By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The draft Telecommunications and Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Bills have been completed and are well on their way to being tabled in the National Assembly.
Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday revealed that the Bills are currently with a Cabinet Sub-Committee which will study the pieces of legislation.
“The consultants have returned a draft of the Telecommunications Bill as well as the draft PUC Bill. Right now it’s with a Cabinet Subcommittee… its being circulated,” said Patterson.
The Minister revealed that the sub-committee is checking to ensure the Bills contain all the aspects that are needed.
Referring to the actual tabling of the documents in the National Assembly, Patterson affirmed that the Bills will be laid in the House soon.
“I had said before that it will be done this year. I can’t say if its next week, it will be done this year,” he stated.
The Telecommunications Bill seeks to provide the establishment of a telecommunications agency and a regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunications sector and other related matters.
Meanwhile, the other piece of legislation seeks to amend the PUC Act to facilitate the provisions of the Telecommunications Bill.
Both the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and Digicel Guyana have said that they are awaiting the passage of the Bill to provide additional services and both have critiqued the extensive delays in the passage of the legislation.
