Guyana: the government wants to liberalise telecommunications despite a “fairly decent” relationship with the incumbent

[caribbean net news] President Bharrat Jagdeo has reaffirmed the government’s position of maintaining a liberalised telecommunications environment in Guyana despite the “fairly decent” relationship which he said exists with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company.

On May 8, Government Representative on the Board of Directors of GT&T Company, Winston Brassington said that government has formally indicated to the Atlantic Tele Network (ATN) its intention to sell its 20 percent share in the local phone company.

Brassington also disclosed that in the event that ATN expresses no interest in buying, the shares will be sold to third parties. He explained that the sale agreement with ATN and the Government of Guyana stated that management services may be provided by ATN or by its subsidiaries, provided that they are approved by the Board.

In addition to that disclosure, Brassington said that Government opposed the accounts of GT&T for last year on the basis that they did not consider the six percent advisory fee to be a legitimate expense.
Last year, he highlighted, following a number of questions on the advisory fee, Government abstained from voting on the accounts.

The GT&T monopoly has constantly been challenged and only recently Digicel filed a suit against the GT&T monopoly on international traffic to and from Guyana.

A few months ago Jagdeo met officials of the Caribbean Telecommunications Unit to discuss ways of improving the telecoms sector and a wider scope of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) services.

The officials had pointed out that some Caribbean islands are developing rapidly with the liberalisation of their telecommunications sector and with ICT and this has allowed the governments to bring a better quality of life for their citizens.

Guyana still aiming for a liberalised telecommunications environment