Adam Stewart, CEO of the award-winning Sandals Resorts International, gave top marks to LIME, the Caribbean division of Cable & Wireless Communications. Cable & Wireless Communications has been selected by the Government to buy the majority share of BTC in a long-awaited privatization process.
Stewart, head of the resort brand that operates 20 hotels in the region, including three in The Bahamas – one on Cable Beach and two in Exuma – called LIME “a valuable partner” that could be expected “to do great things for BTC.”
“The hospitality industry expects and deserves the best in communication services – our guests look forward to communicating back home to share their experiences and demand speed, reliability and stability,” said Mr. Stewart. “It’s an important part of the guest experience. LIME has been a valuable partner to Sandals across the Caribbean – we have been able to improve the efficiencies of the Sandals group and provide greater service to our guests because of LIME. I expect to see LIME do great things for BTC and especially for the hospitality industry in The Bahamas and believe they have the right track record for the job.”
The Government announced on December 2 that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Cable & Wireless Communications for the proposed sale of 51% of the shares of BTC. Both parties are in the due diligence stage now and a business plan is being developed. A closing date for the deal has not been announced but is expected in the first quarter of the year.
Other businesses in the Caribbean that have dealt with LIME immediately congratulated The Bahamas on the choice of company. But the commendation from Sandals’ CEO was especially important because tourism officials have long expressed concern that visitors complain of high charges for phone services and Bahamians become upset with mobile phone roaming charges when travelling outside the country.
Meantime while stopping short of endorsing the government’s selection of a strategic partner to prepare BTC for competition, Executive Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Association Frank Comito said the hotel industry welcomed improvements in telecommunications.
“Affordable, reliable internet and phone service is essential to our industry’s competitiveness, and our ability to generate business and service our customers,” said Comito.
“On the business side, it underpins our financial transactions and our communications with buyers and suppliers. Our customers, whether they are travelling on business or pleasure, expect to stay connected at a reasonable price. It’s no longer an option, it’s required to be competitive,” he added.
BTC is one of the last government-owned telecom monopolies in the world.
Diane Philips
