The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The Government yesterday said it will meet with the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s (BEWU) president after he alleged he was offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to "sell out" his members and has since been subjected to victimisation after refusing the pay-off.

In a brief statement, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation said it had taken note of the comments made by Kyle Wilson and will engage the union to better understand the allegations.

"The Ministry will speak directly with the union's representatives to better understand the concerns raised and to determine the appropriate next steps," it said.

"The Ministry's focus is on ensuring that concerns are addressed through proper channels, with respect for all parties involved and with the interests of BPL employees and the Bahamian public at the centre."

Mr Wilson made the allegations during a press conference on Friday, claiming he was offered a substantial bribe about a year ago in exchange for betraying the union's members. "I must come clean. About a year ago, I was offered bribes in the terms of hundreds of thousands of dollars to sell out the membership," he said. "I refused the bribes."

Mr Wilson said he subsequently wrote to Toni Seymour, Bahamas Power & Light's (BPL) chief executive, requesting that an investigation be launched, and claimed he identified the individuals he had been told would share in the alleged payments.

"I wrote a letter to the CEO asking for an investigation to take place. I named the names of all the persons who I was told I'll be sharing this money with," he said.

Mr Wilson alleged that he has never been informed of the outcome of any investigation. "There's never been anything concerning that investigation brought back to the union or brought back to me or any conclusion," he said.

The BEWU president further claimed he has sufferrd retaliation since rejecting the alleged bribe, alleging that management has targeted both him and employees within his department.

"Ever since, I noticed slight victimisation in the way they're handling me and handling the department I work in," Mr Wilson said, adding that he understood senior officials at BPL had recently been asked to resign.

Calling for the removal of Christina Alston, BPL's board chair, Mr Wilson alleged the matter extended beyond management. "You all did not finish that investigation with the man who tried to bribe me," he said. "Take that investigation to the police." There is no suggestion that Ms Alston is involved or has done anything wrong.

The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation did not directly address the allegations in its statement, saying only that it intends to discuss the issues with union representatives before determining its next course of action.

Responding to the Ministry's statement, Mr Wilson told Tribune Business that he has already been contacted by Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, on the matter.

"I got a message from the Minister to meet with her this upcoming week as she is off the island," he said. Mr Wilson said he intends to outline the allegations and the union's concerns during that meeting.