”
He added: “Hundreds of thousands of dollars, luxury cars, all the perks and they aren’t worth it. That is where we need to start with getting value. Look at those contracts and demand value for what they get.
“I am not afraid to say what needs to be said in this instance. Mr (Deepak) Bhatnagar, how is he still here eating up money and providing nothing?”
Mr Bhatnagar, BPL executive director, along with former Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis steered the task force appointed by the Christie administration to look at various proposals for a generation plant which would have assisted in dealing with the challenges at the utility provider.
Mr Maynard continued: “This man has been here and is still here eating up money. He tells these stories and the people in charge believe it. He messed up on a number of initiatives and is still working the clock, earning $200,000 and driving a $70,000 luxury car.
“This is where the country is losing out, people like him. So while we in a rush to jump all over BPL, the company, let’s take a hard look at these people buried in the system, findings ways to live the life off of us,” Mr Maynard concluded.
Comments
jujutreeclub 7 years, 3 months ago
Of all people, Mr Bhatnager is not the one to steer any task force in the Bahamas. He can't steer a task force in his own country. That is the problem right there. I see he is on another board. Is he that good that every government needs him to steer them. Need to re calibrate and re-evaluate the compass he is using because something is wrong there
Reality_Check 7 years, 3 months ago
Whole heartedly agree that Deepak should have been given his walking papers a long time ago. This subservient idiot has already cost our country a small fortune under the corrupt Christie-led PLP government by simply doing his master's bidding without question or concern for the Bahamian people. And besides, there are way too many indigenous Bahamians who are more than qualified enough to do the job that he should be doing at BPL/BEC and elsewhere. The sooner Deepak is sent packing the better!
Economist 7 years, 3 months ago
This man was Baltron Bethels right hand man in the Hotel Corporation. That should tell you something.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
Minnis has made a grave mistake in allowing Darnell Osborne and Deepak Bhatnagar to sit on the board of BPL/BEC and it is Minnis (not Osborne and Bhatnagar) who will shortly be paying a very dear political price for this most serious error in judgement.
TheQuant_In_Hiding 7 years, 3 months ago
I think there's a mistake in this article. It should have read 'per kilowatt hour', as opposed to 'per megawatt hour'. This is in reference to Mr. Miller's estimate of how much electricity costs Bahamians.
DDK 7 years, 3 months ago
The comments by Mr. Miller, are astounding. If accurate, as they appear to be, this situation needs to be reversed. Why in Goodness' name did Plunder Loot Pillage feel that foreigners were better equipped to deal with electrical generation and distribution than Bahamians? WHAT WAS IN IT FOR THEM? All needed was/is lack of nepotism and other corruption and efficient administration. This BEC/BPL board business is another issue that needs to be rethought.
bahamas12345 7 years, 3 months ago
Wasn't Deepak fired from NAD for writing off $1.2 million?
observer2 7 years, 3 months ago
Any word on the missing $5 million from BEC. Any word from the forensic audit? Or will this just be quietly pushed under the rug? Like everything else at BEC.
Don't tell me everything is OK. I may have to remain black and poor but please don't talk to me as if I'm stupid and ignorant.
FNM need to fire the entire board, the foreigners and the management. How much more stealing can we bear before we are bankrupt!
Socrates 7 years, 3 months ago
Miller is not an objective observer, so his comments should be assessed in that context. secondly, we need better business reporting before we can truly understand what goes on... he gives a number for cost per/kwh, does that include fuel or not? we need real analysis of government corporation operations by disinterested 3rd parties (IF we can get access to all the financial matrix) before we can know what is better, worse or unchanged performance. absent this type of analysis, as far as i'm concerned all the commentaries from the various players are just OPINIONS, nothing more, nothing less...
Economist 7 years, 3 months ago
Why does the Tribune report what this man says?
gkeato 7 years, 3 months ago
Has Miller paid his outstanding electricity bill yet?
Bahamianbychoice 7 years, 3 months ago
Miller is not objective nor credible. I do believe this new board is the best that BPL/BEC has had in recent history. Chairperson, Mrs. Osborne, is known to ensure transparency, fairness and corrupt free business practices. All of which this company has solely been lacking. Imperative to have this in place so the company can move forward in securing alternative power sources and not be a cash-cow for corrupt politicians and employees!!
pentrip 6 years, 11 months ago
This is a xenophobic country . Comments that are made are irrational, baseless and disrespectful. Those that work on these projects , know actual facts know how much was contributed . Foreigners are used has right hand man to do the slog work . Bhatnagar has been a successful consultant and if red tape polotics was kept at bay he would have made a massive difference . People see a foreign name and go insecure . Foreigners are needed to develop a country in every country . That is why America is successful economy . The same people pointing out other as thief are robbing their own country !!! Continue like this and this country will stay in its primitive ages ! There is a reason why every party respected him . He was never fired !
benjohnson 6 years, 11 months ago
I have heard his speech and it creates so many rumors within this time. I can’t agree with his statements as t was an insult to every Bahamian. I think he is clearly targeting some people in that community. https://www.healthyslumber.com/product/…">mouthpiece for snoring
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