Cable Bahamas founder dies

CABLE BAHAMAS chairman and founder Phil Keeping, died in a fall from a mechanical scissor-lift in a Harley-Davidson dealership in Newfoundland, Canada, early Monday afternoon.

The accident occurred in the One Mile Harley-Davidson store in Mount Pearl, one of the many businesses owned worldwide by the 65-year-old Canadian businessman. It was not clear why Mr Keeping was on the lift in the dealership. According to CBC News, the Royal Newfoundland Police declined to give details.

Cable Bahamas’ Marketing Manager David Burrows, in a press release, said the entire company is deeply saddened by Mr Keeping’s tragic death.

“This is such a sad day for the Cable Bahamas family. We find it difficult to convey our feelings over this profound loss. All of our staff, many of whom have been with the company from inception, knew Phil to be a true gentleman and friend,” the release said.

Anthony Butler, Cable Bahamas’ President and CEO, mourned Mr Keeping’s death, saying he was “a giant of a man in many ways, a real friend and inspirational mentor.”

Over the past 40 years, Mr Keeping dedicated his life’s work to developing the telecommunications industry in Canada, the Bahamas and, most recently, Florida.

In 1988, he focused on the cable TV industry. This move brought him to The Bahamas where he spent the last 15 years growing the company from an idea to a successful reality.

Mr Keeping began his career in the telecommunications group – Transport Canada in the early 1970s.

In 1986, he formed N1 Cable TV Ltd to deliver high-quality TV services to 220 small rural communities in Newfoundland, Canada.

In 1988, Mr Keeping expanded the company to include communities in New Brunswick, Canada, and in 1991, he concentrated his efforts on the development of the New Brunswick cable TV market. In August 1994, he reached an agreement to sell his interests in New Brunswick and sought opportunities for the establishment and development of Cable TV systems in the Caribbean. Those efforts were rewarded when the Government of The Bahamas granted a cable TV license to Cable Bahamas Ltd.

Mr Keeping served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cable Bahamas Ltd for more than 10 years before moving on in 2005 to pursue other business interests in Canada and Florida. Because of his proven record, he was asked once again in January of 2010, to assume the position of Chairman of the Board of Cable Bahamas Ltd. Since then, he has led the company through a period of sustained growth, including the company’s recently announced expansion to Florida.

The statement said: “During his lengthy career, Mr Keeping impressed many as an accomplished leader and visionary. While his technology expertise was remarkable, his true legacy will be the meaningful impact he had on the scores of people with whom he interacted. Whether it was the gardener maintaining the grounds of the company, his management team who daily sought his counsel, the shareholders of the company who looked to him for his guidance and acumen, or national leaders seeking knowledge and proficiency, all were impressed by his integrity, sincerity and genuineness. Phil’s unassuming manner and his ability to convey assurance and calm will be fondly remembered and missed by many.”

Mr. Keeping, a native of Rencontre East, Newfoundland and Labrador, is survived by his wife Eleanor, their daughters, Kim and Eleanor, and sons, Gerry and Kenny, and four sisters

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11am from St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church on Cornwall Crescent with cremation to follow.

Comments

JohnDoes says...

And Cable Bahamas still doing shxt. They rather charge each room in a house separately for a plan and on top of that the 'NO DATA' problem that we are spending an arm and leg to receive. In the cable age around the world, we are supposed to have to option to rent or own a box (which we do), whilst being charged 'one' bill for a plan that is accessed in all rooms and outlets, maybe a lil extra depending on specific packages. On top of that, internet should be able to be accessed from any cable outlet within a household, where as i should be able to hook my modem up to any cable outlet and receive internet access. Cable bahamas rather have a separate cable line just for internet that cannot be accessed from any other outlet. Thus you would have to spend more money for a separate outlet/connection just to move your modem to another room. Yes you would say, well just get wifi but that is besides the point because some areas in a household cannot recieve proper wifi coverage. The LATINO versions of the channels ESPECIALLY need to be severed for the english, in an english speaking territory. Prime example of how investors come here to rob us for what is supposed to be affordable services, and how the government doesnt have enough money to implement their own solutions. So now the rich man comes here with his many businesses around the world and ttaxes the hell out of us the consumer.

Posted 11 December 2013, 3:36 p.m. Suggest removal

JohnDoes says...

