Union leaders have promised to continue agitating against the sale of BTC to Cable & Wirless, saying they will turn the country into a “small Egypt” if the deal isn’t scrapped.
Yesterday, the government signed the agrrements necessary to sell 51 percent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company to Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC).
Union leaders have vowed to create industrial unrest that will turn the Bahamas into a “small Egypt,” referencing the massive protests against the government that are currently underway in that middle-East nation.
“I guess if The Bahamas is ready and this government ready to see a small Egypt then they are going to get it,” said Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) President Bernard Evans, promising disruptions in services.
“Throughout the ensuing day’s and weeks to come until the debate begins, we will continue to agitate,” Evans threatened.
Despite support for the deal by the majority of Bahamians, Evans said, “I want to apologise right now publicly to all of our valued customers. Be patient with us, but needless to say that services will be affected somewhat. Be patient with us, we are fighting for a cause we believe, we know, is bigger than BTC’s members and employees. We are fighting for the future of our children.”
Evans said that nothing will prevent an all-out strike unless the government backs out of the deal with Cable and Wireless.
Evans’ threats were echoed by Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union President William Carrol, who said that the unions stand resolute that BTC should remain in Bahamian hands.
The National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas (NCTUB) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also backed BTC’s unions.
