Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb arrives back on the Island today with just three days to try to find a deal to avert the possibility of CableVision pulling the plug on its services.

And she has come under fire from the Opposition United Bermuda Party for “mishandling” the licence renewal and damaging Bermuda's business image.

The Supreme Court on Friday overturned an injunction Ms Webb obtained two weeks ago to prevent the controversial company going off the air after CableVision turned down the one year licence renewal offered by Government.

The company wants a 15-year renewal but Government has taken a firm line and offered just one year because of the litany of complaints about poor service from Cablevision.

The company is now operating without a licence - with the consent of Government - after acting Telecommunications Minister Alex Scott got agreement with CableVision on Friday night to have a five day cooling off period to give both sides time to sort out the dispute.

CableVision blacked out screens for two hours on Friday night after the court ruling, but restored service when it reached agreement with Government to continue broadcasting for five days without a licence.

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) last night accused Government of being “arrogant and confrontational”, and said the controversy portrayed Bermuda in a bad light to other international companies thinking of doing business here.

Overturning Government's injunction, Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller said the courts had no authority to intervene in a commercial dispute between two parties.

Shadow Telecommunications Minister Allan Marshall said CableVision had been working to resolve its problems and had submitted its renewal application.

Mr. Marshall said: “Ms Webb and the PLP government have badly mishandled the renewal of licence for CableVision.

“The arrogance and confrontational approach demonstrated by the Minister in particular will not lead to a win/win situation for the people of Bermuda and CableVision. The people of Bermuda deserve better.”

The company had invested millions in upgrading its infrastructure and training Bermudians and had helped set up a certification programme for technicians at Bermuda College.

“So it is unfortunate that the minister and the PLP government have taken a theatrical approach leading up to the company's licence renewal, which was formally filed in April.

“The Supreme Court judge's ruling late last week that overturned the Government's injunction indicts the Minister of Telecommunications and the Attorney General (Dame Lois Browne Evans) for failing to disclose all of the information necessary for this case.

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“Yet again, this demonstrates the present government's lack of full disclosure, secrecy and high-handedness.

“The Minister has created a mess of what otherwise might have been a straightforward matter and has now left the Island before the dispute was resolved. This is irresponsible and a dereliction of duty. We are also concerned that the Supreme Court ruling could make Government and the hence the Bermuda taxpayer liable for damages.

“The mismanagement gives a negative impression to any business entities presently operating in Bermuda under licence or contemplating operating in Bermuda. At this time, with the corporate inversion debate in the US casting an unfavourable light on Bermuda, we need a better image projected, a professional image commensurate with that of a premier international business jurisdiction. The PLP has let us all down.”

Last night, Mr. Scott said it was for Ms Webb, when she returns today, to decide whether to stick to the original plan of giving a one-year licence, or to change course following the court defeat.

“My hope, for the viewing public, is that Government and the company will be able to clear away any impediment to transmission and the company can function as normal, but I am not is a position to say that,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“The reason I felt five days would be satisfactory for the interim period for cable to be on the air without a licence was because the Minister would be back at her desk on Monday and it would give her time to review the situation.

“The landscape has changed. There is the court decision. She may take that into consideration and take legal advice and realise she can continue as chosen, or maybe there will be the necessity to adjust Government's stance now that the court has ruled, but also interim discussions with the company.

“I've tried to open up the broad canvas so the Minister can hold her position or review her position.”