By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
QUESTIONS about the “integrity” of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority have been laid to rest by the government.
At URCA’s first “public consultation” meeting on Cable Bahamas’ proposed price increase, it was announced that URCA’s chairman, Randol Dorsett, had represented Cable Bahamas in the past as a lawyer.
However, a reliable top government official laid the question to rest yesterday, stating: “Mr Dorsett resigned as Cable Bahamas’ attorney prior to accepting the position of URCA’s chairman.”
The official also promised the government would be releasing a statement on the matter in the coming days if questions persisted.
When asked to comment, Bahamian businessman Dionisio D’Aguilar – who was present at Tuesday’s meeting – told the press that if the public are upset over the allegation they should direct their frustrations towards the government, and not URCA.
“The chairman of the board is appointed by the Prime Minister,” he said. “That’s what it is, so don’t complain to URCA, complain to the persons who appointed the chairman of the board.”
Mr D’Aguilar said that if it’s “indeed correct” that Mr Dorsett is still Cable Bahamas’ lawyer and URCA’s chairman, “that does seem to be a bit of a conflict.”
Speaking generally on the meeting for the proposed price increase, the Superwash owner branded it “stupid” and a “complete waste of time.”
Citing the overwhelmingly irate crowd at Holy Cross Anglican Church on Tuesday night, Mr D’Aguilar criticised the format of the public consultations and likened the town meeting to a near “lynching.”
He explained the public will always oppose a price increase and URCA will never get a fair and balanced opinion if the town meetings continue.
Cable Bahamas is seeking to raise prices by 27 per cent for its SuperBasic television package, now known as RevTV Prime, from $30 to $38 for residential customers and from $50 to $63.50 for businesses.
“That event last night was a silly exercise,” Mr D’Aguilar said yesterday. “When you ask the public do you want the cost of a service that they received to go up, you will have each and every time a resounding no.... Using that format is stupid. It is a complete waste of time. It doesn’t provide a balanced point of view.”
Remarking on the outraged crowd that had to be frequently reminded to behave in a respectful manner, he said: “Even if I had supported the increase, there is no way in God’s green earth that I was going to stand up in that room and allow myself to be abused by people in that room who are clearly pissed off with Cable Bahamas and who were not open to reason. Everyone was rallying – it was almost a lynching in there. The mood of the crowd was they were in that lynching environment.”
Noting the crowd frequently heckled Cable Bahamas officials present in the room to speak, Mr D’Aguilar continued: “And Cable Bahamas, it made no sense for them to respond to those people. They would have been screamed at and shouted at.”
As Cable Bahamas has offered basic cable at a rate of $30 since 1995, Mr D’Aguilar explained that it is “unreasonable” for customers to suggest a company can keep offering the same service at a steady price for such a long time.
“Now, any business that has not had an increase in their price in 17 years is after a while – I think, it’s reasonable that they should expect an increase in the price,” he said. “It could be the $8, I don’t know. Obviously URCA can decide whether the amount is reasonable, but surely after 17 years of offering a service at the same price, they are entitled to some sort of increase.
“Superwash has not operated at the same price for 17 years, we would be out of business. It’s unreasonable for someone to think that they could do that. People don’t understand that there are operating costs. There are real reasons why you charge what you charge.”
Mr D’Aguilar suggested that rather than hold town meetings as a means of “public consultations,” URCA should instead have a controlled meeting with a group who supports the idea and a group that doesn’t support the idea before making a decision.
“They should change the format of their public consultation. Those town hall meetings have never worked and they are stupid. They are really a venting process for people who are unhappy. If I’m a happy customer of Cable, I’m not going to come to that meeting – why would I? URCA is not going to hear a balanced point of view by holding those stupid town hall meetings. They need to craft them in such a way to get maybe a panel of people who support it and a panel of people who don’t support,” he said.
