GT&T has operated as the sole provider of most domestic and international telecommunications services in Guyana since the state-owned Guyana Telecommunication Corporation was privatised in 1990.

At that time, 80 per cent of the shares of GT&T were acquired by ATN and the remaining 20 per cent are still held by the Government of Guyana, a press release from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds' office stated yesterday.

Prime Minister Hinds, who has responsibility for telecommunications, opened the first negotiation meeting, which included GT&T General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Sonita Jagan and legal counsel, Mr. Miles Fitzpatrick.

The release said he expressed his hope that the negotiations would lead to a 'win-win' solution for the companies, the Government and consumers of Guyana.

The Government's negotiating team is led by Attorney General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh and other members include Dr. Ashni Singh, Director of Budget in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Michael Tang, Senior Legal Advisor to the Attorney General, Mr. Michael Welch, Telecommunications Consultant, and Ms. Gita Raghubir, Coordinator of the Government's Telecom Reform Project.

Mr. Hank Intven, senior telecommunications partner with the Canadian law firm McCarthy Tetrault, is acting as advisor to the Government team.

Attorney General Singh noted, "we had a cordial meeting and a good exchange of views on a broad range of issues related to future operations of the companies, and to the Government's telecommunications policies," according to the release.

It said Jagan stated that notwithstanding her company's past dissatisfaction with the Government's interpretation of its duly negotiated contract, GT&T/ATN was entering into these critically important negotiations in good faith and the expectation that past differences will be resolved and that clear rules for the future will be established, thereby guaranteeing a secure and productive future for the telecommunications industry in Guyana.

The parties have agreed to meet again today to continue their negotiations.