BCWJ Slams Speednet; Calls for Full Merger Disclosure

Protesters outside BTL on Tuesday said they’re still in the dark about the merger, no clear breakdown of the assets, the debts, nothing. Union reps and the opposition want full transparency. On Monday, the BCWJ went further, calling Speednet an ‘old house’ with nothing useful to offer BTL. So today, reporters pressed Labor Minister Kareem Musa: does he know what Smart is actually making each year, given reports that the company pulls in more than ten million dollars annually?

 

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“Who is making eleven million annually?”

 

 

Reporter

“Smart.”

 

Kareem Musa

“And you are saying eleven million is not profitable?”

 

Reporter

“That is what they are saying and they are calling that an old house.”

 

Kareem Musa

“Again, those are perspectives and angles that the board will have to consider, all of that moving forward with the advancement of technology and where it is now. Like I said with satellite providers and all of that, you have to assess all those factors in coming to a decision. What is the value of acquiring Speednet? Are you just acquiring the customers or are you acquiring the towers, which I am sure they are. And how valuable are those towers in modern day technology and if we can continue to use those in the next ten, twenty, thirty years. Those are things you have to forecast when making a decision. So, I am sure those are things that the board will consider. I know that the media has been reporting about a provisional approval that was coming. I don’t know anything about that. But I am grateful that it was initially put off because this is a deal that should have been concluded some two to three weeks ago. I don’t think that would have been good. I think that it is good they are having this consultation process with all the stakeholders.”