And we also spoke to another ranking PUP today, and that's Minister of State Gilroy Usher Sr. You don't see him on the news too often - but today he invited the media to an event for first-time landowners.
You'll see that later in the news - but we asked him how he feels about the Speednet acquisition. He held the new party line:let the people - not the BTL board of directors decide:
Gilroy Usher, Minister of state Public Utilities
"My position is that the people BTL should consult with the people, the government should consult with the people and that the voices of the people should have the sway at the end of the day whatever the people decide. I am fully supportive of that and I believe in letting the people have their say on that matter."
Reporter-
"So if it's No it's No?"
Gilroy Usher, Minister of state Public Utilities
"If it is no it is no and if they say yes it is Yes."
Reporter-
"And then how should consultation look though?"
Gilroy Usher, Minister of state Public Utilities
"Well for consultation they need to engage with the NGO's they need to engage with interest groups and go there and really answer the questions that the people ask, whatever questions they ask, try their best to answer the questions and then the people will decide but don't go to, don't say you will have a consultation but only spoon feed information that you think will persuade people to think a particular way. Give them all the facts and let the people decide."
Reporter-
"Did BTL convince you when it made its presentation to cabinet?"
Gilroy Usher, Minister of state Public Utilities
"Well my, as a cabinet we agreed that the cabinet would delay its decision until all the consultations have been completed alright, there is much room for more robust consultation and so I will leave it at that. I will support whatever the people decide on this issue."
Like we said, we'll have more from Usher later on in the news.
