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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
Local attorney, Rasin Johnson
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The Freeport News: In the wake of Wednesday's action by leaders of Operation Justice Bahamas (OJB), who filed and complaint against the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC), and delivered copies of the official document to the company's office and several agencies, local attorney Osman Johnson issued a challenge to the Government Thursday morning, calling on the country's leaders to "step forward and to carry out a full and frank investigation" as to what is taking place in Grand Bahama.
"We, the people of Grand Bahama and Operation Justice Bahamas, have spent a great deal of time and effort and indeed I have spent countless hours of my own time in compiling this official complaint to the Government," Johnson added. "They (government) are required under the provision of the Price Control Act, 1971 and, indeed, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA); in addition to the Consumer Protection Act, they are obliged to step forward now and carry out this full investigation which is clearly needed."
Troy Garvey, Johnson and several other OJB members marched into the GBPC foyer Wednesday morning requesting an audience with the power company's president and CEO, Sarah MacDonald. They group wanted to hand deliver the documents to MacDonald; however, she nor her assistant appeared at the welcome section of the building.
Instead, according to reports the document was delivered to MacDonald's office by receptionist.
Later Wednesday afternoon the power company issued a statement in response to OJB's complaint.
But, said Johnson, the comments that OJB have had from the company (GBPC), have not been sufficient in providing an explanation as to precisely what is going on.
"Without the government's involvement there cannot be any relief for the people of Grand Bahama," Johnson stated. "So, what I am saying to them today is, number one it is obvious that, economically, we are suffering in this island currently because of the levels of prices that are being charged for electricity.
"That is a clear fact," he added.
Secondly, Johnson said, "we are pushing away large numbers of very creditable investors from the island who are afraid with coming in and burdening themselves and their businesses with unstainable power rates. That is a point ... that is an overhead cost that many of the businesses and corporations are not willing to assume.
"And, three, the government knows full well that the living standards of our people and the conditions under which we are living now, are totally sub-standard."
He noted that these standards are not fit for purpose. "There are dozens of homes, if not hundreds, on this island that do not have electrical supply as I speak."
Johnson said this is a state of affairs that is totally and absolutely unacceptable.
He stated that Grand Bahama has never experienced "anything" of this kind. "The government in its role as the protector of the people and under the mandate that we have given them they have, and I am saying to them categorically today, a legal obligation to take action now. Now, without any further delay, without any excuse ... action needs to be taken now."
And, he added, the GBPC needs to be called to account for their actions.
Johnson said that this issue with the power company highlights the need for legislation in this sector.
"We are desperately bereft in The Bahamas of any kind of fully fledged regulatory body which would actually oversee the actions of these types of companies.
"If we are going to allow for these multi-national corporations to come into our country and operate monopoly systems, so they are operating in sectors which are vital to our people we have to provide the legislation and regulation in order to safe guard the interest of our people, because we have seen clearly with this situation that in any circumstances where there is no protection, companies come in and take full advantage."
Johnson noted that basically it is a free-for-all. "We have to put and end to it and the only way it is going to stop is for the government to take action with an investigation and to legislate in the sector."
The documents distributed on Wednesday morning were com- piled by Johnson as the attorney acting on behalf of OJB.
SOURCE
Related article:
GB Power Company Statement on complaint document
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