By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light currently has no plans to write off any of its numerous delinquent accounts, an official from the utility provider said yesterday.
However, the official would not say whether the corporation has been engaged in discussions with the Christie administration about a programme that would facilitate such an endeavour, or say if BPL has plans to implement any kind of debt forgiveness plan in the foreseeable future.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis announced that the government is working on a series of operational agreements with BPL with hopes of getting the corporation to forgive the debts of consumers who have been unable to settle balances for prolonged periods of time.
Mr Davis, who has ministerial responsibility for BPL, said he had been informed that some 3,000 persons have fallen into this classification, insisting that officials now have to look at these clients on a case-by-case basis to determine how best to resolve each matter.
When contacted by The Tribune to ascertain the particulars of such operational agreements and a possible timeline for implementation, a BPL official said: “Our official statement is we don’t have any plans to do that at this time.”
The official, who did not want to be named, then instructed The Tribune to refer any additional queries to Mr Davis.
The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) launched an electricity assistance programme in June 2013 in an effort to reconnect more than 7,000 delinquent residential customers.
BEC, which was renamed BPL earlier this year, ran another programme that month that offered residential customers in arrears who paid their outstanding bill in full a 10 per cent discount.
Residential customers who continued to pay their bills on time in June, July and August 2013 received a two per cent discount on each of those bills.
Last year, Mr Davis said after PowerSecure’s management deal was finalised, Bahamians could expect a 40 per cent reduction in electricity costs “immediately.”
During a signing of a five-year management services agreement for BPL in February, Prime Minister Perry Christie also said he was “hopeful that the signing would reduce the cost for electricity for consumers in a significant way.”
However, amidst weeks of almost daily power outages as the corporation works to meet demand, some have charged that the new deal for the utility provider had resulted in no improvement in electrical services despite assurances by the government.
However, Mr Davis has maintained that the government has received a plan of action from PowerSecure. Mr Davis has also said the potential to forgive outstanding consumer balances remains just one aspect of ongoing discussions between the Christie administration and PowerSecure.
Comments
realfreethinker 7 years, 10 months ago
This is the best this gov have to offer? Mortgage relief now power bill relief ? Rather than create a sound economic enviroment for people to have jobs and pay their own bills,the best thay can do is give a handout. What a piece of trash we have running our country. Why don't these dinosaurs just close their eyes and go away FAR AWAY from our country?
Sickened 7 years, 10 months ago
The PLP don't want to teach our people to fish... because the people will become independent.
ohdrap4 7 years, 10 months ago
they will not retire until they control the prices.
truetruebahamian 7 years, 10 months ago
I don't see why honest people who budget for and pay for their own power consumption or any other service should be burdened with paying for scofflaws and thieves. They should be made to pay - and not be given any breaks at the expense of paying customers. This means through government misuse of public moneys by debt forgiveness or by padded invoices to regularly paying customers.
ohdrap4 7 years, 10 months ago
the plp are also forgiving the fine when conveyances were not immediately recorded.
through negligence of my attorney, i had to pay a fine, which was quite substantial, for the late recording of my conveyance.
had I waited, i could have those written off. the fines were less that the cost of litigation of that bad attorney, but also have the added advantage that the bank no longer holds my papers.
it is disgusting how people can avoid paying bills, but i have to pay.
Sickened 7 years, 10 months ago
Among my peers (upper middle class) I am the fool that is being laughed at when I pay my property taxes. Because of lousy governing even the people who can afford to pay taxes are no longer paying.
B_I_D___ 7 years, 10 months ago
I can afford to pay it...just waiting for my next 'break'/discount for forgiveness!!
B_I_D___ 7 years, 10 months ago
Tell your local PLP MP that if he wants your vote, you need some bills to be paid...
PastorTroy 7 years, 10 months ago
Where is Guy Fawkes When We Really Need Him! Because of legal cannabis, Colorado is rolling over in so much cash, not only they using it for the homeless but giving scholarships to college kids! Bahamian families are having a very difficult time, people in The Bahamas are now committing suicide, and sadly, it's going to get worse if something does not change. I know our young men seem like a pain in the you-know-what to the Bahamas, but take a survey, which young adult will not work in the cannabis industry if it was legal? But let's be honest here, Bahamian politicians do not want an educated electorate, only them and their kids and their cronies and sweetheart kids, preparing them to take their spot to continue more of the same. Legalize cannabis, tax it, use it for college scholarships and education and let's prepare our youths for a prosperous globalize economy. Stop depending on educated Expats, and threatening to deport them when they don't give in to your cronyism. The Bahamas is in a fantastic location, we do not have to be selling off our natural resources to pay bills, just set the youths free and create an environment for them to think outside the box, rather than everyone trying to rob, pimp or control someone for their own selfish gain, (I am talking about those crooked pastors too) When in 2016 you have a 70-year-old Dinosaur gynecologist who has seen more Bahamian ___ than Nighty Knowles, as head of National security, no wonder crime is skyrocketing! He has too much of 'something' on his brain and it ain't power.
PastorTroy 7 years, 9 months ago
It's sad to say less than 24 hours after making the above comment, we have another suicide in The Bahamas. Depression, hopelessness etc is becoming a huge problem. It's been scientifically proven that cannabis is great for PTSD etc, this is why a bill was passed in the U.S senate so war veterans can now choose alternative methods to help them live a better life. Gone are the days when you can 'pump' citizens full of religion and expect them to live a financially poor and spiritual life; we are now living in an information age, while we may not have the best educational system in the world, citizens can read the truth, or there's YouTube to just sit back and watch the truth. The time has come my fellow Bahamians to rise up from comfort and take back our country from these corrupt Dinosaurs and their cronies. In America people taking pills are jumping out of 12 story windows, celebrities overdosing, the same pills are LEGALLY all over our Bahamaland. I know cannabis is controversial in The Bahamas, however, watch Youtube a bit more about the lies from the past and the current truths. I hate to say it but it really seem like Cannabis will truly be the healing of our nation, financially, socially, educationally, physically, environmentally and even spiritually! The 'good book' says: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE you free.” BEING FREE IS FREEDOM MY FELLOW BAHAMIANS... My condolences to the family of Mr. Randy Sweeting
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 10 months ago
Well this is unfortunate. Because the PLP is prepared to do just about anything to "buy" this country in the next election. They stopped the rate hike (thanks), they're about to do "whatever it takes" to get CCA to finish Bahamar. (The Pointe looks really awful btw. Who in the heck approved that glass monstrosity on a hurricane prone waterfront. But I guess like the wolf's eyes in Little Red Riding Hood, they're all the better to "see" with. Can just imagine that all the windows facing south will be assigned to top secret "office" space. Taller than any building in the vicinity, gee what a great look out point)
ghostwriter242 7 years, 10 months ago
Good! Irresponsible behavior should never be rewarded.
Thumbelina242 7 years, 10 months ago
GUARANTEED. ....all those government officials from the PM down will be FIRST IN LINE for debt forgiveness. They have a track record for not paying theur own bills. Just look at the way they manage the country's financial affairs!!..Hmmph!!
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