The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) on the Christie administration's deal with Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC) and Cable and Wireless

Bahamians are NO Fools!

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is incredulouslydisappointed in the Christie administration, which, as failed negotiations withCable and Wireless further proves, continues to show no real plan forgovernance.

Many Bahamians voted for the Progressive Liberal Party onthe premise that Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) ownership would bereturned to them. They deserve an apology—one from the former Prime Ministerfor selling the corporation in the first place and one from the current PrimeMinister for selling such a far-fetched dream.

“Bahamians are no fools. They are no longer comforted bypromises that lack projection or feasible solutions. We deserve better. Wedeserve more. We deserve a government that can close the deal,” said Mr.McCartney.

Since the deal with BTC and Cable and Wireless took effect,Prime Minister Perry Christie blindly assured Bahamians that his Party could returnto them majority stake. However, according to a recent announcement, that didnot happen. “This is not surprising news” says DNA party leader BranvilleMcCartney “as, like many of their other initiatives, ending in complete andutter failure. Whether it’s the promiseof 10,000 jobs; the mortgage relief plan that provided no relief to anyone; thegaming referendum debacle or the proposed economy destroying VAT plan, thisgovernment string of failures in less than two years is the only recordbreaking thing they’ve done, unmatched by any government in our past.”

The past government sold BTC under such clauses that wereindefinitely irreversible. However, theChristie government has proved that they and the former Ingraham Administrationare two sides of the same coin. Theyboth seem to believe that government ownership of 49% equates to majorityownership.

“While we appreciate that BTC has pledged to give a littlemore in charitable donations, 2% is not a huge break considering that BTC isalready a major sponsor of most national events and initiatives,” said Mr.McCartney.

The DNA is demanding that the government, or BTC, share withthe public the value of what has been given to charitable organizations in 2013and the value of the 2% promised.

The Government is searching for answers in the darkness,wasting time and taxpayer dollars on schemes that result in no wins for theBahamian people. Crime worsens, unemployment rises and regrets soar, asadmitted by Mr. Christie, himself.

Perhaps now Mr. Christie can use his time and resources toplot rational plans to combat crime, create jobs, relieve homeowners andbusiness owners, and explore reasonable tax alternatives. He owes taxpayersthat much. As of this day, the Christie administration is known as the governmentthat makes promises that they can not keep.

January 23, 2014

Democratic National Alliance (DNA)

Free National Movement (FNM) Bamboo Town Constituency Association on Branville McCartney’s Resignation

Bamboo Town Association Blasts McCartney Over Resignation


By IANTHIA SMITH



For months tensions boiled within the governing Free National Movement (FNM) party and after remaining silent on the issue for quite sometime now, representatives of the FNM Bamboo Town Constituency Association are speaking out about Branville McCartney’s resignation.

In a press release issued late yesterday the association said, "We wish to express our considerable personal and collective disappointment over the resignation of Mr. Branville McCartney from the FNM and the abrupt manner in which it was done."

The release went on to say that Mr. McCartney did not inform the executives of the Bamboo Town Association prior to his decision adding that they learned of his decision at the same time it was made public.

The association said having worked for his election to the House of Assembly and on his behalf in Bamboo Town, they would have expected the basic courtesy of prior notification and consultation.

"Mr. McCartney had numerous opportunities to inform the association leadership of his decision, even as recently as last Thursday night, when two of our executives met with him. He could have telephoned our association chairman immediately prior to his resignation," the release added.

"Many in Bamboo Town still do not understand his abrupt resignation from the Cabinet and now his resignation from the FNM. The philosophy, manifesto, policies and leadership of the FNM have not changed since Mr. McCartney was elected to the House of Assembly as an FNM, and joined Mr. Ingraham’s Cabinet."

The association said it is its view that the majority of FNMs in Bamboo Town, as well as the majority of residents in the constituency support the government’s creation of a new partnership between the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Cable & Wireless to create a cutting-edge telecommunications company that will move The Bahamas forward.

The associations’ members say they were stunned that when the big vote came in the House of Assembly, Mr. McCartney seemed more concerned about his own personal decision than the broader needs of the people of The Bahamas.

"We will continue to work for the new and better direction the country is moving in under the leadership of Prime Minister Ingraham and the Free National Movement," they said.

"The Bamboo Town Constituency Association is proud of the work our party has done under Prime Minister Ingraham’s leadership during the worldwide economic downturn.

"We pledge ourselves to ensuring that in the next general election Bamboo Town remains FNM country."

Mr. McCartney resigned from the FNM on Monday.

March 24th, 2011

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

The love of foreigners over Bahamians by the PLP and FNM when it comes to the BTC privatization process...

