Govt monitoring GBPC, Cooper family standoff

Govt monitoring GBPC, Cooper family standoff
Sen. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama

NASSAU, BAHAMAS –  Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson set the record straight on Tuesday following suggestions by critics that for weeks, government turned a blind eye to the power theft allegations that were levied by the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC).

The said allegations led to the recent disconnection of several fast food franchises owned by the well known Cooper family in the nation’s second city.

The standoff between the two parties began in early March.

The Cooper family operates the Pollo Tropical, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises.

The power company asserted last month that the Cooper’s were allegedly stealing power by using energy-saving devices.

Investigations launched into the claims revealed that the gadgets were actually bogus and that the family and other business owners on the island had fallen prey to a massive scam which caused the power company hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

The franchises were taken off the power grid and forced to use generators.

After nearly one month, only some of the franchises have been placed back on the grid.

Fred Mitchell, chairman of the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and PLP leader Philip Brave Davis lambasted the government for failing to address the matter in a timely fashion. However, Senator Thompson shot down the opposition’s assertions on Tuesday and affirmed that government has actually been involved in the process from day one and remains optimistic.

“Government has been engaged with the businesses and the power company from the very beginning,” he said.

“We understand that communications and discussions are continuing with some of those businesses.

“Some of those businesses have been settled. The parties have met and the matter has been settled and their power has been cut back on.”

He continued, “the process is ongoing and we have been engaged in it from the beginning and continue to be engaged with those businesses and the power company until there is complete resolution.”

 

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.