Liberalisation, a level playing field and the importance of urgent discussion

Oct 11, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
With all the noise about liberalisation recently, I started doing some independent reading and I came across this comment on ATN’s website:
“Over the last several years, an increase in competition has contributed to a decline in prices for communication services, including local and long distance telephone service, data services and mobile wireless services. Increased competition may decrease prices further. In addition, increased competition could reduce our customer base, require us to invest in new facilities and capabilities and reduce revenues, margins and returns.”
It appears to me that ATN, as everyone else is saying it, believes that competition means more services and cheaper prices for consumers. At the end of the day that has to be the only consideration for Guyanese. Whether Digicel or ATN is on the US stock exchange or their owners are Irish or American as alluded to by various individuals is hardly relevant. What we have are foreign investors doing business in Guyana – not unusual.
However, as it stands, the monopoly benefits only ATN/GT&T and is not in the interest of consumers. So where is the level playing field today? Even if the proposed legislation was not perfect as GT&T seems to be saying, then it impacts all the players the same, so in a funny sort of a way there is a level playing field. What is the solution? Should we keep the monopoly until GT&T sees legislation that is perfect in their opinion? Then we would never achieve liberalisation in that case.
The issues with the failed legislation ought to be discussed to avoid a prolonged delay that only negatively impacts the general public.
Carol Wong

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