Kirk Griffin on CWC
IN YOUR OWN WORDS
Former Acting CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and newly-appointed advisor to the company Kirk Griffin offered his thoughts on Cable and Wireless Communications.
“I am fortunate to have been at BTC — at the executive level of the company — from the very beginning of the privatization process some 14 years ago. This has given me a unique perspective on the company, the industry and the necessity for BTC to be able to align itself with industry giants that can position BTC where it needs to be.
“I am not reluctant or shy to say that my team members and I at BTC are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish. We have consistently been profitable over the years as we have brought modern telecommunications throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas. Our strengths and successess have been acknowledged by all reasonable observers, including our new colleagues at Cable and Wireless Communications. There can be no question that BTC has done well.
“However, by virtue of its small size, BTC is often disadvantaged because it cannot reach the economies of scale and command best prices from suppliers and vendors. At times, BTC even has difficulty attracting the attention of potential roaming partners as we seek to expand the connectivity of our very own customers across the globe.
“Further, as we all recognize the full liberalization of the telecommunications market is vital for the interests of Bahamian consumers and the vibrancy of the Bahamian economy, for BTC to compete in a fully liberalized market, up against the telecom giants of the world, it is critical that the company partners with a capable and competent global operator. CWC will help position BTC to effectively become and remain the provider of choice for consumers in The Bahamas, in a fully open and competitive marketplace.”
4/8/2011
thenassauguardian
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Bahamian consumers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahamian consumers. Show all posts
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Consumer Voices Bahamas (CVB) defends Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) acquisition of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)
New consumer advocacy group defends BTC acquisition
By Stewart Miller
Guardian Business Reporter
stewart@nasguard.com
A new voice is crystallizing to ensure that consumers do not go unheard beneath the roar of politicians, employees and unions over the sale of 51 percent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to Cable & Wireless Communications.
Officials of the new consumer advocacy group Consumer Voices Bahamas (CVB) chose historic Fox Hill Park to present themselves and their case to The Bahamas yesterday, defending CWC’s acquisition of BTC as being best for Bahamian consumers.
“We believe... that as the employees are important to this, the consumers are equally important to the sale of BTC,” Marlene Minus, chairperson of CVB said. She added that it is the consumers “who are paying the high prices for cellular services, who are experiencing the inconsistencies in their service, and in some cases experiencing disruptions in both their cellular and their Internet service.”
CVB is prepared to use the Internet, other forms of media, public meetings and demonstrations to tout the consumer benefits related to BTC having an international strategic partner, according to Minus. She also said that CVB would not be intimidated from their declared purpose to promote and advance the interests of the Bahamian consumer.
“Should this initiative be met with conflict, slander or disdain from union members or union leaders, we understand that, we respect that and in some cases we expect that,” the chairperson said. “But we are not afraid. We are consumers, we are Bahamians, and we believe we have a voice. So we are here to say that from a consumer perspective we believe this is good.”
Minus said that its managerial and technical expertise, along with Cable & Wireless’ international connections, would ensure better and more reliable services and would result in cheaper rates for cellular service, land lines and overseas calls.
Treasurer for CVB David Jordine told Guardian Business that the organization has no political ties or association, but was born out of the need to protect the interests of Bahamians.
“Based on the information that has been made public thus far it seems as if the consumer is being left out of the debate,” Jordine said. He added that a lot of politics and personalities are in the fray, but households, consumers and businesses that are affected should not be forgotten.
“When we mention consumers we also have to realize that a large base of our consumers is the business community,” said Jordine. “The Bahamas strives on tourism and the financial industry and the demand for communications in those sectors is vital to the bottom line, so it’s highly important that they take them into consideration because they represent the lifeblood of this country’s economy.
“We recognize that BTC and the employees of BTC have been doing a wonderful job and we want to express our appreciation to them, however for the customer, it’s cheeper, quicker, better -- that’s the initiative.”
The advocacy group reports membership of about 30 to 40 people presently. Minus said that a research and investigations team has already been formed to go into business houses and report findings back to the organization.
Although the BTC privatization was the genesis of CVB’s formation, Jordine said that the organization will not be limited to that issue.
“This group wishes to speak on behalf of consumers about any industry where we think that the consumer could get a more efficient service, a better price to meet thier needs,” Jordine said. Bahamians who support their position, or have any other ideas or comments are invited to contact the CVB by e-mail at cvb@hotmail.com.
CVB reported that it’s already at work investigating claims that some car repair businesses are gouging customers who are attempting to make sure their seat belts are functioning because of the enforcement of seat belt laws.
12/15/2010
thenassauguardian
By Stewart Miller
Guardian Business Reporter
stewart@nasguard.com
A new voice is crystallizing to ensure that consumers do not go unheard beneath the roar of politicians, employees and unions over the sale of 51 percent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to Cable & Wireless Communications.
Officials of the new consumer advocacy group Consumer Voices Bahamas (CVB) chose historic Fox Hill Park to present themselves and their case to The Bahamas yesterday, defending CWC’s acquisition of BTC as being best for Bahamian consumers.
