Change At Bermuda Gas Is A “Necessary Step”
Following yesterday’s statement that Bermuda Gas will be re-organising their business with some 14 – 21 staff expected to be made redundant, the company provided additional information about the changes, saying “however difficult this decision has been for us to make, the change at Bermuda Gas is a necessary step.”
Bermuda Gas General Manager & Chief Operating Officer, Judith Uddin, said: “Following a comprehensive review of Bermuda Gas operations, we determined that we need to concentrate on our core propane gas business, commercial and gas services.
“Retail appliance sales, parts and repair service businesses have not produced acceptable outcomes for the Company and our customers and therefore we have determined to focus exclusively on our primary business: the sale and delivery of propane gas in bulk and cylinders to our commercial and residential customers, as well as the provision of service to our commercial customers.”
This reorganization was deemed necessary as the Company was expending an increasing amount of its energies and resources on the supply and maintenance of retail appliances.
“This has been preventing Bermuda Gas from providing the level of service that we want, and need, to deliver to our customers,” said Mrs. Uddin. “We intend to deliver enhanced customer service, along with our gas, in the future.”
The company added, “By redirecting its resources to the supply of propane gas, Bermuda Gas will become a more streamlined enterprise, a move that will impact between 14 and 21 team members.
“The Company expects that some staff members will opt to take early retirement and other affected individuals will be provided with a redundancy package.
“In addition, professional re- employment services will be secured by the Company for these staff members, and the Bermuda Government Department of Workforce Development’s services will be available to affected staff.
“Bermuda Gas is committed to further assisting some of its service team members to set up as independent contractors or to establish themselves in new business ventures.”
“One example is that we will offer vehicles to service technicians to assist them to begin new careers as independent service providers,” advised Mrs. Uddin.
“However difficult this decision has been for us to make, the change at Bermuda Gas is a necessary step to ensure competitive gas sales and commercial services to our customers,” stated Mrs. Uddin.
“Bermuda Gas will honour its contractual commitments. Existing appliance customers will be contacted by the Company regarding appliance warranty options,” the company said.
“Bermuda Gas looks forward to exceeding the expectations of its valued commercial and residential gas customers, and commercial service customers, going forward.”
I guess those 2,000 jobs the OBA promised are just a figment of my imagination.
In this economy, there is not the room for just warm bodies filling roles, as Bermuda enjoyed for many years leading up to the first decade of the new millennium. The PLP could do no more than the OBA in this instance, that promise is not what got the OBA elected anyway. Those people that provide an added value to their will not be sent packing. Its the go getters that get ahead. The people who want to make the world a better place for themselves, not just because they are going to be paid for it or the boss might be watching!
Is it 14 or 21?
Vince Ingham presided over Ascendant’s prolific issues on this Island. Much like his PLP Government we now face the continuing fall out.
The PLP hens continue to roost.
I thought the OBA promised 2000 job losses and a foreign built/owed/run airport?!
It would seem like it.
Don’t blame OBA silly. Lay blame where it should.Poor customer service.Dont start a conversation with people about BDA gas.
Do yo know how many people have had parts ordered when they arrive to be put in it was the wrong part! How can this be OBA fault?
It will however be On the OBA watch.
So where do I get appliance parts now? I always used to go there for parts. Answer sensibly children.
Bate.bm have been really helpful to us this year. Bda Gas could not have been less helpful. Call Josh Bates …
Thank you x!
Just go online, have the part name brand,model #, sku # and order it yourself.
And pay $35 for a $2 part…yeah right!
Similar to paying 2 dollars for a 10 cent part locally. Get yourself ahead which er way necessary. Bermudian are too reliant on others for things like parts that your service department you are so ‘fond’ of isn’t giving u value for money on anyway.
“In words are seen the state of mind and character and yes, disposition of the speaker.” -Plutarch, biographer & philosopher (circa 46-120)
Wow! just look at how far back it had been man could, “actually think” and make decisions.
Once again Mockingjay, you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Keep buying everything online and convincing others to do so. But, when you need door prizes for your next charity function, raffles prizes for your next school raffle, donations, a sponsor for your next charity event…look online for that.
There are some companies on this island that do a lot to give back to the community in the form of donations, sponsorships, supportive advertising, prizes and free services. Good luck reaching out to Amazon or Ebay for requests for sponsorship. They will laugh at you. But Mockingjay, you can feel good knowing you probably supported and event in Silicon Valley or somewhere similar.
Internet
If you look at it right across the board globally we are following a trend that has been created elsewhere, The sad part is while companies are downsizing to be able to profit more economically as a business, the fall out is the hardship that is being created in a already big melting pot, and more and more families(not individuals)is feeling the hard brunt of this, all in the name of Greed.
This is not to say that Bermuda Gas is the real culprits, because it goes a lot further, just in the mere fact of doing business in this country, and places like B.E.L.C.O wanting a 7% increase in charging it’s customers is a prime example.
We have organisations that is raping this country blind and the rich are getting richer and the middle class is being rapidly eradicated,so we have the haves and the have not’s. either way the suffrage that is being created by Bermuda Gas and others, will eventually be the fall out of the entire economy and the added weight onto the already over burden public purse.
Say it with your chest Belco…..Your financial advisers have made some poor investments and we Bermudians must pay for it. What you need to do is let some of those high paying executives GO and focus on your core propane gas business.
From the day they installed thosr turbines 30 years ago BELCO knew thay one day they would need to be replaced. They have failed to prepare for that eventuality and now want the consumers to pay for their gross neglect. I hope they dont get a rate increase because that would mean rewarding past bad behavior.Investment returns are NEVER a sure thing so let the investors suffer for a while and I am sure they will pay closer attention to the company in the future.
You should request a tour of the BELCO plant, you might be surprised.
Now we have an airport fiasco hanging over our head.
Hey Einstein, one minute you’re whining about where the 2,000 jobs are and the next minute you do’t want a new airport. Which is it because you can’t have you without the other. Or are just a big ole whiner about everything just for the sake. Of it?
I think you would prefer that we be like many of our Caribbean neighbours with very unreliable power supply. Bermuda has the best reliability in the region. That is not by accident. That is because the invest heavily into their plant and workers to keep their equipment operating.
Have you been to the island and the power just goes off regularly, several times a each day. We all would have a fit!
And BELCO is not Bermuda Gas. They are two separate companies.
BELCO is regulated. Only BELCO’s cost are taken into account during a rate increase submission, BELCO cannot subsidise another company.
how is this even possible..?? they provide electricity to the entire island along with supplying propane to almost as much of the island…something is wrong here in bda…and its not politics as you all think…it’s politics beyond our control…stay tuned for a rude awakening.
ahh, this was long overdue. Appliance sales have changed, and few are willing to pay double US retail. Anybody can shop online and can bring in units at 40% above US sale price. eg. LG fridge from AJ Madison in NYC, On sale at 1100.00. shipping & duty and delivery, $600, equals $1700. Same fridge at Bermuda gas was almost $4000. Everybody can do math, and thats why Bda gas is closing that store.
The bottom line is the shareholders @ Ascendant group are the epitome of GREED….