By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
POLICE arrested two men Tuesday evening in connection with the assault of two women employees of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation.
According to police, around noon on Tuesday, the two women disconnectors went to a home at Avocado Street, Pinewood Gardens to disconnect the electricity supply due to non-payment.
When they arrived at the residence they were confronted by two men who prevented them from disconnecting their power supply by assaulting and threatening them with a large rock.
The workers filed a complaint with officers at the South Beach Police Station who arrested the two suspects, ages 52 and 18, a short while later.
On Wednesday BEC Chairman Leslie Miller said that intimidation is on the rise and the corporation’s 32 reconnectors are threatened with bodily harm by delinquent customers on a weekly basis, despite the corporation’s flexible payment options.
He said the women, who were assaulted, were rescued by their co-workers, who heard them pleading with a group of five men over the corporation’s radio system.
Mr Miller blasted the culprits as “cowards” and said the residence is now disconnected from the light pole, and the corporation has also removed its meter box.
He said he has received an apology from the home owner, and mother of one of the men. However, he said, the home will remain disconnected until the criminal matter is resolved by the court.
Mr Miller also warned that interference with disconnection efforts will result in an immediate and indefinite termination of service.
Comments
B_I_D___ 10 years ago
I wonder if they are investigating the guy who claimed he was going home for his handgun '9MM'...or maybe he was just 'jesting' like Leslie Miller.
hj 10 years ago
Who knows, maybe someone will intervene on their behalf,because we have some politicians who just love to help people
Bahamianpride 10 years ago
The idiots were arrested, but disconnecting the power lines and removing the power box is taking it a little to far.. Just shut it off.. Using his logic, every time a crime is committed at a residence we should not only arrest the culprits but deprive all individuals of possible service that may have had no involvement in this matter.. What if some 75 year old women & babies live there that had nothing to do with this should we deprive them for extended periods the ability to have air condition, lights, refrigeration for food, etc.. Punish the criminals, not everyone else..
BahamianAway 10 years ago
According to someone from the initial report on this matter, everyone whether involved or not should be made to suffer.
Just another example of how sometimes Bahamians lack compassion and in places where they need to show it the most. SMH!!!
B_I_D___ 10 years ago
Yeap...that was me...I am sick and tired of all these people who coddle and pretend that their children or siblings are angels and just plod along with the status quo and seem surprised or downtrodden when something like this happens. Jr here and a few of his thug buddies hold some BEC workers hostage and threaten them with death...Momma calls to 'apologize'...maybe Momma should have done a better job of raising that child...maybe momma should have been more responsible with her body and not had the child in the first place if she (and hopefully her partner, but I doubt it) could raise the child properly...so do I have much sympathy when your offspring, the fruit of your loins does something stupid and causes you hardship as a parent...nope, not one little bit! Sorry...enough stupidness, time to take responsibility for you and your actions.
positiveinput 10 years ago
And the bottom line is if they had paid their bill on time, the B.E.C workers would never had to come to their residence. One thing you leave out, those who were home could have been out working to help cut down the bill instead of running it up.
BahamianAway 10 years ago
Do you live in the same Bahamas as other Bahamians who use BEC? NO NO!!! My bad- maybe you are one of the few Bahamians making over 100 grand a year and can afford to fully pay a $400 BEC bill every month on top of the other utilities that are raping the average Bahamian.
Let me break it down for you....the average house runs about $300 to $400 worth of electricity a month, then there is cable another $120 (for basic), water is another $200..oh which btw if you happen to have you own well so you don't need Water and Sewage please add an extra $300 to your light bill. Because every time that pump kicks in to draw water that's electricity being used. Then there is a cellphone or home phone which you can buy minutes so it probably runs like $50 a month. We haven't even gone to the grocery store yet or put gas in the car and already we are up to $800.
The average Bahamian makes 30 thousand a year. So sorry to say most Bahamians are always behind on BEC bills. But ummm since you seem to be able to pay all your bill one time can you come and pay mine as well.
TheObjectiveVoice 10 years ago
All I have to say is AMEN. That's all. Just Amen.
BahamianAway 10 years ago
Are you serious...SMH!!! How can you make such a silly assumption. How do you know Jr. and his buddies weren't raised better but CHOSE to make a stupid decision. I have a problem with people always blaming parenting for every sin a child commits. Yes, there are some instances where bad parenting can be blamed, but not all situations are such.
Furthermore, how do you know JR. wasn't a planned child with both parents in the home. I think you might want to sit back and check your compassion level. God forbid you have a child and "raise" them right only for them to fall into the wrong crowd. SMH- a person taking responsibility for THEIR actions does not mean to drag someone else into that. Let the accused take responsibility and any others who were involved.
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
The idiots are arrested................. but what about the idiot who filed the complaint???????
B_I_D___ 10 years ago
You saying the BEC workers are idiots for filing a complaint after trying to do their job and being held against their will and threatened with death? Are you nuts?
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
B_I_D, how did this issue reach the news???????? Was this the first time BEC disconnectors were threatened.............. do I smell political abuse of power?????
pat242 10 years ago
Sheeprunner12. That is not political abuse of power. The complainants where the B.E.C employees who where held hostage. When this incidents accused the police sent necessary information the B.C.Es management and the media. This is a common practice among public and private sectors. So your statement lacks substance and legitimacy.
pat242 10 years ago
And the B.E.C staff where not idiots. They where in fear of their lives and did the right thing by reporting it to the police. If they did not the nation would no know of the incident nor the culprits involve. What if it was you. What would you do.
IloveBahamas 10 years ago
General crazy you are the biggest idiot on here. Do you have the intellectual capacity to do one ounce of their jobs? It is easy for you to hide behind your computer and attack and label one set of people. People with brains and not a rock in their head will have sense enough to inquire if need be if they see two women pull up in a BEC truck knowing their accounts are delinquent. It doesn't take too much brain waves to figure out why they are there. I am sick of all these ignorant people just sending the Bahamas to hell in a basket.
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
Pat & Love, are these the same people who got cushion jobs making 3 times the average civil servant????????????
FYI, it seems that the suspects have questionable status................ hint.......hint
I wonder what happens when these disconnectors go Out East or in the Haitian villages?????
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