Laqtel not a PNM company

This was the declaration yesterday by acting chairman Steven Scoon who said that all citizens of TT would be able to buy shares in LaqTel to ensure that "the wealth of the country remains in local hands and is shared for the benefit of all the people of TT."

Company director Vijay Seegobin meanwhile said LaqTel has invested a total of US$100 million to establish its local cellular network.

Last month, the TATT awarded cellular phone licences of US$16 million and US$9 million to Irish telecom giant Digicel and LaqTel — effectively ending TSTT’s monopoly of the local telecommunications sector.

LaqTel, which started operations in March 2002, was chaired by late PNM treasurer Anthony Jacelon and included on the company’s board of directors are PNM Women’s League head and party vice-chairman Magna Williams-Smith (who has acted as a temporary government senator) and former PNM San Fernando West candidate Dr Anthony Elias. Former PNM Government Minister Joseph Laquis is an investor in LaqTel.

Addressing a news conference at the Crowne Plaza yesterday, Scoon dismissed suggestions that political connections between some of LaqTel’s key players and the ruling PNM helped the company win its cellular phone licence.

"The question of politics — we don’t see that as an issue here. What we have is nationals of TT exercising their democratic right to respond to an RSP that was published in the press. We were short-listed based on our technical, operational and financial ability to take the process forward, subsequent to which we went through a very transparent auction process," he declared.

TATT will now make recommendations to Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith to award concessions to Digicel and LaqTel, and Saith will take the recommendations to Cabinet for final approval. Scoon is optimistic that this approval would be given within the next two months. Government sources said there was no reason why approval should not be granted.

Describing LaqTel as the first locally-owned company to obtain a licence to provide domestic mobile phone services in TT, Scoon said LaqTel was formed with the objective of becoming the nation’s premier provider of integrated information and communications services, for the benefit of ordinary citizens and local entrepreneurs and "our plans call for providing employment for approximately 500 persons (200 direct, 300 indirect)."

Scoon said LaqTel’s objective is to provide 95 to 98 percent coverage of TT and to compete within the region for cellular phone services once its local network is fully established.

He said once LaqTel’s technology and infrastructure are in place, there was no reason why LaqTel could not compete effectively with Digicel or any other entity within the regional telecom market. LaqTel has made arrangements with SaskTel International of Canada and Nortel to assist with operations and equipment.

Scoon said a new LaqTel chairman would be appointed soon and the company expects to have its network up and running before year’s end.