A colleague of prominent contractor Stephen Wrinkle, who was sentenced on Tuesday to one year in prison and fined $1,000 for stealing electricity, expressed sadness over the matter.
Leonard Sands, a member of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA), told Guardian Business yesterday that the decision came as a surprise to him and will undoubtedly impact the country’s construction industry.
“Mr. Wrinkle’s absence will be felt as he was one of the larger Bahamian businessmen in construction. It would be foolhardy to think that his subtraction, if it occurs for the length of time that has been indicated, would not be felt by a number of businesses,” he said.
“We will have to find a way for his involvement to continue over the 12-month period, and also his involvement on a day-to-day basis in national matters related to the construction industry. I think the impact will be felt.”
On Tuesday, Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis sentenced the 61-year-old businessman to one year in prison for providing the Bay Parl Building with free electricity by diverting it from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC).
Wrinkle had reportedly directed an electrician to restore power to the building, which he managed, after BEC disconnected the supply, leaving the common areas in darkness.
The electricity was siphoned off in February and March of 2011 at a cost of about $15,000 to BEC.
Sands said he is saddened by the turn of events as Wrinkle, a former BCA president, “has given invaluable service to the association in a relentless pursuit to legislate and regularize the industry”.
“Certainly, our organization in the coming weeks will have to learn to manage our personnel to fill in the gaps left by our immediate past president. We will continue to trudge forward in this regard,” he added.
“Mr. Wrinkle’s situation is sobering. All of us as business persons have a personal responsibility as well as a collective responsibility and we are obviously affected by those.”
By Scieska Adderley
Guardian Business Reporter