TELECOMMUNICATIONS

In his statement the Minister said that he found Mr. Lerwill to be haughty, arrogant and disrespectful to the SOVEREIGNTY of our Island States.

       "His only concern was the Rights of Cable and Wireless as perceived to exist in the various current Government / Cable and Wireless Agreements.

        "Mr. Lerwill did not show signs of appreciation for our positions as indicated in my last letter to Mr. Trevor Clarke.    In fact, he showed complete contempt when he said:

       "You people are INCAPABLE of understanding the Telecommunications Industry:   We have been in the business long enough for our views to be accepted in respect of Legislation and Regulations".

       "It  was  quite  clear  to  me   that  although Cable and Wireless has indicated that they  welcome competition, they have no intention of giving up their monopoly rights unless  we agreed to the way they would wish  the future telecommunications environment to   be regulated.  In fact, he even intimated in a veiled threat the alternative of withdrawal.

          "Mr. Lerwill was only interested in having his way in the determination of the content  of the Telecommunications Legislation and the attendant Regulations to provide Cable and Wireless with what they describe as"Regulatory Certainty".  In other words, if they   have to give up their rights we must provide them with "Regulatory Certainty".

In his statement, the Honourable Minister, as an accomplished Statesman,  in recognizing the Sovereignty of Member States, did nothing more than just to imply   that his colleagues should be mindful of an attempt by the Company in the coming weeks and months, to apply the OLD COLONIAL PRINCIPLE TO DIVIDE AND RULE, when he made comments in which he was clearly issuing a word of caution to his OECS colleagues when he said:

          "I indicated that Cable and Wireless had agreed with the issue of Convergence of the various Government / Cable and Wireless Agreements but it would appear that they are now changing course and now wish to deal with the Government separately.  It was clear that Mr. Lerwill's approach would be to try and deal with individual Governments through the Prime Ministerial route. This should become evident in the next few weeks and months.   

          "I informed Mr. Lerwill that as far as the Legislation is concerned Cable and Wireless was consulted and in fact some of the ideas propounded by them will become on board in the new legislation.   Consequently, we cannot agree to their request for delay in the passing of New Legislation to meet their own agenda.  On passage of the new Legislation, Governments will expect Cable and Wireless to abide by the new Telecommunications Act.

           "As far as the Regulations are concerned I indicated that an opportunity would provided for Cable and Wireless to express their views.  If the views agreed are in the best interest of  the Consumers and Governments of the OECS, then they would be incorporated in the New Regulations.

            "I made it quite clear that in respect of Licenses the Governments have no intention of providing Exclusive Licenses as obtained in the past. The nature and content of the new Licenses will be different. 

The Honourable Minister, in concluding his report, said that he was of the opinion that Mr. Lerwill's appointment was to influence and control the Regulatory Instruments of the OECS Member States:

             "From this interaction it can be concluded that Cable and Wireless, Headquarters in London has appointed Mr. Lerwill to the Regional Businesses with the primary aim of influencing and controlling future Regulatory Instruments to position Cable and Wireless in a way, that as the Dominant Provider of Telecommunication Services in the region, their pristine monopolistic status will be preserved in a different fashion.    Please be guided accordingly."        

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