Perspective: Update On Telecoms Fiasco

PERSPECTIVE:

Roaming Scam

The European Union (EU) has outlawed roaming fees for member countries within the EU by telecoms providers.

EU Responds

If these charges are so rapacious, then governments need to follow the EU’s lead and legislate the conduct of service providers who seem to be holding unsuspecting and vulnerable consumers like a rapist would to a helpless victim at knife or gunpoint. This type of conduct is unacceptable.

Who reallly stands up for the consumer?  We as a vigilant press do our part but legislative support would have more teeth.

Data is King

Telecoms providers are no longer interested in voice telephony it is the hidden and unsuspecting roaming fees that tickle their fancy.  They are begging you to buy data packages, knowing very well that you are caught like a fish on a hook destined for the frying pan when you fall to their bait.

Will Holness Respond?

We await the legislative response as proposed by the youth arm of the JLP.  This is no time for witch-hunt … urgent and decisive decision making is required now.

Regulation

We must regulate before it is too late. This may be easier said than done. Why?  It is no secret that telecoms firms sponsor many sporting and community events. To be seen to be biting the proverbial hand that feeds is not a good image and could backfire in the short term.

Whatever is done, one thing is abundantly clear is we can no longer allow telecoms providers to hold us to ransom at their will

To not fight back would be to virtually surrender sovereignty to a foreign power. It is no secret that most telecoms providers are foreign owned …certainly in the case of Jamaica and most of the Caribbean Islands.

Act now Holness and the Cabinet … it is the right thing to do. It is long overdue!

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & photojournalist for Vision Newspaper.