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C&W FLOW Merger: All Eyes on the Regulator

Submitted by Anthony Davis “It may not have the blessing of regional regulators and even consumers at this stage, but shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), the parent of LIME, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International Inc., operator of the consumer brand, Flow” – Barbados Today Once again the…

, , , ,
Submitted by Anthony Davis
Chairman of Cable & Wireless Sir Richard Lapthorne
Chairman of Cable & Wireless Sir Richard Lapthorne

“It may not have the blessing of regional regulators and even consumers at this stage, but shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), the parent of LIME, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International Inc., operator of the consumer brand, Flow” – Barbados Today

Once again the former colonial masters – in the form of the CWC shareholders – are seeking to put their former slaves – in the form of the regulators of the various Caribbean countries – back in shackles. How else is one to interpret the words of CWC’s Chairman Sir Richard Lapthorne when he sees it as a foregone conclusion that, if the shareholders in Britain – which it takes an 8.5 hour flight to get to – have voted for this juggernaut,  the regulators here must only ask how high when the shareholders say to jump.

I find it an affront to the dignity and intelligence of the people of the Caribbean that he could come to such a conclusion without any of the regulators having made a decision. In Britain there are still persons who think that Barbados is part of Jamaica, and I have a big problem with that.

LIME is already showing its true face by insisting that, in order to get LIME TV, one must buy a LIME mobile phone. What can we expect when it becomes such a behemoth?

The situation in the Caribbean is not “consistent with global industry trends” as CWC will have us believe, because, for example, when one looks at the European and British telecoms markets there are already several industry players and therefore more competition whereas here it will not have any, and we do not need a monopoly here again.

I think that the private sector, the Minister of Business, Minister of Labour, the Minister of Finance, and the FTC especially should take a long hard look at this proposed merger. This is maybe a case where CARICOM can play a part, instead of sitting on the sidelines.

I note with dismay that the regulators in the Caribbean seem to be throwing their hands up in despair when it comes to this merger. They must comply with our rules and regulations like any other company. How many people will be sent cap-in-hand to the Welfare Department?

Not one word has been said about those who will be sent home – after Christmas perhaps – by LIME after it becomes a monopoly. Government – which is having a cash flow problem – must demand a figure from LIME!

People: “Beware of gift-bearing Greeks!”

50 responses to “C&W FLOW Merger: All Eyes on the Regulator”

  1. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    There is nothing government nor regulators can do about this ‘merger’. Its a done business deal and its all within the confines of the law. The most government can do is try to attract a competitors who have the inclination to invest the time, money and infrastructure.

  2. John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES. Avatar
    John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES.

    its all ears , they will want to know what we talking about , now the DLP and BLP can use C&W to do their dirty work ,

    But lets see , we will tell you if asked no need to wire tap and waste more tax payers money ,
    We have free-smart of information , Right here at the C.U.P

  3. David Avatar
    David

    The Fair Trading Commission has the authority to prevent the merger in Barbados if its identifies it would be unfair competition.

    On 9 December 2014 at 01:38, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >

  4. Lionel Riley Avatar
    Lionel Riley

    People move from lime because of bad service,now back in the hands of lime god help us,

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Barbadians were told that deregulation of the telecommunications market in Barbados (and elsewhere) was a condition for healthy competition to which the consumer would be the beneficiary. Are we to now accept that a return to a monopoly by LIME of data in the market is healthy? Now the company can practice bundling based on its competitive advantage?

  6. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    UK shareholders control LIME

    Canadian shareholders control the commercial banks.

    Trinidadian shareholders control major businesses.

    UK investors own Sandy Lane.

    Jamaican about to control a big part of the Hotel Industry.

    Did Barbados gain independence or reconfigured dependence?

  7. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    I find it an affront to the dignity and intelligence of the people of the Caribbean……
    +++++++++++++++++++
    What dignity and intelligence is that Mr. Davis?
    …selling off the hard-earned assets (like Bartel and BL&P,) purchased with the blood and sweat of our grandparents to white people, and now being surprised that we are being treated like brass bowls …is intelligent?

