By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie expects to meet with BTC CEO Leon Williams sometime this week to discuss the company’s plans to streamline staff in preparation for liberalisation of the mobile services sector.

Mr Christie, who was in Grand Bahama yesterday, said no formal discussions have been held yet with BTC, which intends to offer voluntary separation packages to some 150-250 workers to leave the company before the end of March. The company employs just under 800 workers.

Workers staged a mass sick out in Grand Bahama on Thursday, forcing the closure of BTC’s main office downtown. Staff at the East Sunrise Highway and Settler’s Way offices also did not report to work.

While in Grand Bahama, Mr Christie told The Tribune that he had preliminary talks with Mr Williams who informed him about the difficulty the company has experienced in realising its profit targets.

“He talked to me about meetings he had in Florida with the chairman of (Cable & Wireless Communications) on the profit targets, that they had the difficulty of realising that, and that they have given consideration not to layoff, but to offering people packages,” he said.

“I indicated that rather than talking to me over the telephone, but upon my return to New Providence, I would meet with him, and in the meantime if he could meet with the minister responsible for BTC, Dr Bernard Nottage, and have a discussion with him, pending having one with me.”

“They have not had discussions with us on it in a formal sense,” he added. “My understanding is at this point in they’re preparing for liberalisation, which is coming quickly, they have decided to offer packages to streamline their company.”

This week, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union President Bernard Evans said the impending cuts of at least 150 workers are shocking and employees are distraught over the way the company is handling the move.

Mr Evans said the move took him by surprise, especially as the company is expanding into television services which, in his opinion, would require more staff.

He said BTC is offering the separation packages to all staff with the hope of reducing the number of workers by March 31.

Last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced in the House of Assembly that three companies have submitted proposals to obtain the country’s second mobile network provider licence.

They are television and Internet provider Cable Bahamas as well as local subsidiaries of international telecommunications companies, Digicel and Virgin Mobile.

Mr Christie said the government is on target to announce the successful applicant in May.

BTC’s monopoly on mobile services ended last May.