“We believe... that as the employees are important to this, the consumers are equally important to the sale of BTC,” Marlene Minus, chairperson of CVB said. She added that it is the consumers “who are paying the high prices for cellular services, who are experiencing the inconsistencies in their service, and in some cases experiencing disruptions in both their cellular and their Internet service.”
CVB is prepared to use the Internet, other forms of media, public meetings and demonstrations to tout the consumer benefits related to BTC having an international strategic partner, according to Minus. She also said that CVB would not be intimidated from their declared purpose to promote and advance the interests of the Bahamian consumer.
“Should this initiative be met with conflict, slander or disdain from union members or union leaders, we understand that, we respect that and in some cases we expect that,” the chairperson said. “But we are not afraid. We are consumers, we are Bahamians, and we believe we have a voice. So we are here to say that from a consumer perspective we believe this is good.”
Minus said that its managerial and technical expertise, along with Cable & Wireless’ international connections, would ensure better and more reliable services and would result in cheaper rates for cellular service, land lines and overseas calls.
Treasurer for CVB David Jordine told Guardian Business that the organization has no political ties or association, but was born out of the need to protect the interests of Bahamians.
“Based on the information that has been made public thus far it seems as if the consumer is being left out of the debate,” Jordine said. He added that a lot of politics and personalities are in the fray, but households, consumers and businesses that are affected should not be forgotten.
“When we mention consumers we also have to realize that a large base of our consumers is the business community,” said Jordine. “The Bahamas strives on tourism and the financial industry and the demand for communications in those sectors is vital to the bottom line, so it’s highly important that they take them into consideration because they represent the lifeblood of this country’s economy.
“We recognize that BTC and the employees of BTC have been doing a wonderful job and we want to express our appreciation to them, however for the customer, it’s cheeper, quicker, better -- that’s the initiative.”
The advocacy group reports membership of about 30 to 40 people presently. Minus said that a research and investigations team has already been formed to go into business houses and report findings back to the organization.
Although the BTC privatization was the genesis of CVB’s formation, Jordine said that the organization will not be limited to that issue.
“This group wishes to speak on behalf of consumers about any industry where we think that the consumer could get a more efficient service, a better price to meet thier needs,” Jordine said. Bahamians who support their position, or have any other ideas or comments are invited to contact the CVB by e-mail at cvb@hotmail.com.
CVB reported that it’s already at work investigating claims that some car repair businesses are gouging customers who are attempting to make sure their seat belts are functioning because of the enforcement of seat belt laws.
12/15/2010
thenassauguardian
Monday, July 4, 2005
Mixed Reviews In The Bahamas on PetroCaribe initiative
The concerning consensus is that more consultation is needed between the government, the three major oil companies, and retailers in The Bahamas on the PetroCaribe agreement
Oil Deal Gets Mixed Reviews
By Candia Dames
Nassau, The Bahamas
4th July 2005
Players in the local oil-providing sector have mixed reviews on the recent signing of the PetroCaribe initiative, which promises to cushion Caribbean nations – including The Bahamas – from skyrocketing fuel costs.
But there is consensus on the fact that more consultation is needed between the government, the three major oil companies, and retailers.
Oil companies are seeking clarification on the whole deal, said Troy Simms, country/sales manager at Esso.
"We feel we should be an advisor to the government on this considering the experience we have locally and of course across the globe," Mr. Simms said.
"This is a pretty important change that’s being put on the table. We really want to make sure that it’s being discussed with a lot of rigor to make sure that the government is fully aware of the risks."
Texaco’s manger, Raymond Samuels was out of town, but another executive at the oil company said that Texaco is also eager for dialogue on the initiative.
The executive said up to now, Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller has "not been open with us" about the plan.
Under the plan, signed by regional energy ministers and other leaders in Venezuela last Wednesday night, Petroleos de Venezuela, the state oil company, will pick up 40 percent of the cost if oil is selling at more than $50 a barrel.
Venezuela has also promised that additional concessions would become available should prices reach $100.
Petroleos de Venezuela has also announced that it would also pay for oil shipment costs, and help to construct storage facilities throughout the region.
It’s a plan Minister Miller said last week would result in "tremendous savings" on electricity and cooking gas bills and at the gas pumps.
It would be welcome news, said Gardner Dawkins, president of The Bahamas Petroleum Retail Association.
"I think it will be good news for both the retailer and consumers," he told The Bahama Journal. "We’re hoping that we’ll be buying fuel at a lower price. Therefore, passing the savings on to the consumers."
Minister Miller has said those savings would be significant – up to $20 million in savings for BEC annually, and at least $1 in savings on a gallon of gasoline, which is now approaching $4.
Mr. Simms, the Esso manager- said that the company is not sure of the likely impact PetroCaribe would have because it has not yet received details of the agreement.
Petroleos de Venezuela has agreed to ship fuel directly to Caribbean nations like The Bahamas, which have signed the agreement.
Asked whether this would be something Esso would welcome, Mr. Simms said, "There’ve been some concepts discussed and we continue to wait for some details. One thing that the proposal seems to implicate is that there would be a single source of supply and this appears to be with the Venezuelans."
