The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AFTER months of discussions focused on recapturing the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed yesterday that the negotiations are complete.

Mr Christie said the government is now waiting for a response from BTC’s parent company Cable&Wireless (CWC), one which he remains optimistic to receive.

He said the liberalisation of telecommunications in the country and the possibility of new service providers to drive the competitive edge was a reality for the government which he expects to take place next year.

“We are at a position where the country wants to have liberalisation,” Mr Christie said,

“Liberalisation would be very good. So I expect that to begin in earnest at the end of March (or) April next year. We will move then to select another cellular provider or a number of them depending on the circumstances.

“With respect to BTC, I remain optimistic and my position remains the same. There are compromises and I am waiting now for what I gather will be a final response, so no fanfare.

“Cable & Wireless are concerned that the relations between the government, its members on the board and the Cable & Wireless members, that those relations could be radically improved. I would like to believe that part of the overall settlement will address that issue.”

In February, Mr Christie said negotiations for the government to reacquire the lion’s share in BTC had not gone the way he would have liked. He said although his administration had made such a promise to Bahamians, his they faced serious financial constraints that would hinder a buy back if CWC had responded.

Mr Christie said previously that CWC’s representatives had resisted the government.

His administration has faced criticism from political pundits who say that a take back of BTC shares was merely a campaign promise before the last election.

BTC is 49 per cent owned by the public and 51 per cent controlled by CWC.