Skelton-Cline blasts BVIEC over ‘heartless’ bill amnesty policy
As part of the government's economic stimulus plan announced by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1), a collaboration was announced with BVIEC to offer a 3-month amnesty for May, June and July on electricity bills for 'qualifying' persons, individuals and businesses.
Pay up bills by April 2020 – BVIEC
The BVIEC; however, is now demanding that bills up to April be paid before the amnesty is granted.
According to commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the June 4, 2020, edition of his radio show 'Honestly Speaking', “BVIEC you’re wrong, this is heartless, this could not be what the government intended, amnesty should be amnesty.”
“The country got shut down in March, the people didn’t have no jobs, not because they didn’t want to work, they couldn’t work… most of the people in our country are daily wage earners, how they going to pay when they weren’t working?” he questioned.
He said as part of the COVID-19 lockdown, the people of the Territory were asked to spend all of their money buying food for 14 days plus an additional 6 days while without employment.
“You mean to tell me BVIEC, the best that you could come up with is this kind of a draconian heartless measure?” Skelton-Cline further questioned.
Amnesty capped
General Manager of BVIEC, Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham also came under fire over his alleged involvement in a policy to cap the amnesty at $80 for domestic residential users and $150 for business users respectively.
“I want the Director to tell us, what is the average electrical bill in this country for residential areas, I bet you its $250 on average and the credit you allowing here is 80?… you ain’t trying to help, you’re trying to frustrate the people... that is not helpful,” Skelton-Cline told his listening audience.
He said the policies of the BVIEC cannot be the policies of the Fahie administration, “I am calling for the Director to revisit this and change it, this could not be what Hon Andrew A. Fahie and his government intended for the people to be the beneficiaries of, there is no benefit here.”
34 Responses to “Skelton-Cline blasts BVIEC over ‘heartless’ bill amnesty policy”
Kudos to BVIIEC..reimburse BVIEC for the freebies u want yhem to be doling out.
How can that be a non issue in determining eligibility for begging and charity to pay the communal electricity bill for that house?
Same for landlords...Gov give the property owner a stimulus with provisions that would benefit tenant and property owner.
The same entity that was issuing the negative about TPP right by your side, keeping you economically dependent for their personal benefit.
They are called Poverty Pimps.
They playing a mind game. Too much red tapes.
If you are saying that you will help..then try to make things a little easier on us.. people already stress out not working since March.
Agriculture is the same crap.. read the form..bunch of foolishness.
Me I always plant.. and get my little vegetables.
They will realize the savings but will never let us have it. I am sick of of us acting simple. Think People!! The Government could have handled this shyte better now we have to prove why we need a discount from Electricity with an onerous process?? Other countries are doing it in a much easier way, but not us in the BVI.
Who is fooling who buddy?