LETTER: A Failed Experiment at APUA

Dear editor,

I am writing as a concerned employee of APUA to highlight what many of us are seeing but are afraid to say openly.

I am asking the Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, to take a proper look at APUA from a bird’s eye view. What is being reported upwards is not the full reality.

The financial situation is troubling. It is as bad as it was years ago. Creditors are not being paid, and there are ongoing struggles to meet basic obligations like fuel and power. That alone should raise serious concern.

The leadership of the CEO is a major part of the problem. It is driven by ego, with little consultation or willingness to listen. Decisions are made without proper engagement, and there is no real space for dialogue. Many workers are fearful of victimization, so they remain silent.

A lot of APUA workers work hard every day and genuinely want to see the organization perform well. We cannot all be broad brushed as saboteurs. There are committed people here who care deeply about the future of APUA.

There was a serious mistake in selecting the current CEO. There is even a sense that he views the title of General Manager as beneath him, which says a lot about the mindset. Leadership at this level requires humility and understanding of the organization, not just position.

There is also a serious issue with how the organization is being managed on a day to day basis. There is excessive micromanagement coming from the CEO, to the point where managers are unable to function in their roles. 
The current Water Manager, for example, appears to have little real authority to make decisions and is left operating more like an administrator than a leader. This kind of control slows down operations and creates confusion. It also gives the impression of activity for appearances, rather than proper management. Even supervisors are often blindsided, with little communication or involvement in decisions that affect their staff. 

John Bradshaw has the gift of the gab and can present well, telling the Prime Minister and Cabinet what sounds good. But within the walls of APUA, the reality is different. Losses are mounting, and the true extent of what is happening is not being fully shared.

This did not start now. Many of us remember his time in the Water Business Unit. He was a Failed Water Manager. The concerns about his management are not political, they are about competence.

There is also growing unease about how this appointment came about. A position as important as leading the country’s sole utility should not come down to schoolmate and company. APUA is too important for that.

While certain areas are being highlighted, the rest of APUA is struggling. Departments are under pressure, resources are stretched, and the wider organization is being affected.

Even among stalwart ABLP supporters within APUA, there is frustration. Some are saying they will not vote to support anything that keeps John Bradshaw in this position.

Prime Minister, please look deeper into what is happening. All is not what it seems.

APUA deserves more than a Civil Engineer. It needs a transformational leader to take it into a true renaissance.

– APUA Employee over 25 years

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