RE: LEON R. WILLLIAMS & BTC

Thank you all for coming on such short notice.

40 years ago when I joined BaTelCo, “Majority Rule” was less than 12 months old.

BTC was managed by Page Communications and there were no Bahamians serving as Executives. Within six months, I was on the picket line with a sign placed on me by Nesbit Higgins demonstrating for the Bahamianization of BaTelCo.

During those 40 years I have served on the Government of The Bahamas’ appointed BTC Privatization Commission and also as Chairman of the Technical Sub Committee with responsibility for reviewing the business plans and technologies presented by the potential Strategic partners. I was also responsible for keeping the data in the Information Memorandum current

I have represented BTC at many International meetings to name a few; InTelSat, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), CARICAM, World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings, International Telecommunications Union (ITU the oldest Department of the United Nations) and the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) to name a few.

In Casa d’ Campo Dominican Republic in 1998, I became Treasurer of CANTO and gave up the position so that I could concentrate on Privatization in 1999.

In Havana Cuba in 2003, I was elected as a Board member of CANTO.

In Kingston Jamaica in 2004, I was elected by acclamation as Vice Chairman of the Board of CANTO.

In Port of Spain Trinidad in 2005, I was elected by acclamation as Chairman of the Board of CANTO.

In Paramaribo Suriname in January 2008, I was reelected unopposed as Chairman of CANTO.

CANTO now has 109 members in 31 countries. Its membership has grown 350% in the last four years.

In 2006, the President of Cingular the New AT&T offered to nominate me to the Board of the GSM Association. The GSMA has 2.5 Billion customers on 400 GSM cellular networks in 234 Countries and Territories. I would have been the first Bahamian, first Caribbean person to hold the position. In the interest of staying focus on BTC I gave up the opportunity.

In 2007, I received the Jones Communications Award Person of the year Award for Philanthropy.

In 2006, I received
Toastmasters International Leadership & Communications Award for contributions in the field of Technology,
The Margaret McDonald Policy Management & Administration Centre Outstanding Service Award and
The CEO Global Award for Philanthropy Celebrating Ethics & Excellence.

In 2003, Kiwanis Club honored me with its Men of Distinction Award.

In 1999, the Turks and Cacios Heritage Association honored me as Business Man of the year in Grand Bahama.
 

Shorty after I joined BaTelCo in Nassau, I was transferred to Grand Bahama as the second Bahamian technician of color to work there. Julian Allen was the first. BaTelCo Grand Bahama was staffed by Expats who told me that they were unwilling to teach me anything because I would take their jobs.

In Grand Bahama, I was promoted through the technical and managerial ranks to Senior Manager. While at that position in 1995, Grand Bahama achieved zero telephone faults for the first time.

I was promoted to the Executive team in December 1995 as the Assistant General Manager for Grand Bahama and Bimini.  While I was the Assistant General Manager,
Revenues in Grand Bahama grew from $19 Million in 1995 to $29.9 Million in two years.
The Accounts Receivables were reduced
A new Administrative Building (Government Complex) was built at a cost of $8.3 Million
Telephone services were extended to many of the outlying settlements
And many major capital development projects e.g. the re wiring of South Bahamia, Down Town Freeport and Fortune Bay.

During the downsizing in 1999 and on recommendations of the Government hired consultants (Stone & Webster and Robert Napoli) and Chairman Sir Albert Miller, I was transferred to Nassau and promoted to the position of Senior Vice President of Operations & Chief Operations Officer (COO).  I was asked to ensure that BaTelCo was Y2K Compliant and to do in Nassau what I did for BaTelCo in Grand Bahama.

As COO, I was Executive Sponsor responsible for many major Capital Projects not limited to:
building two fiber optic cables at a cost of $66 Million—connecting  Bimini to Grand Bahama and Andros, New Providence, Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island, Ragged Island, Inagua, Mayguana, San Salvador, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Abaco and Grand Bahama in a self-healing network. These projects were completed in record time and on budget.

