The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE executive board of the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas has asked the government to “look for a viable alternative” to Cable Bahamas Limited with respect to the country’s second cellular licence.

A letter sent to Prime Minister Perry Christie, which was signed by the presidents of the NCTUB, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union, the Bahamas Union of Teachers and the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union, requested that the government consider granting the licence to Virgin Mobile Bahamas Limited (VMBL) instead.

The NCTUB executives said they visited the principals of VMBL and have found them to be “superior candidates for the cellular licence.”

In fact, the NCTUB said union officials are willing to partner with VMBL and invest $160m in pension funds from BEC, BTC and the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

In the letter, which was also obtained by The Tribune, the NCTUB said officials “regret” that Cable Bahamas was awarded the second cellular licence, as “it has been our experience that CBL has not been a good partner in the field of industrial relations.”

“CBL has shown throughout their entire tenure in The Bahamas not to put Bahamian people first. They have missed numerous milestones in connection with cable services and there are still some islands in The Bahamas without cable services,” the NCTUB said.

“How can CBL be trusted to live up to the strict milestones that we understand are included in the cellular license roll out given their present track record? Mr Prime Minister we do not believe in them and you should not either. The experiences of our membership with CBL have been negative insofar as they have engaged in a culture which has discriminated against their customers and workers and have not acted in the best interest of them. You will also note, Mr Prime Minister, that CBL has undertaken a phased adjustment of its product content while securing a rate increase. Additionally, the adjustments and the services involved the elimination of popular quality programming with inferior substitutions being provided to the public without public consultation. This again proves CBL’s non-commitment to the Bahamian people whilst manifesting their commitment to public gain.”

In October 2015, a statement from the government announced that CBL had emerged as the successful bidder in the spectrum auction for the country’s second cellular services provider.

According to the government, the remaining conditions for licensing include CBL honouring its commitment to have at least 51 per cent of the shares of “NewCo”, the company that will be granted the license, owned by “HoldingCo”, which will be a 100 per cent Bahamian-owned company.