The Tribune

NEGOTIATIONS between the government and BTC are reaching a point where Prime Minister Perry Christie may be able to determine whether he is prepared to extend the time for liberalisation.

The prime minister also suggested that Cable and Wireless has put a new proposition on the table but he hasn’t had sufficient time to consider it.

Mr Christie said that when he does respond, it may be to what amounts to the telecommunication company’s final offer.

When asked what Cable and Wireless’ new proposition was, Mr Christie said he was not prepared to say, as it is an “ongoing situation”.

Mr Christie faced criticism on Wednesday when FNM chairman Darron Cash said that the prime minister must explain to the Bahamian people how it is that he can do such an enormous flip-flop with regard to the sale of public corporations.

“Before the general elections, he argued that the Bahamian government was poorly advised by this company with respect to the valuation of BTC.

“How is it that he now sees fit to engage the SAME company to advise him as to the sale of BEC? It makes no sense and makes the Prime Minister look like the boy who cried wolf until he got attention.

“Well, he has got our attention now and he needs to explain himself or lose even more credibility in the eyes of the public,” Mr Cash said.

However, Mr Christie dismissed Mr Cash’s assertions.

“I think the FNM’S concern ought to be that my government will be making the big decisions. We are making the big decisions on all matters including BTC.

“Where I have indicated that final positions are being arrived at and where they thought that it was foolish to believe that anyone would talk to me about two per cent when at all material times this conversation with BTC Cable and Wireless could only be sustained if two per cent was on the table in one form or the other,” Mr Christie said.

The prime minister said he does not propose to extend the time for telecommunications liberalisation beyond March 31, 2014 .