DSL at a cost of $34 Million,

BTC’s ICMS Billing System at a cost of $23 Million;

GSM Cellular Network at a cost of $119 Million and

Building a fiber optic cable to Haiti. Providing Haiti with its first Fiber Optic connection to the outside world

In December 2005, I was promoted to the position of President & CEO. During my tenure, we set out to change the DNA of BTC in the first instance from an Engineering driven Company to a Market led company and in the second instance to a customer centric company.

BTC introduced Town Meetings in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros, Long Island, Eleuthera, and Exuma to listen to the Voice of The Customer.
BTC held Media and Executive luncheon in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Bimini.
BTC introduced and I co-hosted a weekly Radio and TV program.
BTC Introduced a Neighborhood connect program where we partnered with the Bank of The Bahamas and went to neighborhoods to sell DSL and finance computers.
BTC partnered with Bahamas Air, Fast Ferries, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Tourism and Arawak Homes.
BTC partnered with  BAAA to sponsor CAC games and CRIFTA and BTC also sponsored the Caribbean Volleyball Championships.
BTC opened Cyberworlds in Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, Andros, Inagua, Berry Islands and Exuma.
BTC Launched GSM and Blackberry Services in Andros, Inagua, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Long Island, Exuma and CDMA cellular Technology in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini.
Rebranded DSL to Iconnect.
BTC launched VIBE.
BTC Launched Blackberry.
BTC Partnered with Commonwealth Bank to introduce BTC Prepaid Visa Cards.
BTC launched EZPay, where customers can pay their bills on line. Top up their phones on line and activate features on line.
BTC GSM Cellular Phones now roam on 145 networks in 80 plus countries including all of the Caribbean, United States and Canada.
BTC is now testing Pre-paid roaming to the US.
BTC has built a WiFi Corridor between Down Town Nassau and the LPI Airport.
GSM cell-site grew from 42 in 2005 to 177 in 2007.

During my tenure as President & CEO, BTC revenues grew from $294 Million in 2005 to $360.4 Million in 2007.  BTC’s profits grew from $34 Million in 2005 to $44 Million in 2006 and $48.9 Million in 2007. BTC’s cash in the bank went from $73 Million in 2005 to $128 Million in 2006 to $133 million in 2007. BTC paid the Government of The Bahamas a dividend of $20 Million cash and $5 Million against its telephone bills—the highest dividend ever paid and while BTC’s cash in the bank increased over $100 million during the period.
 

 2005 2006 2007* 2008*
Revenues $293,848,000 $327,360,000 $360,000,000
Net Profit
Cash in the Bank $73,818,000 $128,501,000 $133,000,000 $170,000,000*
Dividend Paid  $25,000,000

Note: * Un-audited

BTC was selected by IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals) as Company of the Year in 2007; and BTC’s Junior Achievement Companies in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco were named Companies of the year by Junior Achievement.
 

Notwithstanding the above accomplishments in leadership and the recent successes of BTC, Chairman Julian Francis invited me to his office on Thursday night about 8:30 pm after an all day Board meeting to say that the Board is changing the direction of the Company and that they do not feel that I have the capacity to take it further. Therefore, they would like to request my resignation.

My question was when? His response was that he would like to inform the Executives the next day.

After a 40 year stellar career, 13 years as an Executive and two years as President & CEO, I am deemed by the Board after 10 months not to have the capacity to move the Company forward.

What is interesting is that the Board of Directors in it February 2008 Meeting, approved the three-year Strategic and Business plan for 2008—2010. This plan includes Capital Expenditures of over $190 Million.

What is the new Plan for BTC that I am incapable of carrying out?

Why approve a plan in February and change the plan in April in a year when the Company is privatizing?

What is further interesting, the basis, model and preface of the plan that was approved was authored by me.

I left office on Tuesday afternoon on a week’s vacation. Within hours of my departure, the Executive Vice President, Mr. Kirk Griffin,  had my name removed from the Company’s email and access systems, gave my Personal Administrative Assistant two weeks off with pay and had the locks on my office doors changed.

I had not resigned nor received a letter of termination. I was officially on vacation.

Again thank you for coming.