    …and what ‘dignity’ does poor, dispossessed, mendicant, beggars expect? Dignity is something that is associated with people who work hard to OWN AND CONTROL the basics that are CRITICAL to their survival….

    Look boss….if we have sold off our national assets to strangers so that we can get forex to buy their shiite trinkets then the least we can do is to go quietly back into slavery….
    Imagine our ancestors fought and bled for four centuries to escape the clutches of slavery – only for a bunch of black political jackasses to lead us right back where we started…..selling our inheritance of freedom for a pot of porridge….and actually EXPECTING that the descendants of our former slave masters will behave differently to THEIR fore-parents….
    Brass bowl female rabbits……

  8. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Canadian shareholders control BL&P/Emera.

    Barbados outa control.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants
    You have to follow C&W’s demerger in recent years to grasp the new structure and impact:

    New structure for Cable & Wireless

    On March 26 2010 Cable & Wireless will split into two independent companies, both to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Both will use “Cable & Wireless” in their name.

    Cable & Wireless Worldwide focuses on enterprises. It operates globally, but its strongest market is in the UK – where the business is essentially that formed by Energis, which C&W bought in 2005 for £674 million, and Thus – formerly Scottish Telecom – which it bought in 2008 for £330 million. It serves large companies and governments and has a wholesale operation for carriers and telecommunications resellers.

    The chairman will be John Pluthero, former head of Energis, and the CEO will be Jim Marsh. Tim Weller will be worldwide CFO from May 2010.

    Assets worth £2.8 billion as at September 2009.

    Cable & Wireless Communications operates a series of fixed – mainly incumbent – and mobile operations in small countries and territories around the world. It includes the 13 Caribbean businesses now united into Lime, but also C&W Panamá in central America, C&W Macau in southern China, Monaco Telecom in the independent country on the French Riviera and some scattered island operations. Note that Cable & Wireless Communications is a name used in the 1990s by C&W’s UK-based cable TV operation which included the residential side of C&W’s Mercury Communications. NTL bought that version of CWC for £8 billion in 1999 in a bidding war with Telewest, but then merged with Telewest and is now Virgin Media.

    The chairman will be Richard Lapthorne, currently chairman of the demerged company; the CEO will be Tony Rice and the CFO will be Tim Pennington.

    Assets worth $3.4 billion as at September 2009.

    http://www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com/article/2450082/Interview-David-Shaw-of-Cable-and-Wirelesss-Lime.html#.VIZdm384erw

  10. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Barbados is a consumer driven profit centre for foreign companies.

  11. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Hants
    Barbados is a consumer driven profit centre for foreign companies.
    +++++++++++++++++++++
    Exactly as the 18th century plantations were.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    Does the FTC have the cajones to block this deal in Barbados?

  13. John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES. Avatar
    John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES.

    Crooks operating on a much higher level, Barbados government might even have share like LIAT , So they may control more news and info ,
    Spies spying on crime members , the Public is the focus, Wire tapping WATER-GATE,

    Barbados government must be removed, for sake of Country and Man

  14. Alien Avatar
    Alien

    Posted on December 8, 2014 by David | “…LIME is already showing its true face by insisting that, in order to get LIME TV, one must buy a LIME mobile phone. What can we expect when it becomes such a behemoth?…”

    Is it “to get LIME TV…” or “to get free LIME TV…”? We already had the internet, mobile and land line – they added the TV at no charge.

  15. Bustopher Jones Avatar
    Bustopher Jones

    Isn’t Digicel sufficient competition?

  16. bookworm Avatar
    bookworm

    So if Barbados blocks the merger what happens? How can Flow and LIME be separate companies only in Barbados.
    Just think it through, Flow/LIME is one entity in the rest of the world EXCEPT Bim? Will they be forced to pull out of the Barbados market? Who will be left to run the phones and internet?

