Competition coming for TSTT, says Saith

PUBLIC Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith confirmed yesterday that the Tele-communications Act (Amended) of 2001 was formally proclaimed by the President on Wednesday. At the time he was addressing a meeting of the South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce. “The Telecommunications Act has been proclaimed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and is now law. “This paves the way for full liberalisation of the sector, introduction of competition and the development of the information industry,” Saith said. He said despite an announ-cement by TSTT that it was considering a revision of local rates and reducing the cost of overseas calls, there is a distinct possibility of cheaper telephone rates since “the market” will decide the issue.

“There has to be rate-balancing and TSTT has always maintained that one of the reasons why it could subsidise local calls is because it charges a lot for its overseas,” Saith said. “This balancing will come, but competition will come. I’m not sure where it will end up, the market will decide.” Saith said the new Telec-ommunications Authority is “working on a broadcast code which will form part of the regulations of the authority which will set the code for broadcasting.” The Authority is now the regulator and has the means, technique and systems to monitor licences, the Minister explained. “The new licences we are giving out will last for two years at the end of which, everybody will have to face more stringent issues before getting a new licence.”

Dr Saith also raised the possibility of new service providers in the local cable industry since the Authority had received “one or two” applications. In his wide-ranging add-ress, Dr Saith also commented on the contentious issue of health sector reform saying “the whole way we pay and deliver health care in this country is wrong since there is no accountability for monies provided.” Also addressing the meeting was San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherley who announced the southern city’s first-ever International Jazz Festival carded for November 12-14.