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$847M cable an unnecessary investment by Govt. – Norton

Feb 19, 2010 News

Shadow Foreign Affairs Aubrey Norton yesterday lambasted the government for the planned investment of in excess of $800M for a fibre optic cable from Brazil, adding that it is a waste of money and unnecessary expenditure that could have served Guyanese elsewhere.
Norton made the charge yesterday during the 2010 budget debates, pointing out that his assertions were based on his research, in that the investment by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) is more than what is needed in Guyana.
He added also that he was of the opinion that the cable was for the planned Central Intelligence Agency that the government will be establishing.
Norton told the House that GT&T has expended US$30M to land fibre optic cable on the sea wall thus ensuring there is the capacity to provide all the service needed in Guyana.
He said that this investment will see some 64 gigawaves which will bring the capacity to 3000 times more than current capacity.
In response to claims by the Government that their cable will be used to ensure redundancy, he drew reference to the fact that GT&T has also stated that it will upgrade the Americas II cable which means that there will be additional capacity and redundancy.
Norton stressed that, “even if the government goes ahead with its cable, what will happen when there is disruption and the government has no back-up…e-government, including security, will be in trouble.”
He said too that government must not get involved in the telecommunication sector and should leave it to the private sector.
Norton also used the opportunity to chide the Government on the proposed intention for the proceeds in the sale of shares in GT&T to put some 20,000 computers in homes.
This, he said, was a most backward decision, in that the solution lies in increasing real wages and creating jobs so that people can buy their computers.
Speaking to his portfolio, Norton told the House that there is need for Guyana to redefine security to recognize that, “our greatest security threat is poverty.”
Norton emphasized that Guyana must initiate action at the international level to ensure that poverty is placed higher on the international agenda and be seen as a threat to our security, stability and the environment.
The Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister also called for Guyana to maintain good relations with those countries that traditionally supported this country, as well as develop a clear and comprehensive strategy to ensure that Guyana benefits from the progress in the emerging economies.
He said that there is need for the Foreign Affairs Ministry to create a department to promote relations with those countries and for there to be a similar mission in Geneva and, “if that proves too costly then such a unit should be established in the Guyana Permanent Mission to the UN that can access these countries and promote our interest at a relatively cheap cost.”
Norton said too that Guyana needs to develop a structured foreign policy approach to China pointing to the fact that there is need for an ambassador to that country which he said would be favorable to that country so that Guyana could benefit more.
As it relates to the president’s trip to Iran, Norton said that, “While it is Guyana’s right to develop relations with any country, it should be done within the context of the extant international situation and in Guyana’s strategic interest. Much more analysis as it relates to timing of state visits is required.”

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