EVER since I was a child, monopoly was a very long game that often ended with controversy and so it seems with the telecoms monopoly. It seems to me we have various players or, as they are called these days, stakeholders in this game.
1. The government has for many years said the monopoly has restricted development and competition will bring many benefits.
2. Digicel’s Mr. Dean is saying that, with liberalisation, Digicel will lower the price of international calls and bring newer products to the market.
3. GT&T is saying they are open to liberalisation but want a level playing field.
4. The ISP’s and other players have said nothing, but I suppose liberalisation will mean they are ‘fully legal’ in what they are doing.
5. The public wants liberalisation since we like what we got from competition so far and more products at lower prices is something we love.
All the stakeholders claim they want this for the people of Guyana. What is the real issue with liberalisation?
What is stopping us Guyanese from being liberated like our Caribbean brothers and sisters? It would seem to me that GT&T who would lose their over 20-year position of comfort has to be the major part of the hold up.
I say so since I don’t think the other stakeholders seem to have as much concern. So rather than these side shows as to who is against the government, etc, the way forward is for GT&T to let the Guyanese people know what are the concerns they have and why they think liberalisation is bad for us.