  17. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    bookworm asked “Will they be forced to pull out of the Barbados market?”:

    No. They will find a way to stay in Barbados and add to their profits. It is not just locals but tourists bring their cell phones and money is made from “roaming charges”

    .

  18. bookworm Avatar
    bookworm

    @Hants

    Yes, I see that, but how on earth can they operate as 2 companies in Bim and as one in the rest of the world? They will merge and either be allowed to stay or they will pull out. Barbados can not stop the merger.

  19. SuckaBubby Avatar
    SuckaBubby

    If they pull out of Barbados, I’d rejoice.Like if Bajans are under-educated to run our own companies but are jolly well educated enough to run other people’s own.

  20. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Suckabubby

    Better still a Maugbe act…..PELT THEM OUT…leaving all assets and infrastructure…..they are nothing but cannibalist capitalist who don’t give a rats ass above us or our regulatory bodies…why should we about them…..

  21. SuckaBubby Avatar
    SuckaBubby

    old onion bags | December 9, 2014 at 2:16 PM |

    Yes … PELT THEM OUT .. with a good ole Bajan gawblummah.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    @bookworm

    If the FTC blocks the merger C&W would be forced to sell in Barbados.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    Received via email:

    LIME/CWC are parts of Vodafone – the largest conglomerate in the telecoms market!
    Vodafone is to the telecoms market, what Shell is to the oil market!
    It would cast a shadow over Barbados which would be larger than that which the Colossus of Rhodes would!
    The stand-alone companies that offer internet services will be in danger of being suffocated!
    This throws a new light on whether the regulators, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Business should allow this merger, and consequently this Behemoth to operate in Barbados.
    Neither Digicel, nor any other telecoms company operating in Barbados can compete with Vodafone, and once the genie is out of the bottle it will be hard to get it back in!
    That would be the mother of all monopolies for small Barbados, and we do NOT need it!
    Make LIME/CWC put all their cards on the table – including who the real shareholders are!
    Vodafone has tentacles worldwide!
    I am very wary of LIME/CWC!
    What Vodafone is all about:
    In April, 2012, Vodafone announced agreement to buy Cable & Wireless Worldwide for 104 billion pounds.
    24 June, 2013, Vodafone announced it would be buying German cable company Kabel Deutschland. The take over was valued at 7.7 billion Euros and was recommended over the bid of Liberty Global.
    On 02 September, 2013, Vodafone announced it would be selling its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless to Verizon Communications for US$130 billion, in one of the biggest deals in corporate history.
    In February, 2014, Vodafone made an offer to acquire Spain’s largest operator ONO, in a deal rumoured to be around 7 billion pounds.
    SOURCE. Wikipedia
    ANTHONY DAVIS

  24. SuckaBubby Avatar
    SuckaBubby

    David | December 9, 2014 at 2:27 PM |

    Barbados is almost 50 years old as a sovereign nation.Sometime we have to grow up and exercise that sovereignty.This whole notion we are a powerless rock sitting in the sea with an open economy must stop.We have power and we must exercise at the national level , if we , consumers are to be obliged to exercise ours at the personal level in lieu of a vibrant , proactive consumer body.

    Upward and onward we shall go,
    Inspired, exulting, free,
    And greater will our nation grow
    In strength and unity

    NOT

    Send her victorious,
    Happy and glorious,
    Long to reign over us,
    God save the Queen.

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @SuckaBubby

    We love to go with the flow.

  26. SuckaBubby Avatar
    SuckaBubby

    David | December 9, 2014 at 3:06 PM |

    That is true but as the old people always say,too far east is west and if we dont wise up soon enough we will find ourselves somewhere we didn’t expect and definitely where we dont want to be.

  27. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Isn’t Digicel sufficient competition
    +++++++++++++++++++++++
    What the hell is the difference? English vs Irish?
    shiite man… this was like back when ownership of our plantations was the subject of European family feuds….
    What a slave mentality.