Yes they have so many filters it is ridiculous. We all know there are many many signals that can be sent through the cable line. The main reason is because if you went to the states and set up an apartment, and have you cable connected, you could access TV and Internet from all outlets depending on which one you hook up, either the TV box or Modem . Now they may have it set up differently filter wise but at the same time this set up we have down here is so old school and they charge us so much for simple things.

Posted 12 December 2013, 10:46 a.m. Suggest removal

Reality_Check says...

And it seems there is indeed justice after all is said and done.

Posted 11 December 2013, 4:16 p.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

You all are ruthless...the guy died and all you can do is talk SH!T about the company he started and no longer has a part in. If you don't like Cable, go to dish or some other alternative. If it is that bad, then go back to the big aerial antenna and a dial up modem.
THANK YOU Mr. Keeping for having the vision to introduce Cable to the Bahamas on a grander scale than just the basic stuff that Freeport had. May you R.I.P.

Posted 12 December 2013, 9:19 a.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

I stand corrected...he does still have some involvement...but still...ditch cable if you are that dissatisfied.

Posted 12 December 2013, 9:20 a.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

@@Rory ,do you talk to people you don,t know like this in person or just from behind a keyboard .??IF you do talk to people like this you must tote plenty cut a@@

Posted 13 December 2013, 11:23 a.m. Suggest removal

242smt says...

Thank you B_I_D. And thank you to Mr. Keeping, the "foreign investor" for having the initiative to come here and build Cable Bahamas. BTW, JohnDoes, Bahamians own Cable Bahamas, you can buy a piece of it on BISX. I don't know why many Bahamians have such a hate on for all foreigners.

Posted 12 December 2013, 1:21 p.m. Suggest removal

Teller says...

I really don't understand your premise. When Phillip Keeping came here there were no cable jobs except for a few in Freeport. Today over 500 Bahamians are employed at Cable Bahamas. Which laws has Cable Bahamas broken? Did you know that Cable Bahamas is 100% owned by Bahamian investors, which means that all the profits stay in the Bahamas?

Posted 13 December 2013, 10:32 a.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

Rory is too simple minded to see the bigger picture...probably also too young to remember when you only got Channel 13...and if you were lucky and had a BIG antenna you might get 4, 7 & 10 Miami stations. (ABC, CBS, NBC)...then you moved to the monster 12 foot satellite dishes if you were really posh. I also remember the only places we could access the internet was basic...and i mean REALLY basic email type chat utility that you had to go to COB for...then finally Tribune came out with a dial up set up where you dialed into their offices to access their internet connection. He's been born with iPhone and full broadband in hand and doesn't appreciate what some of the pioneers have equipped us with. It's that type of ingratitude that will suck this country down to the depths.

Posted 13 December 2013, 11:56 a.m. Suggest removal

242smt says...

rory, I was not speaking for Bahamians, just making an observation. And you totally supported by observation by your statement. I don't know who is coming to the Bahamas and getting paid 1000 more for the same work - I cannot imagine an employer just giving away money like that!

Posted 13 December 2013, 9:52 p.m. Suggest removal

Teller says...

Cable Bahamas is a 100% Bahamian company. It was a public company from day one owned primarily by Bahamians. What did Phil Keeping bring to the Bahamas, money and expertise in building cable TV companies on islands separated by water. The Government of the Bahamas owns close to 30% of Cable Bahamas. The shares in Cable Bahamas isn a major driver in National Insurance, all local pension funds in the country and every investment bank and insurance company in the country. Cable Bahamas is also a crucial part of the infrastructure of the nation. The major driver in broadband communications. Thank you Philip Keeping for your contribution to our country.

Posted 15 December 2013, 6:19 p.m. Suggest removal

Teller says...

Wow, what a pathetic person you are and we wonder why our people kill each other with no regard.

Posted 15 December 2013, 11:54 p.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

2Rory shares can be bought in cable bahamas ,if you bought them in the begining they gave a good return , did you as a Bahamian buy any ..Atlantis was traded and people made good money when Sol bought the shares back ,did you buy any ..Hai made it very attractive for Bahamians ,especially civil servants , to buy the first offerings of the port ,did you buy any ??

Posted 16 December 2013, 12:11 p.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

@Rory if you talk to people like this in person you must tote plenty cut a@@

Posted 16 December 2013, 12:13 p.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

@big bad keyboard warrior ,,lmao

Posted 16 December 2013, 6:16 p.m. Suggest removal

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