Dear Editor,
Recently it was announced that the merger between Cable & Wireless Communications (LIME) and Columbus Communications (Flow) had been completed. This is a mere five months since the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell was first formally advised of the proposed merger and ministerial approval was sought. While we must commend this apparent efficiency one wonders if proper due diligence has been done.
In St Lucia recently, where both companies are negotiating a similar merger agreement, their regulatory body has recently invited members of the public to make submissions as part of a public consultation process.
Likewise, in Barbados, their Fair Trading Commission found that the proposed merger would create "uncompetitive effects" and only approved the merger after imposing 14 substantial conditions on the proposal. This resulted in LIME in that country dramatically altering its position for the benefit of the people of Barbados.
Both countries recognise the need to protect their people and economies from the apparent regional takeover of the region. What is so special about us Jamaicans? Who is looking out for our interest?
I would have thought that we, in Jamaica, would have learnt our lesson about the dangers that monopolies can create. Instead of an extensive process of negotiation and consultation, we have a hurriedly entered into agreement that may leave the position of the consumer uncertain. We have been down this road before and keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We need good sense to prevail.
Ricardo Johnson, PhD
Kingston 6
rickytwojohnson@gmail.com
Why the haste with the merger?
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Recently it was announced that the merger between Cable & Wireless Communications (LIME) and Columbus Communications (Flow) had been completed. This is a mere five months since the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell was first formally advised of the proposed merger and ministerial approval was sought. While we must commend this apparent efficiency one wonders if proper due diligence has been done.
In St Lucia recently, where both companies are negotiating a similar merger agreement, their regulatory body has recently invited members of the public to make submissions as part of a public consultation process.
Likewise, in Barbados, their Fair Trading Commission found that the proposed merger would create "uncompetitive effects" and only approved the merger after imposing 14 substantial conditions on the proposal. This resulted in LIME in that country dramatically altering its position for the benefit of the people of Barbados.
Both countries recognise the need to protect their people and economies from the apparent regional takeover of the region. What is so special about us Jamaicans? Who is looking out for our interest?
I would have thought that we, in Jamaica, would have learnt our lesson about the dangers that monopolies can create. Instead of an extensive process of negotiation and consultation, we have a hurriedly entered into agreement that may leave the position of the consumer uncertain. We have been down this road before and keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We need good sense to prevail.
Ricardo Johnson, PhD
Kingston 6
rickytwojohnson@gmail.com
Why the haste with the merger?
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