Rohee blames GT&T for problem with emergency 911 response

HOME Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has laid blame for technical difficulties in the country’s emergency response hotlines with Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

“This is clearly a technical problem,” he said, adding that GT&T, which has the monopoly for provision of landline services locally, has refused to accept responsibility for it.
Speaking at the usual weekly press conference, in Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, the Minister said the complaint from persons using the emergency hotlines is that, when they call, there is no answer, but those manning the system claim the phones do not ring.
“GT&T must explain this,” Rohee insisted.
His remarks followed the report of American experts who reviewed the network, after spending five days here in March, visiting Police stations and meeting with various stakeholders.

NECESSARY INTERVENTION
Rohee said that was a necessary intervention, given the lack of “internal capacity” to address the deficiencies.
He told the media that he has completed his review of the “complex document” and local technical officers are being engaged to address the implementation of the recommendations in it.
Rohee said that among three of the recommended actions are a proposal to consolidate the crime, fire and medical emergency numbers – 911, 912 and 913 and completely revise the countrywide scheme.
According to him, the proposals have a tidy cost attached to them, hence the engagement of local technical officers to ensure that the price settled on is justified.
Last December, Rohee admitted the poor performance of the 911 service, acknowledging that the aired criticisms of it are genuine.
“I am fed up with this whole situation of poor performance of the 911 system,” he declared, referring to the fact that the problem of the service’s efficiency has been raised time and time again.
He proffered the opinion that it could not be with staffing, as the Police have sufficient “general duties” staff to man the 911 line.
“This issue has come up at several meetings….I don’t know if it is a technological problem,” Rohee said.
In addition to the recruitment of the foreign experts, the Minister also promised a meeting with GT&T, the Police, Home Affairs officials and other stakeholders to address the issue.

(By Vanessa Narine )