Latest update April 8th, 2025 7:13 AM
GT&T slams Digicel for accusations about threats
Deferral of Telecoms Liberalization Bills…
The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Digicel Guyana yesterday clashed over the recent postponement of proposed legislation that would have liberalized the telecommunications industry.
Earlier yesterday, Digicel issued a statement calling on GT&T to explain to what extent it made threats against the government that led to the National Assembly announcing that the Telecommunications Bill and Public Utilities Commission Amendment Bill would be postponed until the new Parliament is convened.
GT&T’s CEO, Yog Mahadeo
Parliament was dissolved earlier this week, to make way for national elections due by December.
However, GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Yog Mahadeo, lashed out at Digicel.
“I don’t want to dignify that garbage with a response…How dare they suggest that the Government of Guyana is cowardly; that it can be bullied? Shame on them to vilify the President and the Government.”
According to Mahadeo, GT&T did not make any last minute submissions.
“I stand by what I said before. We did not make any last minute submissions on the legislation to the Government. As said many times, GT&T has put its money where its mouth is, we have invested over US$400M at approximately US$20M per year. We proudly publish our accounts for everyone to see how we perform. We remain committed to the development and prosperity of Guyana.”
According to the Digicel, it is demanding a “full and frank explanation” from GT&T’s US owners, Atlantic Tele-Networks (ATN) regarding the “nature and extent of any legal or other threats made against the Government of Guyana concerning the planned introduction of telecommunications reform in Guyana last week.”
The company pointed to a media report in the Kaieteur News yesterday which quoted Government spokesman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, as saying that the 11th hour reversal in the National Assembly of the Bills was because of the “possibility of litigation and acrimony”.
“These reports appear to contradict statements made by GT&T’s CEO, Yog Mahadeo, last week when he stated that GT&T had made no last minute representations or submissions to Government on this issue.
“This statement has now been openly contradicted by the Government of Guyana. A full and frank explanation from GT&T/ATN is required,” Digicel said.
Gregory Dean, CEO of Digicel Guyana, felt that it really is a matter of very grave concern that a US-based multinational would seek to “intimidate and bully” the Government of Guyana into submission in relation to a matter of such fundamental importance to the development of telecommunications and the economy of Guyana as a whole.
Meanwhile, Digicel said that it welcomes President Bharrat Jagdeo’s public statement at the GuyExpo launch earlier this week on the commitment of the government to liberalization of the industry.
Digicel’s CEO, Gregory Dean
“The people of Guyana deserve to have the benefits of full and open competition in all sectors including the telecommunications sector. They should no longer continue to be losers financially and be denied access to new technologies,” Dean concluded.
Government has signaled its intentions for a number of years now to break what was described as an ironclad monopoly of GT&T. The PPP/C administration had been expressing unhappiness over the pace of developmental projects by GT&T, the new company which was formed from GTC, and one in which Guyana had retained a 20% share.
The two Bills tabled in the National Assembly a few weeks ago were initially sent a Special Select Committee to be studied and for adjustments to be made from suggestions by the public. They were expected to be passed last week.
GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Yog Mahadeo, had expressed reservations over the Bills and said the company had limited time to make its input last year. GT&T had also said that it was willing to continue talks with government.
Mahadeo had insisted that the so-called monopoly was one on paper, since illegal international calls and bypasses are rampant and eating away at GT&T’s profits.
The legislation, when enacted, is expected to effectively nullify the GT&T agreement and allow for other companies to enter the local market, offering a variety of services and benefits, including more bandwidth, more mobile service providers, more landlines and a host of other internet-related services.
In the absence of the Bill, GT&T will continue to operate under the conditions of its old licence, Luncheon disclosed Wednesday.
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