TRC cant intervene in BVIEC/Cable TV dispute; no authority over electricity company
Notwithstanding its oversight of telecoms providers in the BVI, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) might not be getting involved in the ongoing dispute between the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVI) and BVI Cable TV.
CEO of the TRC, Guy Malone gave that indication to BVI News following BVI Cable TV’s announcement that it was open to seeking for the Commission to intervene.
As BVI Cable TV accuses the electricity company of charging them higher rates to use BVIEC utility poles than other companies, Malone has made it clear that the commission does not have authority to regulate BVIEC.
“Seeing that BVIEC has taken CCT (the operators of BVI Cable TV) to court because they have [allegedly] breached certain protocols, the Commission can only hope that there is a resolution within the court that is in the best interest of time of the consumers,” said Malone while also acknowledging the BVIEC’s counterclaims to the media that BVI Cable TV has been using their utility poles without permission.
“It’s almost two years after the hurricane and the Commission is concerned that BVI Cable TV had a service for cable tv and from then to now there wasn’t a service and our concern is to ensure that the local company builds out and provides that. But in saying so, they have to do things under whatever regulation is in place whether it by the commission of whether it be by BVIEC,” Malone added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Utilities Kye Rymer said he also hopes the dispute, which is still before the court, ends with both parties coming to a mutually beneficial agreement.
He described the entire situation as “unfortunate”.
“They (BVI Cable TV) are requesting a meeting with the Premier and I guess from what happens in there then I guess we can get a better understanding as of a way forward with this dispute, noting that it is in court, I would say less with pending the outcome of the court’s decision.”
Pending the conclusion of the dispute, the court has issued an injunction, barring BVI Cable TV from placing any attachments on BVIEC’s poles.
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Waste ah time!!! Even if he did he wasn’t going to do nothing because this is the same person who have the 3 companies under his control here getting away with murder
You ain’t going say Mark have that TRC lock down ??♂️
It is just basic common sense. How in the world can BVIEC be regulated under telecommunications. Cable Tv can’t be that dense to think that just because BVIEC owns a pole that was previously shared with the telecom providers that somehow that makes them a member of the telecommunications industry. Just in case they really are that naive they should note that the poles main purpose is to supply BVIEC’s customers with power.
Not Regulate BVIEC but the function it carry out with respect to Telecom Companies.
WHAT THIS GUY DOES ?????
“They (BVI Cable TV) are requesting a meeting with the Premier…”
Would the Premier discuss a matter that is currently before the court?
LOL, THE BVI IS ONE SINKING SHIP THAT IS SLOWLY SINKING. TO MUCH DAMN GREED AND DECEPTION RUNNING RAMPID.
COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER. I AGREE, TO MUCH GREED,DECEPTION, CORRUPTION AND BADMINDEDNESS. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE POOR PEOPLE WHO IS STRUGGLING EVERY DAY TO EAT AND KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.MY GRANDPARENTS WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED ON THIS ISLAND WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US AND I MISSED DEARLY, IF THEY WERE STILL AROUND, THE ABOVE MENTIONED AND ALL THE BULL***T WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM FOR SURE.
Regulate, no. Mediate, yes. Government by the people, for the people. Just help bring the parties together please.
Why would TRC mediate a matter with Cable TV and BVIEC? dat mek sense? That’s like having the festival committee mediate a matter with VIBE and the owner of a private venue where the band played. TRC doesn’t have anything to do with this at all. Owning a pole does not make it a TRC matter.
BVICTV is a company that should just dissolve, pay off their debts and cease to exist.
TRC can not do anything we still paying the highest rates for the worst internet service.
What can the TRC do at all? They don’t do anything to help the years of misdeeds of the internet and phone companies. What is their job actually? Sitting in an AC office drawing big paychecks, while regular people pay thru the nose for less than basic services with an exorbitant fee.
The money is so sweet that OJ give up on politics