Telecoms reform high on Cabinet’s agenda – Dr Luncheon

TIMES INT'L
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon

The reformation of the telecommunication sector was high on the agenda when Cabinet met last week to discuss the affairs of the country, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon said. At the time, Dr Luncheon was speaking at the Office of the President during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday.
He said the Donald Ramotar administration has “heightened its engagements” with Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT& T) and Digicel Guyana on the reformation of the telecommunication sector.
The Presidential Secretariat head said the consultations are being used as an opportunity to provide legislative attention to the reform of the sector, noting that special attention is being given to two pieces of legislation in particular: the Telecommunication Amendment Bill 2012 and the Public Utilities Commission Amendment Bill 2012. “Negotiations on liberalisation, including demonopolisation, would be the focus of these current engagements. Bilateral [talks] with the two telecommunication service providers have started and will continue,” he added.
Based on this, Dr Luncheon said, the governing party has already signalled to the National Assembly its intent to conduct the second reading.
“The governing party has informed the House of its desire not to pursue the second reading of those two pieces of legislation. The administration has also informed the telecommunication service providers of such intention. Expectations are that the House would take appropriate notice of government’s intention and act accordingly.”
Questioned about the concerns raised by both telecommunication service providers, Dr Luncheon noted that Digicel has renewed its calls for the dismantling of the existing monopoly which prevents the company from having direct access to international calls.

Related posts