BVI telecommunications – the bill withdrawn for the 2nd time
The telecommunications have already been discussed in one of the previous posts. The BVI is aiming at better telecommunications that would improve not only its residents' quality of life but also the life of tourists who use BVI offshore banking services as well as that of those who have registered offshore business in the BVI.
Unfortunatelly, everything does not go so smoothly. Everybody has been waiting for the BVI to liberalise its telecoms business, but what happened instead was a slightly different thing.
A liberalised telecommunications market would deliver better service, lower prices and more choice. The Chief Minister confirmed that the existing telecommunications model based on exclusive license agreement is not appropriate for the BVI anymore.
The government is committed to liberalisation. People are frustrated as the proposed telecommunications bill has been withdrawn for the second time. The Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith and his administration will not be able to solve this matter quickly.
The Chief Minister explained that the BVI Government withdrew the bill last week as this is the area where no mistake can be afforded and where it has to be ensured that all the aspects of the bill will meet the needs of the population. The opposition seems to be very frustrated with the repeated delay of the proposed telecommunications bill. However, the Chief Minister explains that it is better to withdraw the bill at this stage than to accept it being incomplete. According to the Chief Minister the financial aspect of telecommunications bill had not been worked out properly.
Most probably, because of the delays in telecommunications sector development in the BVI, on Tuesday Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith fired Alvin Christopher, Communications and Works Minister. Mr. Christopher became the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour in 2003 and last year, after the death of the Minister Paul P. Wattley, he was called Communications and Works Minister.
Alvin Christopher failed in supporting the BVI Government move to remove the Telecommunications Liberalisation Bill from the Order Paper of last week's sitting of the Legislative Council and after that he was fired.
Unfortunatelly, everything does not go so smoothly. Everybody has been waiting for the BVI to liberalise its telecoms business, but what happened instead was a slightly different thing.
A liberalised telecommunications market would deliver better service, lower prices and more choice. The Chief Minister confirmed that the existing telecommunications model based on exclusive license agreement is not appropriate for the BVI anymore.
The government is committed to liberalisation. People are frustrated as the proposed telecommunications bill has been withdrawn for the second time. The Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith and his administration will not be able to solve this matter quickly.
The Chief Minister explained that the BVI Government withdrew the bill last week as this is the area where no mistake can be afforded and where it has to be ensured that all the aspects of the bill will meet the needs of the population. The opposition seems to be very frustrated with the repeated delay of the proposed telecommunications bill. However, the Chief Minister explains that it is better to withdraw the bill at this stage than to accept it being incomplete. According to the Chief Minister the financial aspect of telecommunications bill had not been worked out properly.
Most probably, because of the delays in telecommunications sector development in the BVI, on Tuesday Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith fired Alvin Christopher, Communications and Works Minister. Mr. Christopher became the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour in 2003 and last year, after the death of the Minister Paul P. Wattley, he was called Communications and Works Minister.
Alvin Christopher failed in supporting the BVI Government move to remove the Telecommunications Liberalisation Bill from the Order Paper of last week's sitting of the Legislative Council and after that he was fired.
posted by Brian Obvi, Offshore Analyst | 4:52 AM
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