Selling BTC a threat to national development
thenassauguardian editorial


National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest escalated the dispute between the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) unions and the government over the sale of the majority stake in BTC to Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC), when he described the unions’ protest as a national security threat.

Turnquest, in an interview with The Nassau Guardian, went further and stated that the security forces are on alert for any eventuality regarding the dispute. The BTC unions have threatened, with the support of the national trade union movement, a general strike.

Union leaders always threaten to strike when they don’t get their way. In order to carry out a successful strike, however, a majority of the workers represented by these leaders have to support the strike call. And these workers have to be prepared for pain and loss.

There is no evidence, thus far, proving that the members of these unions are prepared to go down this rough road.

The unions have been annoying to the government, but they have not been a national security threat. In fact, the union opposition has been somewhat weak.

There were only a few hundred people at the union march on Parliament in December – that number includes the members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and other splinter parties which participated. These unions represent tens of thousands of workers.

Only a few hundred people showed up at the union-organized ‘mass rally’ at R.M. Bailey Park on Monday night.

These unions can’t even bring out a good crowd.

The minister has engaged in hyperbole. And by invoking the security forces under his command – the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force – he appears menacing.

The government and its agencies should be on alert for mass disruptions rather than some nebulous national security threat. The unions are likely to continue with small-scale disruptions.

National security threats are actions that threaten the existence of a state. Strike calls by union leaders who cannot turn out their membership do not threaten the existence of The Bahamas.

The decision to sell a major Bahamian state asset to a foreign company, however, is a threat to the national development of the country.

The policy of all Bahamian governments should be to empower Bahamians. They should especially attempt to create more entrepreneurs and to further empower those already in business.

When Bahamians own enterprises, rather than foreigners, more money stays in the country and more Bahamians are usually hired to operate the business.

Furthermore, empowering Bahamians by making Bahamians owners of BTC would allow those Bahamians to then become players in the regional telecommunications industry. Policymakers should be aiming for Bahamians to someday take over telcos across the Caribbean.

Instead, the PLP and the Free National Movement (FNM) administrations want to sell a major chunk of this major state asset to foreigners.

A privatization policy is needed in The Bahamas. It should state that bidders for state assets either be Bahamian or they should be joint venture partnerships with Bahamians.

The love of foreigners over Bahamians when it comes to the BTC privatization process is the threat Bahamians should be concerned about when it comes to the PLP and the FNM.

1/12/2011

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International

The Blue Telecom group Makes New Bid For The Bahamas Telecommunications Company - BTC

Blue Making New Bid For BTC

 

 

 

 

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

29th November 2004

 

 

One year after it was kicked out of the race to purchase a minority stake in The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), the Blue Telecom group has made adjustments to its bid to try to meet the government's expectations and the reality of the existing value of BTC.

Blue's President Lindbergh Smith, in an interview with the Bahama Journal on Sunday, said his company still has the right ingredients to become the long-awaited strategic partner in the state-owned telephone company.

The Bahama Journal contacted him after Minister of State for Finance James Smith indicated that while there is no 'formal privatisation process' in place, the government is still open to favourable bids.

Mr. Smith, the Blue executive, also said the need to privatise BTC is even more urgent at this time.

"I think it's a necessity now based on the competitive forces that exist in the market place in The Bahamas", he said.  "It's evitable that the government has to get out of the telecom business in order for the company to be on good footing to compete against entities like SRG (System Resource Group) and Cable Bahamas."

SRG recently announced that it is starting its business and residential services and intends to compete head on with BTC.

SRG President Paul Hutton-Ashkenny said his company's entrance into the telecom industry is an indication that the government sees the liberalization of the telecommunications sector as a critical pre-condition for achieving economic development in the country.

Industry sources say that it is most urgent that the government recognize the extreme dilemma that the entire telecom industry and the financial and business community would suffer if the government does not move quickly to relinquish its control of BTC and put it into the hands of an entity that has the financial capabilities, management and technical know-how to allow the company to be able to compete in the local market against SRG, Cable Bahamas and other competitors that are soon to come.

They say that based on the contract proposal issued to The Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union last week, it is clear that the board and executive management team of BTC recognize that the company has to be repositioned for competition.

The proposal calls for the benefits now enjoyed by BTC employees to be slashed up to 60 percent.

"We are sure that the shareholders of Cable Bahamas and SRG are laughing all the way to the bank because of the government's reluctance and procrastination in the privatisation process of BTC", said one industry insider.

Minister Smith, meanwhile, said the move toward privatisation is an ongoing exercise.

"It's just that it's not going to be done in the way it was done originally", he said.  "If a prospective buyer came along with the right attitude and the right price, I'm sure the government would be obliged to entertain the bid.  So the process may have come basically to a halt, but not the intent."

