The Minster should note the unprecedented fires over the last year at Clifton and Blue Hill here in Nassau are contributing combined with the fact that Management have pushed out all qualified staff. How ironic the Canadians that fired Heastie in Freeport are coming to help clean up his mess!! Now we all see why he was fired!! When will Heastie ..Rollins and this Board be replaced!!! Enough excuses!!! Bring back the qualified staff as this country is in crisis..all hands on deck!!!
Reading the comments from the tourists in this article....when will action be taken to replace management/Board at BPL and further more Bannister. Over the last year we have experienced unprecedented power insecurity. The damage to the GDP ..interruption to the tourism industry/businesses..fires at Clifton, Blue Hills, Bimini, Exuma, HI, problems in Abaco and Eleuthra...high monthly bills to cover all these additional rentals..just goes on and on. I have heard BPL for the first time ever described as a National Security Crisis. Yet the best the Minister can do is play politics. The actions over the past year have moved from incompetence to treasonous. When will those in charge be held accountable.....
So...the original plan had Shell NA **building a turn key plant****,** **approved by****** **technical staff, previous Board and Cabinet**. Then...the CEO and new Board decide to carve out the purchase of the engines... purchased from Watsilla at a cost to taxpayers of $95 million (plus all the additional for installation). Now... they are turning it over to Shell NA and focusing on improving distribution, transmission and customer service. Now that they spent the funds for upgrades on these engines..same engines Shell NA was responsible for purchasing and installing....where are the funds coming from for the upgrades!!! What am I missing....
Agreed..why do the people have to pay for a private lawyer outside of the AG office!
Maybe the Minister and CEO should dip into that 1.2 million gap between what was requested to the former Head of Procurement and the actual noted cost...to pay for this "new lawyer". Makes you now wonder about the fires... Just saying...this certainly appears to have kickbacks written all over it...I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg about what has and what is going on at BPL....
While Mr. Maynard's deliverance may be received as "biggity" his concerns are quite valid. There are many unanswered questions so Bahamians should not be swayed by the deliverance but rather hear the questions Mr. Maynard is posing. The specific company in question is not the enemy but rather the course of events under the hand of those in charge. One must also remember the engines in question have been purchased by local Bahamians as tax payers. Therefore, transparency is not an option.
The recent purchase of the these engines combined with the events over the past year at BPL and its current state of chaos beg the urgent need for some form of legal inquiry into the management of its affairs and the use of funds that have been loaned to it.
Also, if funds were diverted to purchase these engines..funds I believe from re-financing through loans..are any loan covenants broken? How will this reflect on the country if this indeed has happened. How will the protection and distributions improvements now be funded in time for the new engines to be brought online?
If covenants have been broken...then it begs the question...what financial experience in these kinds of matters does this new board have? Is this Board prepared especially given the last Board felt funds could not be used for such an exercise. Bahamian people deserve better clarity on this.
The MOU will now be changed, how will the costing going forward be with Shell NA?
Installing engines of this magnitude requires studies and proper site preparation, hence the date provided by Shell NA. Given this, how then can all be in order to receive these new engines this quickly. How can BPL have the protection and distribution repaired and improved to receive these new engines and the power generated? If not properly repaired and site ready...will there not be ongoing challenges in delivering the power?
This then leads me to ask the question the Engineers involved at BPL in this decision, which I believe at a minimum are the ceo, coo, Rollins and I believe there is an Engineer on the new board. Are any of these person recognized by the Engineering Body in the Bahamas? Which ones have power generation experience?
Did the previous terminated Board Directors not voice their concern about involving other companies in this process? Wasn't their concern kickbacks?
Why is the PM not insisting on proper studies and transparency with such an important and impactful issue for the Bahamian people??
My guess is Shell NA will distance itself. Shell NA is a publically traded company that can not afford to be associated with corruption. Is this not one of the main reasons the former board members were terminated as changing the agreement with Shell NA to using either of the European companies had kickbacks written all over it. How can funds that were loaned to them now be diverted?? I seem to remember new stories about the financing. What covenants with the exiting loans from the expat banks have been breached. How does this effect the country's credibility? Why no RFP for these engines..why were none of the employed engineers consulted? How could the appropriate staff not be made aware of the plans?? My guess is New Fortress is in..Shell is out...and let me guess..a private group locally will raise the funds for the RRB. Its all so predicatable...and all the same players will get a piece of the pie while the locals pay for it.
