GREAT BAY--Citizen Peggy-Ann Richardson on Friday morning announced that she, together with Solange Apon, is issuing a call to legal professionals to attend an initial meeting this Saturday at La Sucrière, the former Kangaroo Court, in Philipsburg, to begin organizing a legal approach to the ongoing concerns surrounding NV GEBE.
The exact time of the meeting, Richardson said, will be disclosed on social media. She stressed that the initial meeting is not intended for the general public, but specifically for lawyers, legal professionals, law firm staff, junior legal practitioners and others with legal training or experience.
Richardson said the purpose of the meeting is to begin establishing a legal team/get legal guidance that can review the available documentation and determine the best way to approach a civil case against NV GEBE. She said the situation requires more than public frustration expressed through a march and that residents must now move with strategy, discipline and a defined outcome.
“There needs to be a civil case filed against NV GEBE,” Richardson said. “The problem with this case is, having already sought legal counsel myself on this matter, if I bring this case to court, more than likely the court is going to rule for me only and not for everybody. That’s not what I want.”
Richardson said her goal is not an individual victory, but a legal outcome that can positively affect all NV GEBE clients. She emphasized that any action should be structured in a way that benefits every resident and business affected by the company’s current billing and fuel clause situation.
“I want that if the court renders a verdict, it will impact every single citizen, every single client of NV GEBE, in a positive way,” she said.
Richardson said that while peaceful public demonstrations have their place, the same approach used in the past cannot be the only response this time. Referring to the 2018 public march, she said NV GEBE may be expecting residents to march, express frustration and then return to normal without any structural result.
“A formula that has not worked in the past will not work for this,” Richardson said. “NV GEBE is hoping, as was done in 2018, that the only thing we’re going to do is march and that this too shall pass," she said adding that the situation will not pass this time.
She emphasized that every citizen has a role to play, including participating in peaceful marches without obstruction. However, she said her own contribution will be to approach the matter “strategically, with determination and with a clear, decisive plan,” including a defined outcome tied to a specific indicator.
Richardson acknowledged that the legal approach will require patience because, according to her, it is a route that has not yet been taken in this matter. She said residents may have to sacrifice time rather than money, especially given the financial pressure many households are already facing.
“We have to take a slow and steady approach,” she said. “This is an approach that has never yet been taken, so this is something new for all of us. We are going to have to perhaps sacrifice time, not money in this instance, because nobody has money.”
She appealed directly to legal professionals to make themselves available despite the short notice. Richardson said one lawyer has already committed to the process and the Saturday meeting is based on that availability.
“Not everything is going to be based on convenience,” she said. “Some things are going to be based on the fact that we have to get things moving.”
Richardson also made it clear that her call is not an attack on NV GEBE employees. She thanked the power plant workers, meter readers, cashiers, customer service representatives, billing department staff and other employees of NV GEBE, noting that they too are affected by high utility bills and the fuel clause.
“This economic crisis that has been brought on by NV GEBE is affecting everybody, including the GEBE workers,” Richardson said. “I want grace to be given to the NV GEBE workers as well.”
She stressed that the issue should not be personalized against workers or even against the individuals currently occupying positions of authority in NV GEBE. Instead, she said, the focus must be on the governance structure, procedures and decision-making processes of the company.
“This is not an attack against the NV GEBE workers,” Richardson said. “This is a challenge against our common foe, which is the supervisory board of directors. This isn’t about the persons that sit in the seat now, this is about the governance structure. Today it is Jack and Jill on the board, tomorrow it could be Jane Doe. Do not focus on the people, focus on the process, procedures and governance.”
Richardson said the Saturday meeting at La Sucrière is intended to begin the process of organizing a professional, lawful and structured response to the concerns of residents and businesses affected by NV GEBE’s current situation.
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