Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Wise Man
15 March 2008
High electricity bills, is likely to cause a major showdown in Brikama, as angry youth, have vowed to demonstrate if the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) does not quit issuing "fake and exorbitant" bills to the Community. Brikama,which has seen past demos in the First Republic, is currently witnessing high electricity bills, supposedly perpetrated by corrupt and dishonest NAWEC staffers. Its inhabitants are increasingly dissatisfied with NAWEC'S recent move to exploit the populace with what they call "dubious electricity bills."
Aggrieved residents say NAWEC meter readers, due to laziness and corruption, were in the habit of seconding guessing monthly bills of customers, without visiting consumers homes to gather first hand information about the amount of electricity consumed by consumers. These NAWEC meter readers, according to the residents never bothered to read customers meters at month end. This, they say, have led to fictitious bills issued by the Energy Company, now owned by Lebanese investors.
Lamin Minteh, a youth residing in Brikama told the Freedom Newspaper that it " is unfair for NAWEC to rip-off the populace." He says the electricity firm is in the habit of sending estimated bills, which according to Minteh does not correspond with electricity meter readings at their homes.
" I was billed D3,000 last month. I don't have appliances that can consumed such electricity bills. This is a rip-off. NAWEC is ripping off poor Gambians. I have complained to the company's Management on numerous occasions about the is of such fake bills, but they are paying deaf ears to my concerns. Despite visiting their Fajara head office, no resolution has been reached to find a lasting solution to my concerns. They just ignored me." Said Minteh.
Minteh said they have no alternative, but to organize a strike if NAWEC fails to meet their demands. He says Lebanese exploitation was becoming unbearable to the people of Brikama. " We are determine to take to the streets if things does not change. NAWEC is forewarned. We are serious about this." He said.
Another aggrieved youth residing at Brikama Mansaring su Sheriff Bojang said nothing is going to stop them from taking to the streets, if NAWEC does not quit issuing bogus electricity bills. Bojang charged that NAWEC, has been reputed to be cheating on its consumers. He says such unlawful practices must cease, otherwise they would resort to a major strike in Brikama. Faced by high bills, he says NAWEC shutdown consumers who owed money to the firm.
Buba Mendy of Brikama Sanchaba said for a long time they have been patient with NAWEC. " Despite their blackouts, bills are going up every month. They kept on issuing stupid bills to us. The only way out is to organize a strike to vent our anger to the current situation. We are ready to take to the streets. Just wait and see what's going to happen." He said.
Another youth Kebba Ceesay of Brikama Beriwuleng said they have notified all the youths in Brikama about the pending strike to be carried out soon. Ceesay said this strike would be similar to that of the 193 water crisis in Brikama, as they were set to exercise their guaranteed constitutional rights to freedom of assembly. "They either reduce the bills, or something imminent would happen soon. We are negotiating for nothing. No more fake NAWEC bills." He said.
When contacted for their side of the story, an official of NAWEC said the company's Chief Executive officer Muhammed Bazzi was behind these price hikes. " Like, any other institution purchased by the Spectrum Group, are currently undergoing financial crisis. NAWEC is not an exception. Prices went up due to high cost of gas and other immediate needs. Consumers are bound to complain. Both GAMTEL and NAWEC increased their bills. It was a wrong decision for the President to sell these institutions to Bazzi and his group. They have proven to be unable to manage GAMTEL and NAWEC. It's indeed regrettable." Said the official.
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