DIGICEL Guyana said yesterday that, as this country prepares to welcome a new parliament, the company reiterates its call for liberalisation of the telecommunications sector. The utility is also calling on its competitor, Guyana Telephone and Telephone Company (GT&T) to clarify its position on ending the monopoly.
In a statement, Digicel Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Gregory Dean said: “Digicel welcomes GT&T’s CEO, Yog Mahadeo’s recent comment on their support for liberalization. However Digicel believes that the time has come for GT&T to clarify and publicly state its objections to the legislation to achieve the same, so that the issue can be resolved once and for all and stop engaging in PR niceties.
“The dramatic 11th hour reversal of the planned telecommunications reform was attributed to the possibility of litigation and acrimony which arose following communications between the Government and U.S. based ATN / GT&T. Now, more than two months later, GT&T nor its parent company, ATN, has stated what their concerns were with the bill.
“After months of consultations and commitments, the Government pulled the 2011 Telecommunications Reform Bill, on September 22, due to these last minute submissions from ATN/GT&T.
“The reality is that liberalisation would probably force GT&T to get away from its monopoly/subsidy mindset and manage itself as a proper competitive company. Businesses should thrive on merit and through competing vigorously, not by sitting on a guaranteed monopoly for two decades that grants it significant advantages over other operators.
“GT&T needs to join the rest of the business world in the 21st century. ATN’s U.S. businesses would not have been able to make the gains they have made in the USA if they did not operate in a fair competitive environment; so why should Guyana have to treat their Guyanese subsidiary GT&T any different,” the statement concluded.