Vandals disrupt telephone service in Georgetown, Mahaicony and Linden

VOICE and data services to thousands of its landline customers continue to be severely affected as a result of continued vandalism and theft of its cable facilities, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) has reported.

The more recent incidents, the Company says, have occurred in North Road Bourda, Nothamshire/Surapana, Linden, and at Burma, Mahaicony.
In the case of Linden, GT&T says, it has been observed that the vandals have been systematically removing cable from the area, since the initial cut was discovered last Sunday. To date, the Company says, they have removed in excess of 2000 feet of cable.
These three incidents bring to 22 the number of acts of of vandalism and theft committed over the past three months.
The list of the areas affected over the period includes New Hope; ‘A’ & ‘B’ Fields in Sophia; Land of Canaan; Lodge; Huist Coverden; Timehri; Montrose; Meadow Brook Gardens; Princess and High Streets, Werk-en-Rust; D’Urban Backlands; Lodge Housing Scheme; Tucville; Stevedore/Postel Housing Schemes; Guyhoc Park; Sheriff Street, Campbellville; East/West Ruimveldt; East La Penitence; Richmond Hill and Fairs Rust, Linden; Le Ressouvenir; Happy Acres; Atlantic Gardens; La Bonne Intention; and Chateau Margot.
According to GT&T, it cannot overemphasise the debilitating effect caused to its overall expansion and maintenance programme, since there has to be a continuous reassignment of the technical workforce, along with the use of unbudgeted expenditure.
Equally and critically important, the Company says, is customers inability to access voice and data services, essentially affecting their economic, social and security wellbeing.
The Company said in closing that it continues to advise the general public “If you see something, say something”, by reporting to the hotline 0908, as information provided will be treated with the strictest of confidence.