Prime Minister Perry Christie said he is still committed to tabling the agreement signed with Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) for the Bahamian people to regain just under two percent of shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). In a recent interview with The Nassau Guardian, the prime minister was reminded that he pledged to table the agreement in the House of Assembly, but it had not happened more than seven months after the deal was finalized.

Asked whether he was committed to fulfilling that promise, Christie said, "Yes. In fact, I am glad you reminded me."

When asked how soon that would happen, Christie said he has an informed view on the matter, but did not provide a timeline. CWC bought 51 percent of BTC's shares in 2011. After coming to office, Christie appointed a committee headed by businessman Franklyn Wilson to negotiate the take back of two percent of the shares.

The BTC deal was first announced in January 2014. Under the terms of the deal, CWC committed to transfer $5,930,200 worth of shares to the government to be held in trust for the Bahamian people. Those funds will be placed in the BTC Foundation. Christie has stated nothing was paid for the shares.

During a ceremony at the Balmoral in August 2014, CWC CEO Phil Bentley and Christie announced the long-awaited BTC deal was finalized and the BTC Foundation was established. CWC officials also presented the government with a $1 million check for the foundation. At the time, Christie recommitted to tabling the MOU in Parliament. He said this would serve as "evidence for the Bahamian people that the deal has been done".

Meanwhile, Bentley encouraged the government to be flexible with BTC's needs for certain duty reductions and foreign work permits, again raising questions surrounding what the government agreed to in the MOU. Many critics have dismissed the deal as a face-saving agreement, as it does not result in Bahamians regaining control of BTC - something Christie promised ahead of the 2012 general election. Others have repeatedly suggested a side deal may have been struck with CWC, though government officials have denied this.

Wilson told The Guardian the deal represents "good will" on the part of the company that will bode well for it financially. The prime minister has said the deal represents a fulfillment of his election promise to regain a majority of the shares for the Bahamian people.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian