In the months
after taking office, this Christie administration made a public spectacle of
its efforts to reclaim “controlling interest” in BTC. Negotiations between the
government and the principals of Cable and Wireless communications dragged on
for months and at the conclusion of those talks, Mr. Christie and his cabinet
boasted about the landmark deal which he promised would make the government an
equal shareholder with Cable and Wireless and ultimately result in major
benefits for Bahamians.
Unfortunately, WE HAVE BEEN DUPED! That new
arrangement inked with Cable and Wireless was not worth the paper it was
written on! When it was all said and done, the government was only able to
reclaim 2% of non-voting shares that brought with it no actual decision making
power; leaving the day to day management and long term decision making in the
hands of BTC’s parent company.
Now, more than a
year after that deal was struck, Bahamians are being confronted with just how
meaningless the PM’s promises regarding the future of BTC and its employees
really were.
Months of stalled
negotiations and public wrangling between management and staff at BTC will
culminate Tuesday in the termination of 140 hardworking Bahamians. These
redundancies are particularly ill-timed considering the dire economic straits
with which the country continues to grapple. A time when cost of living
increases and an increased tax burden threaten to destroy the country’s middle
class. Against the backdrop of these worsening conditions, these hardworking
Bahamians will now be put out to pasture joining the thousands already on the
unemployment line.
News of the
layoffs did not come as a surprise however, in fact, the impending cutbacks
were months in the making, with details of the company’s plans splayed across
the local dailies. If the PM’s take back of 2% had any real value, this
Christie administration could have had ample time to flex its muscle as an
equal shareholder in the company and intervene to protect the jobs of these
employees. This government’s inaction is further proof of its inability or
unwillingness to protect the rights, and jobs of workers in this country.
After months of
bragging about its “reclaim” of BTC shares, this government must now COME CLEAN
with the Bahamian people. This lie CANNOT continue to be propagated. In the
face of such an obvious untruth, Mr. Christie must first apologize to the
Bahamian people and work along with management at BTC to mitigate against the
economic fallout of this decision.
Christopher Mortimer
DNA Deputy Leader
