The government on Tuesday tabled two bills signalling renewed efforts to liberalise the telecommunications sector.
Public Telecommuni-cations Minister Cathy Hughes tabled the Tele-communications Bill 2016 and the Public Utilities Commission Bill 2016 at Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly.
Hughes informed that the telecoms bill was intended “to provide for the establishment of the telecommunication agency and for the regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunication sector and for connected matters.” She added that the PUC bill was intended to make provision “for the establishment, function and procedure of the Public Utilities Commis-sion and for matters connected therewith.”
The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), which has asserted a legal monopoly on international voice and data transmissions and the domestic wireline service, has maintained that the landscape has been liberalised because of the existence of other service providers. But its competitor Digicel has criticised the company, saying that it has held back telecommunication development in Guyana for the past 25 years.
Digicel’s CEO Kevin Kelly had told Stabroek News that Hughes had promised her government’s support for the passage of the telecommunications bill, which the company eagerly anticipates so that it can roll out a myriad of services.
The Telecommuni-cations Bill, previously introduced to the House by the then People’s Progres-sive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, had been the subject of consultations with telecoms providers and other stakeholders. It had been before a Parlia-mentary Select Committee prior to last year’s general and regional elections and Digicel had lamented the long delayed passage and enactment of the legislation.
Government earlier this year had said that it hoped to conclude negotiations with GTT to liberalise the telecommunications sector and pass laws in this regard later this year.
“Mr. Speaker, the government will conclude negotiations with ATN and GTT, with a view of bringing to an end GTT’s claim to a monopoly over international voice and data transmissions and domestic wireline service,” Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had told the National Assembly during his budget presentation in January.
He had said that the draft legislation – bills, regulations, and model licenses – had already been developed that will inform and govern a liberalised telecommunications regime and he stressed government’s commitment to enactment this year.
Liberalisation of the sector had been promised within 100 days of APNU+AFC taking office, according to its elections manifesto. Prior to APNU+AFC taking office, the PPP/C government had also promised an end to the GTT monopoly and liberalisation.
Promises were made over a 10-year period to no avail.
Hughes was appointed to underline how important the sector is to the government. Both telecoms providers have heaped praises on Hughes for the role she played in the process. “Hopefully the government will pass this bill and honour their words. I believe the minister and I am really grateful to the minister since she became the minister she has brought forward the legislation,” the Digicel CEO has said.