He said that BTC has to "continue to do things to develop and expand its managerial capabilities, develop its staff, while at the same time look for efficient ways of government having to divest its interests."

Mr. Smith (Blue President) believes that now is the time for the government to move ahead with the privatisation process.

"For the board and management of BTC to assume that they are in a position financially and futuristically to compete in a smaller entity like SRG or Cable Bahamas is very fool hardy", he said.

In his budget communication to parliament in May, Prime Minister Perry Christie made it clear that the recent termination of the privatisation process does not mean that the government has abandoned the privatisation of BTC.

"On the contrary, the privatisation of BTC remains an important item of my government's economic agenda", he said.  "Accordingly, the privatisation will be re-launched as soon as circumstances reasonably allow and on a basis, moreover, that will take adequate account of the lessons that were learned in the earlier process."

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company - BTC would be "eaten alive" if it is not privatised

Without Privatization, BTC Would Be "Eaten Alive", Minister Says

 

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

May/24/04

 

 

 

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company would be "eaten alive" if it is not privatised, Minister of State for Finance James Smith said Sunday, while on the Love 97 Programme "Jones and Company."

 

"That's why the whole idea was to prepare it for privatisation", he said.

 

Minister Smith pointed out that the reason why BTC has continued to earn profits over the years is because it is a monopoly.

 

"They are fooling themselves if they think you could remove the monopoly and leave it open to competition", said the Minister, who was referring to critics who say BTC can become more efficient and survive without privatisation.

 

He added that BTC has the technical skills, "but they seem to lack the client concern that motivates big companies...these guys have been a monopoly for so long, they say 'You wait for me'."

 

Minister Smith reiterated that privatisation of BTC "is still on the table."

 

The original process that was started about five years ago has to be brought to a successful, legal ending, he noted.

 

"By that I mean we had put in place certain rules and regulations for privatisation and we went through with that and the very last thing now is to have a public announcement and to amend the public policy statement which we put in accordance with the Act", Minister Smith said.

 

He added, "This exercise has come to a close, but we will continue to talk to people until we can get what we want which would be a good price, a commitment to capital development, a commitment to training Bahamians and a commitment to upgrading the technology to first world standards."

 

While on the same programme several weeks ago, Lindbergh Smith, president of Blue Telecommunications, indicated that his company was willing to pay as much as $300 million for 49 percent of the shares in BTC.

 

Blue was the last bidder to be kicked out of the race to purchase minority ownership in the company late last year.

 

Asked if the government would be willing to accept that offer, Minister Smith said he didn't want to comment specifically on any one group.

 

"I don't want to comment on what I believe might be sort of confidential things, but there could be offers for BTC&", he said. "But you have to look very closely at how it is going to be funded. BTC is still a very well off corporation...you can probably buy BTC using its own resources."

 

Minister Smith added, "There have been some very creative financing things that were not quite [acceptable]."

The Free National Movement - FNM Wants Bahamas Telecommunications Company - Batelco Sold

FNM Wants Batelco Sold

Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

23/04/2004

 

 

 

Saying that it is concerned about the state of affairs at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, the Free National Movement lashed out at the government Thursday for failing to privatize BTC by now.

 

Meanwhile, State Minister for Finance James Smith told the Bahama Journal that several companies have expressed an interest in acquiring the 49 percent shares of the company, even though no bids are being accepted at this time.

 

The FNM said in a statement that under an FNM government, the company would have been "sensibly privatized" already.

 

"The privatization exercise, under the indecisive and stubborn PLP, has not only slowed to a crawl, but continues to cause the stakeholders - the Bahamian people - headaches and frustration," the FNM said.

 

The initial attempt to privatize BTC started more than five years ago under the FNM government, but ended abruptly several months ago, when the final bidder in the race, Blue Telecommunications, was rejected.

 

The Government of The Bahamas reportedly spent around $160 million preparing the company for privatization.

 

"By this time, had the PLP government continued the privatization process they found in place, the matter would have been resolved and Bahamians and businesses would today have access to a modern system."

 

Speaking to the Bahama Journal earlier in the week, Minister Smith said privatization is "not off the table."

 

"The rules for privatization which led to the short listing of the bidders and then the rejection of all bids, I think that part of the chapter must be officially closed," he said.

 

"We now have to look at a new model which could be talking to any companies that are still interested.  Several companies are saying that they are interested in purchasing BTC or becoming a partner in that process, but I think to be able to do so legally and effectively, we have to bring a formal end to the initial privatization process and I think we will be doing that and then we will continue to look around."

 

Blue is one of the companies pushing the government to sell, indicating that it is prepared to offer $350 million for minority ownership in the telephone company.