    BARTEL was the correct response….

    Just as white owned “Flow” found it in their interest to join with C&W to screw us, we can bet that eventually the cousins from the UK will put their collective interests WAY above ours….

    There is no SELF-RESPECT in mendicancy and dependency. Independence only means ONE thing …and that is NOT begging at the door of strangers….

  28. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Bush Tea

    VODAFONE is an internationally owned conglomerate do not be suprised if the melanin rich ones are the majority shareholders…….chuckle…….

    BBE,BBE,when will you realise that a new world order is already here,looks like you have to change your whitey bashing refrain……chuckle

  29. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Vincent
    You and Onions were in school together…right?
    ….same shiite talk… 🙂
    Are the majority stakeholders of Barbados not melanin rich? ..what is your point? a brass bowl is a brass bowl – no matter the melanin…

    …and since when did stating FACTS become bashing bozie…?
    wunna fellows are so ingrained into subservience that it is painful to contemplate…

    Now if you said that Bushie was wont to bash Brass Bowl Bajan Blacks…. THEN YOU MAY GET A GUILTY PLEA…

  30. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    SuckaBubby | December 9, 2014 at 2:08 PM |

    If they pull out of Barbados, I’d rejoice.Like if Bajans are under-educated to run our own companies but are jolly well educated enough to run other people’s own.
    ………………………………………………………………………………………..
    Yesterday I passed through St Thomas and marveled at the pristine condition that meets the eye at Content Plantation, Highland Plantation, Strong Hope Plantation and many others. Now you come into the neighbouring villages, which I will not call by name, and is met with garbage piled high, grass up to the windows and all kinds of eyesore.
    Guess who are responsible for keeping those great house yards and fences in immaculate condition?
    The same goes for the air-conditioned plantations in Bridgetown and Warrens.

  31. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Bush Tea | December 9, 2014 at 3:30 PM |
    Isn’t Digicel sufficient competition
    +++++++++++++++++++++++
    What the hell is the difference? English vs Irish?
    shiite man… this was like back when ownership of our plantations was the subject of European family feuds….
    ………………………………………………………………………………….
    English Vs Irish. Man they fight like hell against each other , in Belfast, LondonDerry and through out Ireland, and even on the UK Mainland , but when they come to the Caribbean, they call a truce. Their , enemies, or mugs, which way you look at it, are the locals. They join forces and become members of the same clubs and organisations, especially the Local Sugar and Sweeetness Club.

  32. Your NIS is invested in LIME Avatar
    Your NIS is invested in LIME

    David | December 9, 2014 at 2:27 PM |@bookworm If the FTC blocks the merger C&W would be forced to sell in Barbados.

    It the FTC does not…, would Digicel be forced to sell in Barbados?

  33. David Avatar
    David

    @

    *Your NIS is invested in LIME*

    *It means Digicel will struggle to gain marketshare and grow.*

    On 10 December 2014 at 09:42, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >

  34. yatinkiteasy Avatar
    yatinkiteasy

    Barbados does not even have a National Bank…remember? That was sold to the Trinis.Would not be surprised if CBC is sold to some Trini or Jamaican group.
    Hey, thats not a bad idea!

  35. Banking on Broad Street Avatar
    Banking on Broad Street

    Is it my unreasonable expectation, my impatience or is Scotiabank’s service the slowest banking service on Broad Street?

  36. cool runnings Avatar
    cool runnings

    I am tired of the crap spilled out here. All you black Bajan with money still don’t buy one share in these businesses when possible. We complain about foreigners buying this and that here but when given the chance to pool our resources to own something of substance we do not do it. Then we turn around and keep the foreign owned businesses afloat with our money. We need to stop complaining, waiting on Gov’t, B or D, and start investing in ourselves.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @Cool Runnings

    Of course you have included government who have without hesitation dumped shares in BL&P, Republic Bank and about to giveaway the oil subsidiary?

