PSC urges government to liberalize telecommunications sector soon

In a statement, the Commission said while it welcomes the fact that the government has announced its commitment in favour of the prompt liberalisation of Guyana’s telecommunication sector to be concluded before the end of this year, it is still worried that no moves have been made in that direction as yet.

PSC urges government to liberalize telecommunications sector soon

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is expressing disappointment with the continuous delay in the tabling of the telecommunications legislation to liberalize the sector.

In a statement, the Commission said while it welcomes the fact that the government has announced its commitment in favour of the prompt liberalisation of Guyana’s telecommunication sector to be concluded before the end of this year, it is still worried that no moves have been made in that direction as yet.

 It now wants the government to establish and announce specific timelines for when the liberalisation is going to begin and the specific processes that are going to be involved in this exercise.  The Government has indicated that the legislation will be laid before the House before the middle of the year.

 But the PSC notes that “the fact is that Guyana’s economic advancement and growth is being seriously handicapped by the country’s limited access to bandwidth and affordable high speed connectivity. The PSC looks forward to a Telecommunications Bill that will ensure unrestricted and unfettered competition by our telecommunications providers.”

 It said the absence of high speed affordable connectivity has left Guyana behind the rest of the world and, indeed, the rest of the Caribbean.

“It prevents domestic and international investment in the creative innovation of ICT services and the employment and productivity that this investment will produce in every sector of the economy.”

 The Private Sector said it believes that technology driven, knowledge based industries must be the cornerstone of this country’s future and the Commission is ready and willing to work with and support the government, in every way it can, to accelerate the establishment of an ICT sector that will bring the country and the economy into the 21st century.

Both GTT and DIGICEL have indicated their readiness to embrace the liberalisation of the sector. DIGICEL has been pressing for the move for several years.

 

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