THE EDITOR, Madam: I RECENTLY read Bruce Golding's speech concerning the monopolistic, multi-billion-dollar organisation known to us as Cable & Wireless. What they should be known as is, Care not & Work-the-money-nonetheless!
C & W's treatment of Caribbean people epitomises neo-colonialism. They know that they cannot afford to treat developed countries in the same manner that they are able to get away with treating the Caribbean folk, all in the name of "goodwill" and the supposed "spread of technology". Yeah right. I believe them.
If they were so interested in our affairs and our integration with the wider society why make us pay more? Of a surety, we ARE poorer than the United Kingdom and the United States, so why are they being charged cheaper rates than us? Simply, as Mr. Golding aptly surmised, it all boils down to one thing, our lack of COMPETITION. And what are the Governments "of the people, by the people and 'for' the people" doing about this? As usual, nothing. They allow the market to remain closed to competition so that they are able to make an extra dollar for themselves!
We claim as Caribbean states to be independent and yet we remain mentally shackled to the ideal that "anything cheap nuh good." How nice. This is the mentality that C& W maintains and uses daily to prey upon our people. Small wonder isn't it, that the region is C&W's most profitable with Jamaica contributing most significantly to that profitability range?
It is disgraceful that being the seemingly "proud" possessor of a Third World country rating we are not doing anything to uplift ourselves. Whereas in most developed countries cellular rates are affordable or pretty cheap, having a cellular connected the "straight way" is akin to being rich. And why is this so? Only because our country allows C& W to get away with this.
I am trying to understand the logic of this scenario, please help me out here. At first, if you had a cell phone connected the straight way you had to pay for their calls also because it was otherwise financially reprehensible for C& W not to do so.
Suddenly, the floodgates have been opened and it is now profitable for them to remove this statute and only the caller pays for the call and not the receiver. Did I miss anything here? My musings see some sort of connection with the new cellular competitors and this new ruling, However, pardon my ramblings I may be wrong.
We have all debated this factor over and over it has almost become a cliched subject. If such things are possible. The solution is obvious, as a poor region we should be able to enjoy cheaper rates, so kick out C& W or reduce their profits each year, open the room for competition. I have learnt from experience that sometimes the cheaper things are better than their more expensive counterparts.
I am, etc.,
KAMEISHA GRANT
E-mail:meishagra@collegeclub.com
Watermount P.O.
St. Catherine
Via Go-Jamaica
