HENRY

Government will soon be charging private utility companies for use of the rights-of-way on public thoroughfares, including sidewalks.

According to Transport Minister Mike Henry, "No private entity is to be allowed to profit from the use of the public rights-of-way without compensating the public for its use."

The minister informed JIS News that the proposal arose when he learnt that the arrangements in place for utility and other service providers using the rights-of-way did not include paying the State for the access from which, he claims, they have been profiting handsomely.

"The utility bills generally reflect charges for simply accessing the various companies' networks along the rights-of-way, but what has been happening is that while they charge the customer for accessing their networks along the rights-of-way, the utility companies themselves have not been paying for having that same access, and we are looking to change that to what obtains in the developed world," he explained.

Henry said the utility companies have been informed and none will be spared making the payments when the proposal takes effect. "Make no mistake about it, from communi-cation, electricity, water, heating, gas, sewerage, you name it, they will attract compensation to the State for the (use) of the rights-of-way, which is where we are seeking to go," he said.

The new right-of-way policy is proposed to be applied to private users who exist or opt to enter numerous areas of operation such as gas, electricity, cable television, telecommunications, water and sewerage services.