National

Today in History: June 19

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Cable and Wireless Communications, a $100,000 electricity bill and fired MPs. See what events took place on this day in history.

Published

1 year ago

June 19, 2023

Our News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history in 2012, 14 months after the ousted Ingraham administration sold the majority stake in BTC to Cable and Wireless Communications. Officials were back in talks with the new Perry Christie led government.

Then Prime Minister Christie who had promise to return the majority interest in the national telecoms provider to Bahamians, confirmed he met with then CWC CEO Tony Rice who wanted the deal to remain as is.

Christie also hit back at former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham who asserted that the BTC deal was irreversible.

Then in 2014, following an announcement by Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace that it paid $100,000 toward its hefty electricity bill, then President of BEC’s Workers Union Paul Maynard claimed the payment was made in cash and as a result the cashier who accepted it was reprimanded. The union cried foul.

Then June 19th 2016, then Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis expressed confidence about leadership bid for the FNM and 2017 general elections. His comments came in the wake of persistent reports of infighting concerning his leadership. He said at the time regardless of who challenged him he would win and the party would move forward united.

Then in 2017, the culture consultant whose contract was brought under scrutiny by then Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told Our News it was heartbreaking to hear the things that were said about him on social media and in tabloids over his three year contract worth over a million dollars.

June 19th, 2018, then Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis fired three of his own members of parliament from their cabinet appointed positions. This after they voted against the government’s proposed value-added tax increase. The cabinet office said in a statement this afternoon parliamentary secretaries like cabinet ministers are bound as a condition of their continuance in office to support government decisions in public. Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine was among those fired.

And finally in 2019, then Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis accused the Christie administration of handing out millions of dollars worth of untended contracts like “halloween candy”.