The government’s decision to select PowerSecure International as the preferred bidder to manage the Bahamas Electricity Corporation is a “disgraceful” act of insult and betrayal to Bahamians, according to former Free National Movement Chairman Darron Cash.
“On the face of it, this decision to bring in a foreign management team for BEC is an insult to every talented young Bahamian who has a passion to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of this country,” Cash said in a statement yesterday.
PowerSecure is an American company headquartered in North Carolina, and Cash believes selecting this company sends the message that “Bahamians are just not good enough.”
“Once again the message is ‘Bring in the Foreign Reserves’ when it comes to Bahamians summoning the will, skill and creativity to solve our national problems,” he said.
Cash explained that the Progressive Liberal Party’s 2012 campaign slogan “Believe in Bahamians” is now a laughing statement because Prime Minister Perry Christie has no confidence in Bahamians after awarding BEC’s management contract to a foreign company.
“This decision is very similar to Christie’s actions on the gaming referendum. In his heart he knew the words he was saying to the people (‘I will honour the results’) were not what he really believed. Betrayal is becoming a familiar phenomenon for Mr. Christie,” Cash added.
He questions what advice and guidance will the new foreign BEC managers give to the prime minister that will prove to be different from what talented Bahamian BEC executives and others were giving the government for the last ten years.
“I make no immediate comments about Power Secure International—their true character will be revealed in short order,” the former Free National Movement chairman said.
Last week the deputy prime minister announced in a statement that the government has selected PowerSecure International to manage BEC, but Cash has some questions about the comments made in that statement because it “whines” about BEC being debt-ridden.
“That need for money has not evaporated. Who will be providing it? What financing arrangement does this deal cover?” Cash asked.
“The multiple references to ‘scheme’ in the deputy prime minister’s statement might be revealing. What exactly does the DPM mean when he talks about this management company having the financial resources necessary? If BEC needs money, and government is retaining 100 per cent of the equity, what kind of ‘scheme’ will this so called ‘debt ridden’ corporation and the people of The Bahamas be subjected to? Is this a managing and financing deal?” Cash asked.
According to Cash, these unanswered and basic questions underscore a reality that transparency and disclosure are alien concepts to the PLP government.