He said there are risks in having a single source of supply and Esso’s primary concern would be about reliability of supplies.
"If we can’t get the product when we need it, it’s going to have a detrimental impact on the business," Mr. Simms said.
He added that his impressions of how the whole arrangement would work is that the government would become the middleman.
"We need to fully understand how this would be implemented because this is a very complex and sophisticated supply system that’s now in place, that has been successful for so long. We have a lot of experience…the industry can handle unexpected changes and delays," said Mr. Simms, while stressing that the supply of oil to a small country like The Bahamas is a complex and costly undertaking.
"The folks in our industry have learnt over many, many years how to do this efficiently and be reliable. We need to be able to deliver petroleum products in a very safe and reliable manner."
Mr. Simms said that it’s much too soon to even speculate on how the PetroCaribe is likely to impact profits of local oil companies.
In his interview with The Bahama Journal last week, Minister Miller also said that the government expects to take another look at the operating margins in the industry.
Mr. Dawkins said this is something that retailers will fight.
"Our margins are what we survive on," he said. "The price of the gasoline will not change what our margins are."
He added that PetroCaribe would have more of an impact on the wholesalers because they are the ones who will be buying from PetroCaribe or the national energy corporation.
"So therefore we as the retailers will still be at the mercy of the wholesalers who we will be buying products from," Mr. Dawkins added.
He disagreed that PetroCaribe will be risky business.
"The oil companies, of course, are not going to be too happy with it," Mr. Dawkins said.
Friday, July 1, 2005
The Bahamas Signs Petrocaribe Initiative
The primary thrust of the initiative, known as Petrocaribe, is to eliminate the middlemen when it comes to the purchase of fuel and fuel-related products
Oil Deal Sealed
By Candia Dames
Nassau, The Bahamas
1st July 2005
Bahamian consumers are expected to soon experience significant savings on energy costs as a result of a new deal sealed in Venezuela on Wednesday night, which is designed “to build a regional oil alliance and distribute fuel more cheaply in the Caribbean.”
Minutes after arriving from a high-powered energy summit in Puerto La Cruz on Thursday, Minister of Trade and Industry Leslie Miller declared that the agreement was a significant and historic one.
He also explained that the primary thrust of the initiative, known as Petrocaribe, is to eliminate the middlemen when it comes to the purchase of fuel and fuel-related products.
One of the ways Venezuela proposes to keep oil costs down in the region is to use its tanker fleet to transport oil instead of privately owned tankers.
"For The Bahamas, [The Bahamas Electricity Corporation] can realize a savings of no less than $10 million to $15 million per annum in their fuel costs," Minister Miller told The Bahama Journal.
In addition to that, BEC, which last year spent in excess of US$100 million for its fuel costs, can now get the benefit of getting 40 percent of the fuel on credit from Petrocaribe, he said.
"BEC can get rebates on fuel and at tremendous savings," Minister Miller said.
"If BEC were to purchase $20 million worth of fuel per month, BEC would pay approximately 60 percent of that bill.
The balance can be paid over a specified period of time at 1 percent interest rate."
With the middlemen being sliced out of the pie, the Minister also reported that huge savings are on tap at the gas pumps.
His announcement came as motorists continued to face prices approaching the $4 per gallon mark.
"We’re looking at an average savings of no less than $6 per barrel which equates to approximately in our estimation anywhere from 25 cents to 30 cents on a gallon of fuel," he said. "That’s the initial cost. Bear in mind that the oil companies here use their brokerage companies, in Barbados and Jamaica and elsewhere, to purchase fuel from PDVSA, which is where we’re going to get our fuel from.
"By eliminating the middlemen, we save another 25 cents to 35 cents on a gallon of fuel. In addition to that, Petrocaribe is now in a position by having ships to lift the fuel for you. In other words, Petrocaribe would send one of its ships to The Bahamas full of fuel emanating from any of the terminals owned by PDVSA, which is the national oil company of Venezuela, thereby saving an additional 5 cents to 10 cents on a gallon of fuel."
Altogether, he claimed the average consumer can look for a savings of anywhere from 65 cents to $1 per gallon on the price of fuel in The Bahamas.
The Minister added, "Keep in mind that we still need to cut the margins by the three major oil companies that import fuel into our country from a high of 33 cents down to around 25 cents to 15 cents per gallon, which is more than enough to enable them to make an appreciable profit margin."
But Minister Miller could not say specifically when the savings will begin to materialize. He told The Bahama Journal that it will happen as soon as the government gives the green light for the establishment of a national energy corporation.
"The prices at the pumps could be decreased significantly, but we must initiate the national energy corporation to enable us to lift fuel from Venezuela," he said.
Heads of state and energy ministers attended the energy summit from The Bahamas and 14 other nations in the region.
They included Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Cuba, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.
The final agreement said, "Petrocaribe emerges as a new political and commercial initiative based on the conservation of non-renewal and depleteable resources, shared solidarity, and social co-responsibility between peoples, tending to assure access to energy at a just and reasonable price, under the sign of regional energy integration, with a broad vision that touches not only on energy, but also on the social, technological, and culture."
Among those attending the meeting were Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and Cuban President Fidel Castro.
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