Massive Incompetence of FNM Government on take over Morton Salt Plant
November 29th 2009

FNM Ministers Earl Deveaux and Phenton Neymour have disgracefully mismanaged the takeover of the Morton Salt Power Plant on Inagua which add millions to the escalating losses of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. Despite having two Ministers to oversee the affairs of BEC they have demonstrated gross incompetence in a simple take over a small power plant & operation.

They must hang their heads in terrible shame for their disgraceful ineptitude in the handling of this transaction. Can the good people of our Country imagine how these two may botch a major transaction if they are jointly unable to effectively handle this minor one? The massive losses at BEC post 2007 is such an example.  But we know they are quick to blame. The initial blame of BEC losses was placed on the PLP but is now being placed on the Family Islands operations.

MP V Alfred Gray informed Parliament in June 2009 that since BEC had replaced the old Morton Salt Electricity Meters in December 2008 no bills were sent to his Constituents in Inagua. Jr. Minister Phenton Neymour’s response on June 15th 2009 was: “It was only a matter of days ago that I stood in this Hall, during the debate on the URCA Bill and announced that the provision of electricity and billing in Inagua is still the responsibility of Morton Salt. Mr. Speaker, that has not changed.

What BEC had done was to install modern meters in an effort to continue with the
upgrading of the facilities in Inagua. This process began after Inagua was hit by
hurricane Ike. I again ask the member from MICAL to stop this petty politics and be
honest with his constituents, just as I was honest with him in these halls and in the Smokers room. The employees at BEC are watching and listening to you.
Remember Bahamians vote silently, but their vote speaks loudly”. End quote.

Since the installation of BEC meters no billings have been made to customers in Inagua as Morton Salt Company was unable to read the meters up to this very date. Despite being strongly brought to the attention of Jr. Minister Neymour and Earl Deveaux who both failed to addressed the serious dilemma. To date, Ministers Deveaux and Neymour have sat on their hands and done nothing.

Today consumers in Inagua have not been billed going on a year and the estimated billings are said to be over a Million dollars. How can the Government logically expect the good people of Inagua to pay electricity bills that are in arrears more than a year? And failing that, do they expect the Morton Salt Company to absorb the massive loss due entirely to the failure of an arrogant and incompetent FNM Government?

The good people of Inagua have already experienced and continue to experience the colossal incompetence of Hubert Ingraham and the FNM Government who has willfully allowed an almost completed (85%) Clinic on Inagua to sit and has been overran with weeds going on for three years while the brand new Doctors’ residence also sits unoccupied. Remember the Grand Cay Abaco Clinic.

Jr. Minister Phenton Neymour with fanfare informed Parliament more than two years ago that the Government was taking over the Morton Salt Power Plant and began the upgrading of the facilities after passage of Hurricane Ike. Morton Salt I am advised continued to supply fuel and maintain the plant at the company’s expense. The final agreement was executed by BEC’s Chairman am advised in September 2009 and BEC has yet to take over the operations but has engaged the services of an Inaguan for some time.

The admonition which the Jr. Minister Neymour directed to MP V Alfred Gray can best be directed to Hubert Inghram and his incompetent gang: The employees at BEC and indeed thinking Bahamians are watching and listening to you. Remember Bahamians vote silently, but their vote speaks loudly.