Osborne, Dean and Thompson need to sue, they need to protect their professional reputations. They also need to force these irresponsible Ministers to stop and realize this is not business as usual. Bannister knows better and tried to be petty and throw shade and defer from the very serious issues of his misconduct. Geezus all the issues at this company and all you can criticize on is makeup!! I am still waiting for this investigation to happen that Minnis promised and I am waiting to hear the report on the fire!!! Hardly wait to hear the spin he puts on it ..Bannister is a disappointment...
The team at Clifton recommended the engine **NOT** be brought back online that evening. I hear engines are never started under those circumstances. I heard he overruled and gave a directive. Thank goodness no one was injured or killed!!! Then throwing out sabotage... to me all that is deflection to his incompetence.
However, Mr. Heastie's incompetence I heard had already been flagged by former members of the Board. This is one of the very reasons the former Director Mr. Dean was put off the board and the former Director of Generation was "given" his VSEP. Mr. Dean recognized Mr. Heastie's incompetence...organized a walk through at Clifton with the former Director of Generation..I am told validating Mr. Dean's concerns of Heastie providing misleading information. I also heard, ironically.....two hours after the walk through at Clifton with Mr. Dean.. the Director of Generation was called to the main office where he was given his VSEP by Heastie and given 30 mins to vacate his office at Clifton. This action totally unknown to the former Board including Mr. Dean and the former Chairman Mrs. Osborne. However, if I had to bet I am sure Mr. Rollins and the MOW were aware. The former Director of Generation to me seemed to be a threat to the plans.
Neither of the engines since inception have been affected by fire..I seem to remember they were installed around 2000...but ironically when Heastie "retires" the former Generation Director they all of a sudden light up!! Again thank goodness no one was injured or killed!!
The end result of these actions is the Bahamian public is feeling and paying for the negligence of the present CEO..apathy of the present Board, MOW, even the PM. I find it insulting this CEO and present Board Chair are on the talk show circuit trying to justify knowing full well that negligence caused this. People are hurting and a change is need!!
Bahamianbychoice says...
The Minster should note the unprecedented fires over the last year at Clifton and Blue Hill here in Nassau are contributing combined with the fact that Management have pushed out all qualified staff. How ironic the Canadians that fired Heastie in Freeport are coming to help clean up his mess!! Now we all see why he was fired!! When will Heastie ..Rollins and this Board be replaced!!! Enough excuses!!! Bring back the qualified staff as this country is in crisis..all hands on deck!!!
On Energy reinforcements coming from Freeport as load shedding continues
Posted 3 July 2019, 6:46 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
Reading the comments from the tourists in this article....when will action be taken to replace management/Board at BPL and further more Bannister. Over the last year we have experienced unprecedented power insecurity. The damage to the GDP ..interruption to the tourism industry/businesses..fires at Clifton, Blue Hills, Bimini, Exuma, HI, problems in Abaco and Eleuthra...high monthly bills to cover all these additional rentals..just goes on and on. I have heard BPL for the first time ever described as a National Security Crisis. Yet the best the Minister can do is play politics. The actions over the past year have moved from incompetence to treasonous. When will those in charge be held accountable.....
On Bimini power crisis ‘like visiting the Third World’
Posted 1 July 2019, 3:10 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
So...the original plan had Shell NA **building a turn key plant****,** **approved by****** **technical staff, previous Board and Cabinet**. Then...the CEO and new Board decide to carve out the purchase of the engines... purchased from Watsilla at a cost to taxpayers of $95 million (plus all the additional for installation). Now... they are turning it over to Shell NA and focusing on improving distribution, transmission and customer service. Now that they spent the funds for upgrades on these engines..same engines Shell NA was responsible for purchasing and installing....where are the funds coming from for the upgrades!!! What am I missing....
On Power push: BPL chairman lays out future plans
Posted 29 May 2019, 4:42 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
Agreed..why do the people have to pay for a private lawyer outside of the AG office!
Maybe the Minister and CEO should dip into that 1.2 million gap between what was requested to the former Head of Procurement and the actual noted cost...to pay for this "new lawyer". Makes you now wonder about the fires... Just saying...this certainly appears to have kickbacks written all over it...I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg about what has and what is going on at BPL....
On Govt hires private lawyer in BPL action
Posted 27 May 2019, 11 a.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
While Mr. Maynard's deliverance may be received as "biggity" his concerns are quite valid. There are many unanswered questions so Bahamians should not be swayed by the deliverance but rather hear the questions Mr. Maynard is posing. The specific company in question is not the enemy but rather the course of events under the hand of those in charge. One must also remember the engines in question have been purchased by local Bahamians as tax payers. Therefore, transparency is not an option.
The recent purchase of the these engines combined with the events over the past year at BPL and its current state of chaos beg the urgent need for some form of legal inquiry into the management of its affairs and the use of funds that have been loaned to it.
