Following concerns raised by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) company, cable and internet services provider E-Networks yesterday indicated that it had received the necessary approvals to land a subsea cable here, even as the Ministry of Public Telecommunications remained silent on the issue.
“We are…in possession of all necessary approvals in relation to this project for its intended purpose,” a statement from E-Networks said.
On Thursday, in a statement, GTT Chief Executive Officer Justin Nedd expressed concern that E-Networks is currently laying a subsea cable without the necessary approvals.
“GTT is very concerned that E-Networks is laying subsea fibre with complete disregard for necessary approvals and international protocols,” Nedd said.
This newspaper has also been seeking an explanation from the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and was told that only Minister Catherine Hughes is permitted to speak on the matter. Up to yesterday, neither Hughes nor anyone else would confirm if E-Networks was granted clearance by the ministry.
Nedd said that GTT had been trying to get information on the legality of the operation but, to date, has not been able to ascertain if any clearance was given to the company. In his statement, he said that in 2018, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications stated definitively that E-Networks did not have permission to land or lay a subsea cable.
“To date, as far as it is publicly known, such a licence has not been issued by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, and by extension, the Government of Guyana. The [Environmental Protection Agency] has also stated that E-Networks is conducting its activities, landing the cable, using an expired environmental and construction permit,” he claimed.
Nedd said that he hopes that the rule of law would be observed, even as he highlighted that GTT had reached out to E-Networks.
“We have attempted to reach out to E-Networks to facilitate the construction in accordance with international protocols, as this…disregard for established protocol threatens the security and integrity of our SGSCS (Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System) subsea cable. As the only reliable method of international connectivity into Guyana, any damage to the SGSCS threatens the internet connectivity of the entire country,” he said.
“It is our hope that the observance of sound rule of law, as well as acceptable and ethical business practices will be upheld within the country’s telecommunications sector by both existing and potential players in the market,” Nedd added.
In responding to Nedd’s statement, E-Networks, while saying that it has all the necessary approvals, did not explicitly say whether it has received a licence.
“Mr Nedd has been disingenuous in his claim that we are not in receipt of required approvals, particularly in his specific reference to our operation with an expired environmental and construction permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. As a point of fact, E-Networks has never been without a valid EPA permit in relation to our project from May 1, 2018 to present,” the statement said. It added that it has all the “necessary approvals” in relation to the project’s intended purpose.
“In regard to the international protocols Mr Nedd claims that we are breaching, he is well aware of the previous communications with GTT in relation to this project, in which we have proven that we are operating well within these recommendations. Moreover, we have had to enlighten GTT through the exchange of several pieces of correspondence of the correct and proper interpretation of the international protocols and standards,” the statement said.
According to E-Networks, Nedd’s statement included “false and libellous allegations” against the company and it threatened to take legal action “in order to protect our good name.”
In July last year, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications said that “no licence for the laying and landing of a subsea cable system has been granted to E-Networks Inc.”
The statement came following the publication of a notice to mariners under the signature of Harbour Master Michael Tennant which advised that IT International Telecom Canada Inc would commence a survey exercise on behalf of E-Networks Inc as preparatory works for a subsea cable laying project within the Guyana Maritime Zone.
Last month, the Maritime Administration Department once again placed a notice for mariners about the company’s cable laying project, which was due to start on August 27th.
According to a Notice to Mariners that was published in Kaieteur News’ August 19th edition, on August 27th, IT Marine SRL was due to commence a cable laying project for E-Networks Inc within the Guyana Maritime Zone, with operations scheduled to be finished on October 31st. The area of operation reportedly stretches off Kingston for approximately 26 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana, and covers an area of approximately 32 square kilometres.
