BPL's Clifton Pier station.
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
BPL’s booze and drug taking group nicknamed the “Lords of Doom” were upgraded from contract workers to permanent and pensionable employees of the power company.
The behaviour of the group was exposed by The Tribune earlier this month revealing they had drunk alcohol and smoked cannabis during working hours, after paying off their boss, former BPL foreman, Terrance Penn, not to talk. Mr. Penn was subsequently fired by the BPL for allowing the confessed men to slack off on company time.
A source within BPL has now revealed to us that when “the big party” ended no action was taken against the men and instead they were given permanent positions.
“What is not being said is that those men are still members of staff at BPL,” the source revealed.
“They were rewarded for slackness! Their boss was fired for taking money from them to keep quiet while they smoked the dope and drank the hot liquor when they were supposed to be working.
“At the time when they were busted and the party ended, they were all contractual workers. How come they still work at BPL and not only still work here, but moved up from being contractual workers to permanent and pensionable workers? Can the bosses explain that? So in other words, BPL rewards staff for breeching employee conduct rules? Heastie those have to do better, man.”
Last week, Paul Maynard, president of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union at the time when “Lords of Doom” were “slacking off” on the job, admitted he knew of their actions and at the time said he made it clear he did not condone what they were doing. Mr. Maynard said when trouble struck, there was no way he could defend “Lords of Doom” or Mr. Penn, as union boss. They were on their own, he said.
Mr Maynard confirmed, to Tribune that the men are now permanent employees of BPL.
“The company made a decision, that they were not going to hold anything against them and so they hired them,” Mr. Maynard confirmed. “They were only temporary workers at first, so yes they hired them. As union president, who am I to say, ‘don’t hire them’? Their mission is to get people employed so who am to say don’t hire them?”
Mr. Penn took his matter to the Supreme Court thinking he had a case against BPL as he was not directly involved in the cannabis smoking and drinking. Mr. Penn’s legal team brought members of “Lords of Doom” as witnesses, but they all said he, in fact, took money from them to keep it a secret that they were involved in drinking and smoking sessions during working hours. This was not favourable for Mr. Penn and on November 3, Justice Ian Winder dismissed the case.
“There are a lot of secrets and wrong doing here at BPL,” the source continued. “I think the public has a right to know what is going on here. There is no way, the “Lords of Doom” should still be working here.
“If they thought so much of these men and felt like it was a must that they stayed on staff even after they confessed to the drinking and the smoking, then they should have at least let them do some form of counselling for their issues to make it look good to the other staff members. But, it’s like they’re partying was not even addressed. They were rewarded! The man in charge of them was fired and they were rewarded. Something wrong there!”
The Tribune reached out to BPL’s Communication Director, K. Quincy Parker, to explainBPL’s actions.
“BPL has no comment at this time,” Mr. Parker responded.
Comments
Amused 3 years, 5 months ago
If you don't laugh you will cry in this country I swear. Not to worry though IMF will soon dictate what is to be done with these government corporations real soon. These ppl should have been fired point blank but hey it's the bahamas right where anything goes
observer2 3 years, 5 months ago
Amused. I think the crooked IMF will lend us the $500m for the BEC rate bond so we can buy more outdated global warming fossil fuel and outdated generation plants from the corrupt Shell in Europe.
Elite professionals and entrenched business interest in the Bahamas stand to benefit for all the legal, financial, oil importation and construction work as monopolies remain fixed in the importation of oil, the generation of power, the virtual shut out of renewable energies and the constant downgrading of the Bahamas into junk bond territory.
Why should government care? By curtailing the export of US dollars by average Bahamains they are now flush with US$2 billion in reserves....ready to wire out to their European business partners.
Turnquest always saying how bad things are but I ain see him take any pay cut.
Topdude 3 years, 5 months ago
My goodness what an abomination? It appears as if the entire company is riven with wrongdoing, slackness, dishonesty and criminal behavior. This is a culture of crookedness. Are we to condone this at this stage in our development?
From what I have heard through the grapevine, the Lords of Doom type of behavior is a common practice while other illegal and immoral behaviors are the rule.
It is little wonder then why blackouts are the norm. When employees are mentally blocked upfrom drink and drugs the nation experiences a blackout.
So what can be done to fix this problem? What will it take to transform this company? I do not know but I will leave it to the experts. All I know is that the behavior exhibited by the Lords of Doom is a mirror image of the behaviors currently rampant in the nation. Please remember they go to work from the outside and bring the outside culture with them into the company.
benniesun 3 years, 5 months ago
It is too late and there is nothing to be done to fix this problem as it is a symptom of the evil present at the top. Once evil has taken over (established) it roots out any opposition to it; the evil is crafty enough to identify persons who would be a future threat and nip them in the bud. Do not mind them talking their gobbledygook and all of their double speak - evil is exactly what it is. In the laws below just substitute evil for stupid and you will realize our dire situation.
These are Cipolla's five fundamental laws of stupidity:
*Always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation.
*The probability that a certain person (will) be stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person.
*A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or to a group of persons while himself (sometimes) deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses.
*Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake.
*A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person.
Corollary: a stupid person is more dangerous than a pillager.
Sickened 3 years, 5 months ago
Sounds like the group of men had an even higher up boss that is looking out for them. Wonder what the person of made them permanent is getting out of it? There must be some real dirt being covered up by making these guys permanent.
sheeprunner12 3 years, 5 months ago
Quincy Parker who is getting big bucks from our Treasury has NO COMMENT ......... but BPL bosses should not sit by and let this poor example of work ethic and dysfunction be allowed to remain in BPL ......... This will further undermine the public's trust in SOEs and their leaders (who are well paid & perked)
Quincy Parker is not doing his job in being accountable and forthright with the taxpayers who pay him and all of BPL staff ......... We The People deserve better ....... Desmond needs to intervene (except, he condones it too)
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
The tone of corruption is set by elected officials right at the very top of government. And the dumb, stupid and gullible voters who constitute a majority always get the type of government they elect and deserve.
thomas 3 years, 5 months ago
OMG! This is just so depressing.
BONEFISH 3 years, 5 months ago
All of those persons involved in this situation should have been terminated. They also should be sued so BPL could recover the monies they were paid. The individual who made the decision to make them permanent and pensionable should be questioned. If that person knew about this situation, they should be disciplined.
I think nothing will really come of this sorry situation. That is how things are done in this country. The taxpayers will simply bear this burden unfortunately.
Topdude 3 years, 5 months ago
Given the evident indifference to this travesty from the lack of responses to this article, it is safe to assume that this type of behavior is not limited to BPL. So how many other public enterprises and Government Departments have Lords and Ladies of Doom in their employment? Time for the Government to do something about this. It is unacceptable and must be stamped out ASAP. Come on Prime Minister Minnis it is time to rise to the occasion if you want to go down in history as the Prime Minister who changed the work culture in the country from partying On the job to working diligently at work. The time is now.
mandela 3 years, 5 months ago
W0W! is this the same company that fired the CEO for getting make-up to represent the company and had charged them for It? Their priorities are in the toilet. The minister for works, by being silent shows his intent or lack thereof to transparency and true leadership, all who were found in breach should have been FIRED. This is the same as when parents give their kids a $400 phone or expensive gifts for bringing home an F report card. Now with virtual learning and so many not taking part, our education level will go from D-average = Dangerous to F-average = Finish, and that is exactly what we are Finished. This only happens in a third trying to be first world country like the Bahamas.
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