The Tribune

BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson has been suspended from Bahamas Power and Light and at least two other employees have been fired as the fallout deepens over the utility’s controversial overtime payments, The Tribune understands.

Mr Wilson was suspended this week, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The disciplinary action comes amid a dispute between BPL and the BEWU over overtime payments and the utility’s move to tighten overtime controls.

A source close to the matter said the union is engaging the Department of Labour’s conciliation process while also pursuing the dispute in court.

The Tribune made several attempts to contact Mr Wilson for comment but was unsuccessful up to press time.

The latest developments follow The Tribune’s revelation last month that three employees in BPL’s Fuel and Performance Department received a combined $601,295.16 in overtime between May 2025 and April 2026.

Two employees accounted for $483,281.53 of that total, receiving $265,551.83 and $217,729.70 respectively, while a third received $118,013.63.

Payroll information reviewed by The Tribune showed the annual base salaries of the two highest overtime earners were about $78,388 and $56,182, respectively.

Their overtime payments were therefore more than three times their annual base salaries.

One overtime record from Christmas week showed an employee recorded as working 18 hours on Christmas Day, followed by 24 hours on December 26, 24 hours on December 27 and another 24 hours on December 28 — a total of 90 hours over four consecutive days.

The findings prompted BPL’s board to tighten overtime controls, triggering a backlash from the union.

The BEWU has argued that workers should not be held solely responsible for overtime payments because management must authorise and approve the hours.

The controversy has already led to disciplinary action against other BPL employees.

BEWU shop steward Wellington Porter was initially suspended for five days over alleged gross misconduct before BPL extended the suspension by another 20 days as it continued its investigation.

Melvin Babb, manager of Fuel and Special Projects, was also reportedly suspended over alleged gross misconduct, with his suspension later extended.

At a press conference last month, Mr Porter attempted to explain the 90 hours recorded during Christmas week, attributing the extraordinary hours to overlapping fuel operations involving an ocean tanker, coastal tankers and continuing fuel transfers.

The dispute has unfolded during a difficult summer for BPL, which has faced repeated power outages and mounting public criticism over the reliability of electricity supplies.

The Nassau Guardian reported on Tuesday that the BEWU filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court on Monday against BPL and the Attorney General, seeking an injunction to prevent the utility from enforcing its new overtime policy. The union is also reportedly asking the court to declare the initial suspensions of two BPL employees unlawful.