The Tribune

By PAUL G TURNQUEST

Chief Reporter

pturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SURVEILLANCE footage requested in the investigation of the blackout at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company has gone missing, sources at the corporation have revealed.

After Monday’s nationwide blackout occurred, crippling telecommunications services throughout the country, The Tribune understands that an intense investigation was launched by BTC into the matter.

Reportedly, initial observations revealed that “something” was caught on BTC’s surveillance footage at their Poinciana station may have been “useful” to their investigation. When the footage was requested to be handed over to the investigating team, sources at the company said that they were informed that it had “vanished.”

“At this point it is still an internal investigation, but depending on the findings this can become a criminal matter,” the source added.

At this point, it is unknown how much Monday’s blackout has cost BTC monetarily.

BTC insiders, who contacted The Tribune earlier in the week, found it strange that the countrywide breakdown should occur on the same day that Tony Rice, Cable and Wireless Communication’s London-based CEO, held “sensitive” discussions with Prime Minister Perry Christie over the government’s intention to retake the majority shares in the corporation.

Currently Cable and Wireless own 51 per cent of BTC, with the government retaining its 49 per cent share.

Throughout the PLP’s 2012 campaign, Mr Christie had pledged that his party would explore “all lawful means” by which to restore majority ownership of BTC to the government and people of the Bahamas.

When appointing his cabinet, Mr Christie took over responsibility for the Government’s relations with BTC.

At the time Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis called Mr Christie’s remarks on a possible retake of BTC as “reckless.”

Dr Minnis said that he thought it a “dangerous, irresponsible statement for the Prime Minister to make unless BTC is up for sale and the Prime Minister has a magic wand and finds all the extra funds to purchase BTC.”

However, BTC’s Vice President of Brand and Communications Marlon Johnson, said BTC will not ‘pigeon-hole’ itself with regards to what could have caused Monday’s breakdown.

He said: “Our position is the same since (Monday). We are doing our investigations with an open mind to any and all potential causes of what happened. No option will be overlooked or understated as we do what we can to make sure this does not happen again.”

Cable and Wireless obtained majority interest in BTC after a hotly contested and debated privatization undertaking in April of 2011.

BTC has also apologised for Monday’s disruptions and has promised to compensate its customers.