 

Asked if the government is taking this particular offer seriously, Minister Smith said, "We take all offers seriously and all serious offers seriously.

 

"The point is Blue was a part of the initial process and we have to bring that process to an end and then we are free to talk with Blue and any other company."

 

In the interim, he said, there is a need to continue to upgrade BTC in terms of its management structure and governance.

 

"There are a number of things that I think will be happening shortly with BTC," Minister Smith projected.

 

But the FNM insists that BTC is in a mess.

 

"Not only are BTC subscribers tired of poor basic services while the company claims it has enhanced modern technology, but local Bahamian business persons are increasingly angry over the fact that nobody in BTC - by extension in the government - seems to care about their welfare," the FNM statement said.

 

"These are Bahamians who, once BTC launched the quick cell programme in late 2001 and opened doors of business opportunity for the sale of cell phones, accessories, phone cards, etc, made arrangements to capitalize on those opportunities," it continued.

 

The FNM blasted BTC for setting up Cyber World shops in Nassau and Freeport "in direct competition with small Bahamian business persons, pushing mercilessly into the retail market, and effectively squeezing these people out."

 

The party also pointed to BTC's extensive advertising of the stores.

 

"That cannot be right," the statement said. "That cannot be fair. That cannot be just. That cannot be what the PLP on the campaign trail in 2002 promised would be help and hope for Bahamians."

 

The FNM said that the bottom line is that while BTC, steered by the PLP government, is going up and down the country promoting the introduction of GSM telephone service in The Bahamas, the fact is that the service is still currently unavailable for popular use."

New Offer For Bahamas Telecommunications Company - BTC

New Offer For BTC

Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

06/02/2004

The final bidder pushed out of the race to purchase a minority ownership in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company is preparing a new offer to make to the government, the Journal has learnt.

 

But the Tenders Commission is not now open to any new proposals, as it has started another phase of privatisation, which would take on another form from the effort initiated more than five years ago.

 

Still, Blue Telecommunications plans to approach the government with a more fine-tuned and "more convincing" plan.

Company officials are hopeful that the government would at least be willing to entertain them.

  

The group's President Lindbergh Smith on Thursday was not prepared to speak to such reports.  But he did hint that his company is still interested in having a stake in BTC.  "The Minister of State for Finance alluded to the fact that BTC still has to be privatised," Mr. Smith told the Journal. "As a Bahamian, I am encouraged by the fact that the government is still committed to privatisation."

 

Financial Secretary Ruth Millar, who chairs the Tenders Commission, has told the Journal that the government has given the Commission a new mandate to review other options for privatisation of the telephone company.  But Mrs. Millar declined to say much else.

 

One source close to the Commission said Thursday that it is "utter nonsense" for Blue to still be working toward a plan for BTC.

 

"Their plan was rejected because it was not in the best interest of BTC or The Bahamas," he said.  "The Commission has been instructed to end that entire phase."

 

In rejecting Blue, the Commission revealed that there were serious concerns regarding the company's financial structure.

 

Blue reportedly planned to help pay for its stake in BTC by using the phone company's assets to borrow.

 

But a Blue official has since denied this saying that was, "totally untrue.  That was not so.  It was totally speculation that was pushed by some of the members of the Commission who do not favour privatising BTC."

 

According to the official, it was Blue's original plan to borrow on the assets of the company.

 

"The government was not comfortable with that and wanted a clearer transaction," he explained.

 

He said that in its revised plan, Blue was prepared to do an all-cash transaction.  While Blue is reportedly preparing its comeback, BahamaTel Consortium, which was headed by Tom Bain, has given up on BTC altogether.

 

Shortly after the government rejected the BahamaTel offer due to what Mrs. Millar called a deficient business plan, Mr. Bain told the Journal that his group had come to the end of the line.

 

State Minister for Finance James Smith has said that the government is "shifting gears" as it relates to the privatisation of BTC.

 

In the meantime, he said BTC has to "continue to do things to develop and expand its managerial capabilities, develop its staff, while at the same time look for efficient ways of government having to divest its interests."

 

The plan of the former government was to privatise the then Batelco and give it time to prepare for competition before opening the market.

 

But with that process failed, the new government is looking more toward liberalization of the telecommunications sector with its Telecommunications Sector Policy reportedly being revamped.

 

The idea now is reportedly to prepare BTC for the onslaught of competition that is surely to come in the near future.

 

Speaking at the Bahamas Business Outlook seminar on January 20, Minister Smith said the privatisation process "ought not to be abandoned since a privatised BTC would not only provide additional funds to government for debt reduction in 2004, but should also provide increased capacity for expanding technology including high speed data transmission capabilities which are essential to the e-commerce development effort."