-One Communications calls for national action

CLEARLY fed up with consistent vandalism which has caused service interruptions to thousands of its customers, One Communications (Guyana) on Thursday pleaded with members of the public to report such acts, describing the situation as a national crisis that requires action from all stakeholders.

The latest incident occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, leaving a major section of North and Central Georgetown without service. The thieves targeted communication cables, in what the company has described as one of the most severe
disruptions for the year due to vandalism.

In a press release, the company confirmed that copper vandalism has surged in 2025, being now responsible for nearly half of all service interruptions.

“Alarmingly, vandals have also damaged sections of the fibre network, mistaking them for copper. This reckless destruction has left households and businesses disconnected, highlighting the growing seriousness of the issue,” the release stressed

Further, Richard Stanton, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of One Communications, said, “This is not simply theft, it is a direct attack on people’s ability to work, study, stay in touch
with loved ones and feel safe in their communities.”

According to the press release, he added, “The vandals who struck in Bourda are part
of a troubling national trend that is putting our entire communications network at risk.”

Documented incidents of cable vandalism stretch across Guyana, including in South and
North Ruimveldt, Lodge, Werk en Rust, Albouystown, Bourda, South and North
Cummingsburg, Subryanville, Kingston and several East Bank communities. Images and
videos show cables slashed and poles stripped, sometimes during the daytime.

“One Communications is urging the public to play an active role by reporting any
suspicious activity through hotline 0663 and by staying updated via the company’s social
media channels.

“To strengthen the national response, One Communications is working in partnership with
regulators including the Office of the Prime Minister, the Scrap Metal Unit and the Guyana
Police Force to curb the trade in stolen copper and to bring perpetrators to justice,” the release said.

It added that while its emergency teams are working around the clock to restore service, the company is emphasising that a key long-term solution is customer migration to fibre in
designated areas.

“These acts of vandalism undermine safety, disrupts education, and slows economic
growth,” the company added. “This is now a national crisis that requires collective action
from all stakeholders, law enforcement, regulators, businesses, communities, and
citizens alike.”

Further, One Communications reassures its customers that despite these challenges, the
company remains fully committed to delivering reliable and secure connectivity, and it used the opportunity to thank all its customers for their patience and co-operation as prevention and restoration efforts continue.