On Maynard generates his own hot air
Posted 12 March 2019, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
Also, if funds were diverted to purchase these engines..funds I believe from re-financing through loans..are any loan covenants broken? How will this reflect on the country if this indeed has happened. How will the protection and distributions improvements now be funded in time for the new engines to be brought online?
If covenants have been broken...then it begs the question...what financial experience in these kinds of matters does this new board have? Is this Board prepared especially given the last Board felt funds could not be used for such an exercise. Bahamian people deserve better clarity on this.
The MOU will now be changed, how will the costing going forward be with Shell NA?
On Too many questions still unanswered
Posted 11 March 2019, 1:31 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
Installing engines of this magnitude requires studies and proper site preparation, hence the date provided by Shell NA. Given this, how then can all be in order to receive these new engines this quickly. How can BPL have the protection and distribution repaired and improved to receive these new engines and the power generated? If not properly repaired and site ready...will there not be ongoing challenges in delivering the power?
This then leads me to ask the question the Engineers involved at BPL in this decision, which I believe at a minimum are the ceo, coo, Rollins and I believe there is an Engineer on the new board. Are any of these person recognized by the Engineering Body in the Bahamas? Which ones have power generation experience?
Did the previous terminated Board Directors not voice their concern about involving other companies in this process? Wasn't their concern kickbacks?
Why is the PM not insisting on proper studies and transparency with such an important and impactful issue for the Bahamian people??
On Too many questions still unanswered
Posted 11 March 2019, 1:05 p.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
My guess is Shell NA will distance itself. Shell NA is a publically traded company that can not afford to be associated with corruption. Is this not one of the main reasons the former board members were terminated as changing the agreement with Shell NA to using either of the European companies had kickbacks written all over it. How can funds that were loaned to them now be diverted?? I seem to remember new stories about the financing. What covenants with the exiting loans from the expat banks have been breached. How does this effect the country's credibility? Why no RFP for these engines..why were none of the employed engineers consulted? How could the appropriate staff not be made aware of the plans?? My guess is New Fortress is in..Shell is out...and let me guess..a private group locally will raise the funds for the RRB. Its all so predicatable...and all the same players will get a piece of the pie while the locals pay for it.
On BPL to seek Shell equity for its $95m
Posted 7 March 2019, 11:59 a.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
Osborne, Dean and Thompson need to sue, they need to protect their professional reputations. They also need to force these irresponsible Ministers to stop and realize this is not business as usual. Bannister knows better and tried to be petty and throw shade and defer from the very serious issues of his misconduct. Geezus all the issues at this company and all you can criticize on is makeup!! I am still waiting for this investigation to happen that Minnis promised and I am waiting to hear the report on the fire!!! Hardly wait to hear the spin he puts on it ..Bannister is a disappointment...
On Osborne presses on to sue over sacking
Posted 22 February 2019, 7:09 a.m. Suggest removal
Bahamianbychoice says...
The team at Clifton recommended the engine **NOT** be brought back online that evening. I hear engines are never started under those circumstances. I heard he overruled and gave a directive. Thank goodness no one was injured or killed!!! Then throwing out sabotage... to me all that is deflection to his incompetence.
However, Mr. Heastie's incompetence I heard had already been flagged by former members of the Board. This is one of the very reasons the former Director Mr. Dean was put off the board and the former Director of Generation was "given" his VSEP. Mr. Dean recognized Mr. Heastie's incompetence...organized a walk through at Clifton with the former Director of Generation..I am told validating Mr. Dean's concerns of Heastie providing misleading information. I also heard, ironically.....two hours after the walk through at Clifton with Mr. Dean.. the Director of Generation was called to the main office where he was given his VSEP by Heastie and given 30 mins to vacate his office at Clifton. This action totally unknown to the former Board including Mr. Dean and the former Chairman Mrs. Osborne. However, if I had to bet I am sure Mr. Rollins and the MOW were aware. The former Director of Generation to me seemed to be a threat to the plans.
Neither of the engines since inception have been affected by fire..I seem to remember they were installed around 2000...but ironically when Heastie "retires" the former Generation Director they all of a sudden light up!! Again thank goodness no one was injured or killed!!
The end result of these actions is the Bahamian public is feeling and paying for the negligence of the present CEO..apathy of the present Board, MOW, even the PM. I find it insulting this CEO and present Board Chair are on the talk show circuit trying to justify knowing full well that negligence caused this. People are hurting and a change is need!!
On BPL’s CEO denies they turned on generator too soon
Posted 14 November 2018, 9:56 a.m. Suggest removal