The alarm prompted the immediate evacuation of the employees, and others sitting in the foyer, who were all forced to join protesters congregating outside the building.
BEC Security Officer Haverson McKenzie said the call was received by one of the corporation’s temporary workers assigned to the switchboard at the time.
“The caller told her that there was a bomb in the elevator,” Mr. McKenzie said, and, “Immediately after the caller hung up, she alerted the security manager, who in turn set off the alarm and advised everybody over the speaker system to evacuate the building.”
This was was done in an orderly fashion, he said.
Second call
However, “A short time later, at about 10.15 a.m. a second call was received by a security officer who was in the building at the time,” the security officer said. “A man wanted to know if they found the bomb yet and hung up the phone,” after which “We immediately made contact with the relevant authorities.
Police and fire officials along with sniffer dogs combed the building in search of a bomb.
ASP Gabriel Pratt said the building was meticulously searched for any suspicious object or anything that looked out of place, but nothing was found.
Irate customer
By noon the employees were advised that it was safe to reenter the building.
The Guardian was unable to obtain a comment from BEC’s management.
One customer in the building at the time, however, called on the government to implement laws to deal immediately and swiftly with persons who persist in scaring “hardworking people with such threats.”
The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The government needs to implement laws to deal with persons in situations like this, man. This ain’t right. I took time off my job to come here to pay my electricity bill…”
Police are reportedly investigating the incident.
Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
