Latest update March 2nd, 2025 2:50 PM
Latest News
- ‘Forde’s Fruitcicle’ is fruit to the core
- Guyana will not allow Venezuela to threaten sovereignty, territorial integrity – President Ali says
- ‘Remove your vessel from Guyana’s water’ – CARICOM tells Venezuela
- “We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it may take”- UK PM tells Ukraine
- Pedal cyclist killed in Linden-Soesdyke accident
Vandalism cost GT&T $32M in 2013
— appeals being made for communities to be vigilant
A pricey and usually unexpected dilemma faced by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) is vandalism. And it is the belief of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna Sharma, that residents can play an integral role in helping to curb such destructive activities.
GT&T CEO, Radha Krishna Sharma
Sharma told media operatives on Wednesday that last year, for instance, the telephone company was faced with a vandalism price tag that amounted to some $32 million. And according to him, at least 15 acts of vandalism saw the service to subscribers being severely affected for extended periods.
And it was just over the recent Easter weekend that the telephone company suffered yet another act of vandalism in the Sophia area. Some 15 metres of cable were stolen when vandals targeted a 2400-pair feeder.
According to GT&T, the action resulted in the disruption of telephone services in Belvoir Court, Bel Air, Prashad Nagar, Sophia, Blygezight and surrounding areas.
It was outlined in a statement from GT&T that the damage was severe and required extensive repairs, including civil works, an undertaking that was expected to be completed over a four-day period in order to restore full service. But according to Sharma, “the technical team worked around the clock and they brought back that service within two and a half days.”
The CEO in commenting further on the recent act of vandalism noted that while “I don’t know the dollar value on the un-organised, under-hand market, I can say it was quite small to whoever did it, but it was disruptive to 1,500 subscribers who were affected.”
Vandalism has long been highlighted by GT&T as a hindrance to its roll-out of services nationally, since resources have to be diverted from ongoing scheduled works. It is also the view of the telephone company that acts of vandalism can hamper community welfare and security.
Moreover, Sharma is advocating for the support of residents to help safeguard the resources of GT&T that are strategically positioned in various communities countrywide.
“This has to be more a combination of community awareness and law enforcement…and society as a whole has to be aware that an act of vandalism destroys infrastructure and then disrupts service that is so much needed.”
Sharma went on to highlight that “it is physically impossible for us (GT&T) to safeguard every piece of network infrastructure in this country, so it has to be a combination of vigilance from communities (and) it has to be some element of law enforcement.”
According to the CEO, the disturbing state of affairs is one that has been gaining the attention of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, as well as the Public Utilities Commission, which is tasked with regulating and monitoring the operation of the country’s utility companies.
“I have seen the Prime Minister issue a statement. I have seen the PUC issue a statement, and I think that more and more persons recognise what it means to society if you are going to have these irresponsible acts of vandalism,” Sharma asserted, even as he reiterated that the practicality of GT&T safeguarding all of its network infrastructure is rather limited.
Moreover, GT&T is urging that communities be on the look-out for vandals and to report such acts to the police and to the telephone company’s vandalism hotline – 0908.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A test of sovereignty
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The United States, self-appointed arbiter of the world’s affairs, has once again... more
The OAS Needs a Leader, Not a Battleground
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Saunders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The campaign... more
Weekend Cartoon
