By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
GEOFF Houston, BTC Chief yesterday insisted that he is not worried about ongoing majority share take back negotiations, but with ensuring that the company’s day-to-day operations run smoothly.
While the chief executive officer remained tight-lipped on how the talks were playing out, he said CWC and the government would ultimately determine the way forward.
Rather than focus on Mr Christie’s campaign promise to acquire an additional two per cent stake in the
company, Mr Houston said he is determined to prepare BTC for future competition.
And neither does he have any reservations about Prime Minister Perry Christie’s consideration to appoint axed former BTC CEO Leon Williams as a director for the government on the board of the company. Mr Houston said officials would work with whomever the government appointed to the position. Williams was fired from BTC in 2008.
Mr Houston was responding to questions fielded by the media during an advanced Toastmasters club 7108 meeting at Luciano’s on East Bay Street. He was invited to present BTC’s progress and future plans for its thousands of customers.
“I’ve got a lot more to worry about,” he said, “in the day-to-day operations of BTC and continuing the transformation, than to be worrying about a shareholder discussion.
“To be honest that doesn’t keep me awake at night. What keeps me awake at night is getting the technology right, getting the service right, helping my people transform the business. Those are my priorities really.
“I think it’s important that I make the distinction that I represent the management team at BTC and our objective is to look after the best interest of BTC’s day-to-day operations. The shareholders will continue to have their conversations and discussions.”
Since Mr Christie announced on Tuesday that his administration will not, this year, be able to follow through with promises to give the public 51 per cent ownership at BTC, what the government contends to do next has sparked public speculation. Especially since Bahamians will have to wait until around 2015/2016 to see if those plans will bear fruit.
However, Mr Christie’s new position on the matter does not bode well with FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
Dr Minnis told reporters that is was clear from the onset that Mr Christie had sold Bahamians a dream that was impossible.
He said: “It is an excuse to say that we don’t have the funds at this time to negotiate the 2 per cent when he knew he couldn’t do it in the first place. Now he is using this cop out so that the Bahamian people would feel that the Prime Minister is not getting this because he doesn’t have the funds.
“He was wrong to have led the Bahamian people down this dark alley that he knew he would not be able to accomplish.”
Comments
242 11 years, 1 month ago
I guess he like many othera dont take PGC seriously
Ironvelvet 11 years, 1 month ago
If this is true that Mr. Christie is considering appointing the man who was fired from BTC to head the government's interest in BTC, what kind of relationship do you suppose will be fosterd. Irrespective of Mr. Houston's honorable pledge of working with whomever is appointed. Why would one hire the same person who was initially fired from BTC? Is Christie trying to hold up on one "behind the scenes" campaign promise? Come on Christie with all these qualified people out of a job I'm sure you can find someone.
crawfish 11 years, 1 month ago
I wish Houston would spend a few extra sleepless nights and figure out a way to simply fix the land lines. What is with all this crackling noises I hear when I call landlines? It seems to me that some Bahamians would eat mud before complaining about the deplorable service rendered by BTC. Knowing how supportive these folks are, BTC simply ignores complaints about noisy lines, dropped calls, etc. etc. They could rightly argue that half the people are happy with their services.
So go right ahead 'satisfied' Bahamians, swallow your pride and not complain about what BTC is doing to us. You are a dis-service to YOURSELVES and others. Think Bahamas!
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
For all you Comrades wagging your fingers disapprovingly at PM Christie's handling of buying back the BTC 2% controlling interest shares, you can hardly criticize the PM while ignoring his former law partner, the "fisherman/lawyer" who hails from Cooper's Town, who we all know actually had to standup in the House to head off a possible rebellion by his own House MP's over HIS plans to sell a 51% majority ownership in the people's telephone company and to sell it to foreigners and to sell it on the cheap?
You done forget how HE stood up in the House to BAMBOOZLE his own MP's out of voting against the sale of the peoples telephone company? Remember how to warned his MP's not to dare place their House seats at immediate risk, by voting with the PLP and against HIM?
Guess what i ain't go'in allow you to conveniently forget the TRUTH.
by TalRussell
John 11 years, 1 month ago
Ever since C & W roach the Bahamian people and married BTc, they been fixing and been upgrading, but the service seems to be getting progressively worse...Cell calls dropping again, Landlines not working for months and internet service works when it feels like. Phone card vendors stop crying for being slaves because just like the man tell the PM. he ainn losing no sleep over them working for nothing.."IT is Better in the Bahamas
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