Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed that the head of Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) expressed concerns about public criticisms he made about the quality of service being provided by the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).
Christie also said CWC CEO Tony Rice raised worries about the government’s discussions with Digicel, a CWC regional competitor.
CWC is a 51 percent owner of BTC.
The prime minister also told The Nassau Guardian he will make a public pronouncement in “short order” on the outcome of negotiations for his administration’s plans to reacquire the majority of shares in BTC.
Christie met with Rice on Wednesday. The prime minister said the discussion was cordial and constructive. He added that he expected a resolution to the negotiations soon and plans to communicate with Rice again in the next few days.
“They were concerned about my public criticism of dropped calls,” he said.
“He (Rice) indicated to me and showed me graphs to show how on a regional basis BTC is doing quite well, but nevertheless when I left him and I drove I had dropped calls and continued dropped calls.
“As I indicated to him I have an obligation, notwithstanding the Bahamian people owning 49 percent, to voice the concerns of people because at least they would hear me speaking of the concerns.
“They spoke about their concerns about any meetings I may have had with Digicel. I indicated to them that they should be happy that I did because I’ve never forgotten my obligation on behalf of the Bahamian people as 49 percent owner of [BTC].
“All of the issues that might have been nagging issues to Cable and Wireless I was able to address. The whole issue of whether or not there is good faith between himself and me, we addressed that, and we both agreed there was good faith and an honest sharing of our views.
“Both of us have agreed that we will bring to a conclusion, at the earliest opportunity, this matter one way or the other. We are going to bring it to a conclusion in short order.
“The ball is now in my court. I will respond to him in a matter of days and then I hope that we will be able to reach some kind of understanding and I will be able to have a public position on the matter.”
At the end of March, Christie announced his plans to meet with CWC executives.
While on the campaign trail last year, Christie promised that a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government would reacquire the majority shares in BTC because it did not believe the government should be a minority shareholder.
The party was also strongly against the sale of any shares to CWC.
Christie appointed a negotiating team last year led by prominent businessman Franklyn Wilson.
He admitted to reporters earlier this year that the take-back bid had not gone the way he wanted.
“There is obviously resistance to the idea,” he said at the time.
The prime minister also previously admitted that the government couldn’t afford to purchase shares in BTC.
He has called the Ingraham administration’s sale of 51 percent of BTC to CWC a deal that was not in the best interest of the country.
By Taneka Thompson
Guardian Senior Reporter
