The new government-installed executive management team at BTL had its first full day in office at the Esquivel Telecom Center today. There are no reports coming out as we gather they are busy getting up to speed with current and prospective events at the country’s largest telecommunications provider. A release from the company – the first from its new management - reports that when they went in at a few minutes to five yesterday - the new board of directors first held a meeting with BTL’s Heads of Department. The release reports that it was cordial and harmonious. They were unable to meet with the union but report that they intend to have that meeting shortly.

After that, the board went into its introductory meeting. The board is chaired by the architect of the first privatization of BTL Nestor Vasquez and has the membership of a trio of Prime Ministerial advisors: Manuel Esquivel, Alan Slusher and Dr. Carla Barnett, along with Ministry of Finance CEO Audrey Wallace, as well as Ambrose Tillett, Anuar Barrow and Secretary Lois Young. We are informed that they intend to hold a press conference possibly in next week.

And while the board has been busy, the PUP has been silent. We’ve heard the not exactly identical positions of Leader John Briceno and Deputy Mark Espat – but quite surprisingly – there has been no official statement issued from the PUP on this most dramatic event.

Today – there was no statement issued from Ashcroft-dom. We do know though that his television station Channel 5 has been busy moving into new digs at what was formerly the NDFB Building on Coney Drive. BTL paid Social Security over four million dollars for that building – but it wasn’t a donation and now that Channel 5 is no longer a BTL subsidiary, it is unclear how the phone company will get back the money it paid. After the takeover Channel 5 had to abandon its new studios at BTL on Church Street