PUC’s role to widen after telecoms legislations-Chairman

Georgetown: Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Justice Prem Persaud says its role will widen with impending telecoms legislations and as a result he expects that the Commission will have to embrace an even more efficient mode of operation.

The anticipated Telecoms Act and Amended legislations are designed to govern the operations of the telephone service providers – the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (landline and mobile) and Digicel Guyana (mobile). At the moment GT&T has the monopoly on the service a state of affairs which will be remedied with the passing of the Bills needful to reform the sector.  

Although a ruling of the High Court earlier this year declared that the GT&T held monopoly is both unlawful and invalid, Justice Persaud warned that the PUC remains the only authorised body to pronounce on unfair competition.

He speculated that with the ending of the existing monopoly consumers are likely to benefit considerably from various plans and programmes which are expected to come into play.

It is for this reason, he explained, that the year ahead could prove to be a challenge since diligent efforts will have to be made by the PUC to oversee with a view of ensuring that undue advantage is not taken by one company on the other.