By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority yesterday denied conflict of interest claims on behalf of the agency’s Chairman Randol Dorsett.

At URCA’s first public consultation meeting on Cable Bahamas’ proposed price increase in its SuperBasic REVTV cable package this week, it was noted that Mr Dorsett had represented Cable Bahamas in the past as its lawyer.

In a statement URCA

denied any conflict of interest on behalf Mr Dorsett. It said that the chairman stopped representing Cable Bahamas’ before taking up his post on the board.

“Mr Dorsett, who is a partner in the law practice of Graham Thompson & Co., has represented Cable Bahamas in legal matters prior to his appointment as Chairman on August 1, 2012. Upon his appointment as URCA’s Chairman, representation of Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) by his law firm was assigned to other attorneys in the firm. Mr. Dorsett no longer has any such dealings with CBL or any other licensee of URCA. These facts were disclosed to URCA by Mr. Dorsett upon his appointment as Chairman,” the statement said.

“Mr Dorsett also took a decision not to sit on any matters which are brought to the Board in which his firm represents any licensee. Upon Mr Dorsett’s disclosure of these matters the Board accepted that appropriate and satisfactory measures had been put in place to deal with any claims of a conflict of interest. At its August 2012 meeting the Board also decided to publish these facts on its website in its quarterly report of Board activities, which report becomes due in October.”

However, at the town meeting, former DNA candidate for Bain and Grants Town Rodney Moncur said he was “concerned about the integrity” of URCA and Mr Dorsett’s ability to be fair.

Several Tribune readers echoed Mr Moncur’s concern. One man said: “The chairman of URCA knows that he needs to step down. I could care less if you handed Cable Bahamas’ work over to another lawyer. The work still in your firm. Conflict of interest to the highest order.”

Another reader said: “Of all the qualified professional persons in the Bahamas why is it that the government has selected the one person who is the lawyer of one of the major licensees? It should be noted that a conflict of interest does not only arise upon the performance of an improper act. It exists if there are circumstances present that are reasonably believed to create a risk that decisions might be unduly influenced by personal or secondary interests. A lawyer/client or former/future lawyer client relationship, in my view, would fall into this category. When are we gonna demand that these jokers stop treating our public affairs as if it is their own little petty shop?”

Cable Bahamas is seeking the URCA’s permission to raise their monthly charge for SuperBasic RevTVPrime cable by 27 per cent, which represents an increase of $8 per month for residential consumers and $13 for commercial customers. The current monthly rates of $30 and $50 respectively have not changed since Cable Bahamas introduced the service in 1995.

Before URCA makes a decision on the price increase, it is seeking consultation from all stakeholders and members of the public. The issue will be open for comment until October 19.

Among the issues of concern are: the impact on residential and commercial consumer groups if the price increase is approved; if granted, how the impact may be mitigated and whether any position set forth by URCA in the consultative document is any way contradictory to URCA’s regulatory objectives, principles and/or obligations.

Anyone wishing to comment may send their written views to URCA or participate in the meetings.

There also will be meetings in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, (September 18); George Town, Exuma; Deadman’s

Cay Long Island (September 25); Freeport, Grand Bahama (October 2) and another meeting in Nassau on September 25.