“That could be an open forum, have a panel. Ten people who are for and ten people who are against. People could offer a reasoned approach so URCA can make an informed decision, but those public town hall meetings are the stupidest things that God ever created. They are always out of control, they are always just a way for people to vent. As a member of URCA, I really learned nothing from that process, that does not inform me other than there’s a lot of pissed off people out there.”
Comments
C_MonMan 12 years, 3 months ago
He was their lawyer but he is no longer their lawyer until he is their lawyer again. If it sounds eerily familiar it should. Of all the qualified professional persons in the Bahamas why is it that the government has selected the one person who is the lawyer of one of the major licencees. It should be noted that a conflict of interest does not only arise upon the performance of an improper act. It exists if there are circumstances present that are reasonably believed to create a risk that decisions might be unduly influenced by personal or secondary interests. A lawyer/client or former/future lawyer client relationship, in my view, would fall into this category. When are we gonna demand that these jokers stop treating our public affairs as if it is their own little petty shop.
Bril 12 years, 3 months ago
I totally agree with Mr. D' Aguilar that the exercise appeared to be quite silly. Give Bahamians any forum to vent and vent they will. Its seems as if that could have been better planned and better executed. In the end nothing was achieved there. The only thing that came out of that meeting was to show how mental our society really is. And he is right Cable Bahamas is perhaps entitled to an increase in fares after having it at the same rate for such a long time. Where I disagree with his assessment is an increase in fees with poor service is not acceptable. Cable Bahamas frequently has had on numerous occasions blacked out or lost channels without reason. Interruptions in internet service have also been problematic. There is never any compensation for it and the new digital boxes that have been forced on us are excessive in cost and many don't function well. So I have no trouble paying more. But if I am to pay more I expect more from customer service and technical support. I ordered a fight last year on pay per-view and would you believe the screen blacked out? I believe that there needs to be better consumer protection measures in this country. The utility companies in this country shaft us time and time again. BEC always have a problem and as a business owner who has to fight to keep a business open its unacceptable to me as a consumer. The same goes for the grocery stores.Things labeled incorrectly, some things overpriced either intentionally or by mistake. Who is protecting us the consumers in this country?
Mayaguana34 12 years, 3 months ago
They have found creative ways to increase their profits and benefit from the public - The increase on base price would seem reasonable after 17 years but I am more curious as to the many other charges that have been piled on during the same time frame. Reconnection fees, rental fees per month, per box, the cost of additional services and how these things weigh and measure against international best practice. I am not certain URCA has the wherewithall but glad that this process is happening -
Mayaguana34 12 years, 3 months ago
On the question of the lawyers conflict - There should also be the appearance of integrity something we are well aware is deficient in The Bahamas - Same people trading information, ideas and opportunities among themselves - It works well when your at the table - the majority of us, unfortunately are on the menu ......
NoWepon 12 years, 3 months ago
It will always be a shame on this Government ,if we can't get it right on conflict issues. Yes Mr. Dorset is a partner with Graham Thompson and maybe he gets to share in the profits of the Firm and yes the last provable day he worked for them in the public light was on July 31 2012 on Case number #473-2010, I don’t think it was wise for him to accept such a position of impartiality on August 1st 2012 were his client (of yesterday!!) will ask for a price increase a few days latter , that is to bold even for the PLP.
In saying all of that i must say that i have always found Mr. Dorset to be a man of great integrity but this was not a good move for URCA or the Bahamian people. Cable Bahamas Limited would have been advised that their lawyer was taking a TOP post at URCA and it appears that they for the first time in 17 years thought it was a good idea to apply to their "Lawyers" Board for a rise. NOT Good for Cable's image and NOT good for Bahamians. Cable should withdraw and Mr. Dorset must leave URCA and both should give a public statement on the issue.
C_MonMan 12 years, 3 months ago
Tribune business you also could have informed us that D’Aguilar is a director of the company, another potential conflict of interest. C'Mon Man.
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