Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 07, 2014 News
…had serviced one customer for 13 years
The latest high speed internet service provider using satellites has come out in defence of its operations saying that it was issued a Telecommunications Licence over 14 years now but has only now rolled out its high speed satellite service.
This is according to George Melville, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
What the official did not say, however, is that for the past 14 years the company has not been regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the regulatory body, since it did not offer voice services. It offered data services.
It is however apt to note also that over the years of its existence and prior to the takeover by Global Technology, the company provided internet service for a single customer, Banks DIH.
At that time, iNet Communications’ owners were: Louis Holder; Noel and the late Sheila Holder; David Klautky; Clifford Reis, Managing Director of Banks DIH; and Raymond Shay.
According to Melville, the Government of Guyana has repeatedly stated that the licences that cover the operations of iNet communications, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Services and Digicel need to be updated to cover all new technologies like Internet, VOIP, IP TV and VPN’s among others.
According to Melville, what the company is awaiting is a licencing update, as is the case with GT&T and Digicel.
A point to note is that this publication has time and again published that the company is awaiting its licence upon completion of the review of the amendments to the telecommunications laws but this was never in the past challenged by iNet Communications.
Global Technology acquired iNet Communications in January 2013 shortly after Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop would have become a director and shareholder in the company which was first incorporated in 2006 and struck off of the companies’ list on many occasions.
Ramroop is the controversial best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo and has been implicated in a number of scandals related to companies he owns or have controlling interest such as New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Guyana Times Inc. among others.
At the time when Ramroop joined up with Global Technology, one of his close associates and partners Roopnarine Ramcharitar joined up.
In October 2013, Ramroop’s secretary, Valerie Khan, was appointed Company Secretary for Global Technology.
Ramroop and Ramcharitar were appointed as directors early last January and a year later, iNet Communications which falls under the rubric of Global Technology, rolled out the nation’s fastest satellite service covering the entire landscape.
According to Melville, “What we are doing now is completely legal, and we have been doing it legally for the past 14 years…We pay all of our licencing fees to NFMU.”
He is adamant that “the only difference in our current operations is that now, we have the fastest data network in Guyana…We are using satellites to achieve this feat since it is the fastest way to connect businesses operating, and residential consumers living off of the coastline of Guyana…
“We are now the only network that has 100 per cent coverage of the country at affordable prices.”
The company claims to now have customers that so far include the Government of Guyana; Ministry of Finance; Parliament Building; Supreme Court; Director of Public Prosecutions; Guyana Defence Force; Guyana Police Force; Public Service Commission; Police Service Commission; Office of The President; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deeds Registry; Georgetown Public Hospital; Office of The Ombudsman/Appellate Court; Ministry of Human Services/Labour; Teaching Service Commission; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Local Government; Ministry of Home Affairs; Guyana Elections Commission; Office of the Auditor General; Ministry of Education; Machinery Corporation; Demerara Mutual Life; Acnet Café; Laparkan; American Embassy; UNICEF; Citizens Bank; Banks DIH; Pegasus; Caricom; Guyana Forestry Commission; Millenium Café; Guyana National Industrial Company; Stabroek News; Bank of Guyana; GuySuCo; National Insurance Scheme; Project Dawn; Caribbean Containers Inc; Caribbean Airlines; Peace Corps; World Bank; Carter Centre; Correia’s Mining; MMC; Evergreen Adventures; Farfan and Mendez; Gerald Fusum; Japarts; Jen Mahadeo; Kenwin Charles; Odyssey Transportation; Oldendorff Carriers (Guyana) Inc; Pauline Philips; Splashmins Fun Park; St Mary’s Quarry; Steven Faria; and Georgetown Public Hospital Centre.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
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