  38. pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright

    For there to be any serious response, or standing up to LIME, as is being alluded to and suggested by a few here, inclusive of the Robert Mugabe intimation, we, as citizens led by the current DLP government (and previously by the BLP a la Ronald Toppin styling) would need to have the balls to toss LIME out of Bulbados.

    WE AS A PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE BALLS

    Even in its simplest format, civil disobedience in and among Bajans, for ANYTHING, has not happened, en masse or otherwise, since 1937.

    We as a people have never felt so moved by an incident to come out and express ourselves about it.

    Campus Trendz and the death of six of our young women due to the “single door policy” for 90% of businesses in Bridgetown does not bring out the Gonads of the Chief Town and Cvntry Planner nor the Chief Fire Officer.

    Barring the families of those who dies in these accidents waiting to happen again and again, we Bajans dont give a flying shyte.

    Frank King while he was at the Fair Trading Commission showed that he was the last of a dying breed of men with balls but he resigned when he realised that the entrenched graft and commensurate rape of the black man does not come from the 5% hunkie population in Bulbados but from black on black crime.

    So join the merry band wagon who will jump on fellows like Bush Tea for calling us Brass Bowls because, as long as someone points us to where the faults lie, we are quick to wash dem out wid cussing and ad hominems

  39. John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES. Avatar
    John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES.

    C&W FLOW Merger: All Eyes on the Regulator?

    Can some please let us all Know Who are the REGULATORS?

  40. John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES. Avatar
    John Hanson 1781-1782- I SERVE 1788- 1792 BARBADOES.

    cool runnings | December 11, 2014 at 6:09 AM |

    Most Bajan dont have extra money to invest and those who have money need to keep it hidden for the paychecks they have dont reflect the way they live. So all funds must be kept out the public eyes,
    Housing and Land , Rentals of houses not their own kept of the Books , Tax free money by land tax and statutory Deed making crooks, Deeds is no History that were made up out of the blue and held from the Archives and land Registry,

  41. FrankTalk Avatar
    FrankTalk

    We need Bajan PRIDE and Industry without-which we are NOT a Nation!

  42. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Canada loans Vodafone $850 million to help strengthen BlackBerry

    http://crackberry.com/canada-loans-vodafone-850-million-help-strengthen-blackberry

  43. David Avatar
    David

    Why does the FTC need so much time to rule on the C&W Flow deal.

  44. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    cool runnings December 11, 2014 at 6:09 AM #

    I am tired of the crap spilled out here. All you black Bajan with money still don’t buy one share in these businesses when possible. We complain about foreigners buying this and that here but when given the chance to pool our resources to own something of substance we do not do it. Then we turn around and keep the foreign owned businesses afloat with our money. We need to stop complaining, waiting on Gov’t, B or D, and start investing in ourselves.
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    Mister, Bajans had lots of money tied up in Clico, Trade Confirmers, BCCI , a little bit in Redjet,and much in the Barbados treasury, and look what has happened? Once bitten twice shy, is now the Bajan mantra.

  45. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Interesting article

    Tell the facts, C&W

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/letters_to_editor/60920/tell

  46. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Bajans should be getting cheap blackberrys

    http://www.bell.ca/Mobility/BlackBerry

  47. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Can we expect a whole lot of new Internet based businesses ?

    Barbadians unable to have access to robust fixed Internet service can expect to have this remedied before yearend 2015, regardless of whether they live in small outlying communities such as Greenidges in St Lucy or Lynches, St Philip.

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/60737/broadband#sthash.oiwnxwFq.dpuf

  48. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Sugar added to the Lime juice.

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/61127/bus-terminal-upgrade

  49. Wunna nuh see heah Bonny monkey climb facebook BBE Avatar
    Wunna nuh see heah Bonny monkey climb facebook BBE

    Piece: you cawmere man still le de callin. Murdah?

  50. Negroman Jr. Avatar
    Negroman Jr.

    When did I ever call anyone “white thrash”? Even if it be recorded, it just a lotta long talk skippa…. shiite

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