GT&T must have competition --President Guyana Chronicle September 26, 2000 PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has said that Government is working towards breaking the monopoly of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and to introduce competition which will unleash the potential of the telecommunication industry in Guyana. Appearing on the fortnightly television programme, `This Week With The President' broadcast on GTV Chn 11, the Guyanese leader said this move is to open up the country to the dynamics of information technology to improve the chances of Guyanese becoming in touch with the realities of the world. "We have a situation here where our telecommunication services are not the best," Mr Jagdeo stated. "In the current world, monopolistic situations are not the best. You have to have competition," the President said. He explained that Government was able to secure a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for a programme to discuss with GT&T the introduction of competition. "If that does not happen, we have to find some other means of introducing competition, because I want a situation where every Guyanese family who requires a telephone connection could have one and do not have to wait for years and years," the President remarked. Mr Jagdeo described as unacceptable the current situation where people cannot telephone to Guyana and said that the country is losing business through this. He said there was already discussion with the United States authorities regarding this situation and he is looking forward to their support. (GUYANA INFORMATION SERVICES) Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today