UDP Sets Conditions, Meets Ashcroft on BTL Deal

The UDP isn’t slamming the door on a telecom monopoly, but they’re making it clear that their list of non-negotiables must come first before any deal is signed. And there’s another big reveal: Party Leader Tracy Panton and UDP Chair Sheena Pitts met with Lord Michael Ashcroft on Monday to lay out the opposition’s position on the proposed sale. Remember, Ashcroft’s Waterloo Group Charitable Trust owns seventy-seven percent of Smart. Panton says the meeting was about transparency and dialogue. As she put it, she’s ready to talk with all investors because, in her words, she’s the prime minister in waiting.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“Indeed, I met with Mr. Ashcroft to make it clear to him what the position of this party is. We cannot continue to support any kind of public acquisition that will affect materially the public interest. That is our stand. We cannot support a monopoly. And you want me to say there will be absolutely no monopoly. Well, there should be absolutely no monopoly in electricity. There should be absolutely no monopoly in water if that is the stance we are going to take. In democratic countries with the population size that we have there is room for monopolies because we have a small market to serve, that is why there is only one electricity provider and that is why there is only one provider for water service. I also will report here that the chairman of BTL is now scrambling to meet with the opposition and I told him I will speak with he team and get back with him. Why do you want to have the conversation now, after your hand was caught in the cookie jar. Tell us what the deal was prior to getting here. I seek the to be the next leader of this country and the next leader of this country must be open to meeting with all investors, where I choose to meet with them and not meet with them is immaterial, in my opinion.”