By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

DNA leader Branville McCartney yesterday criticised the authenticity of concerns raised by the FNM over reported downsizing at BTC.

Pointing out that it was the Free National Movement administration that put hundreds of workers at risk during the initial sale of the telecommunications company, Mr McCartney again urged Bahamians to file a class action lawsuit against Cable and Wireless to recoup losses from last month’s blackout.

In a press statement yesterday, the DNA leader said: “Nearly four years after the sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) which was vehemently opposed by thousands of Bahamians, the chickens have come home to roost and the country is now forced to face the consequences of the bad decisions made by the former Free National Movement (FNM) administration.

“Unfortunately, rather than accepting responsibility, and seek forgiveness from the Bahamian people for their role in the obvious decline of the country’s communications sector, The FNM and its chairman have chosen to use the issue for political expediency. 

“In his impassioned statement to the media, Cash seems full of contempt for what he asserts, is a deal shrouded in secrecy,” Mr McCartney said. “How ironic that he would comment on such secrecy when Bahamians are only now learning the details of the agreement struck between the then FNM Government and Cable and Wireless Communications which, as one of its conditions, cemented a monopoly for the company which has lasted for the past three years, dooming its customers to subpar service.”

Mr McCartney’s comments follow claims by the Free National Movement that hundreds of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) jobs may be out sourced as part of the government’s deal to regain majority control.

Franklyn Wilson, head of the Government’s negotiating team, told Tribune Business that the possibility of outsourcing, and the return of Leon Williams as the company’s chief executive, were “never, ever discussed” with Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) during talks that saw the latter agree to transfer almost 2 per cent of its equity stake into a non-profit foundation.

Responding to Free National Movement (FNM) allegations that there was much more to the deal between the Government and CWC than has been disclosed, Mr Wilson accused the Opposition, and its deputy leader in particular, of hypocrisy.

Yesterday, Mr McCartney said his party will continue to monitor developments at BTC, adding that if reports are true it “would indeed be the final nail in a coffin commissioned by the FNM, and laid to rest by this PLP Administration”.

He said: “Since the sale of BTC in 2010, dropped and failed calls, slow data services and unsent text messages for which Bahamians are being billed daily, have become synonymous with the company and its services; despite continued pronouncements of millions spent, and the introduction of new technologies.

“It is the hope of the DNA that the recent end to BTC’s monopoly will translate into additional competition, lower costs, and improved telecommunications services for Bahamians around the country. In the meantime however, the corporation and its executives must be made accountable to the public for its countless shortcomings, price gouging and system failures, the most recent of which occurred just two weeks ago, and by the company’s own admission affected more than two hundred thousand customers.”