FLOW announced a few weeks ago rates on its broadband and bundles would increase effective 1 June 2024. The increase was executed as promised with June billing reflecting the rate hike.
In true passive Barbadian style there has been nothing more than a whimper of protest to the arbitrary setting of rates by the dominant of the two telecommunications companies in Barbados. DIGICEL the other telco does not sufficiently differentiate in pricing or service to be seen as a credible alternative.
Something the blogmaster does not understand is why utilities/telcos are identified as entities to be regulated in order to “promote fair competition, protect consumer rights, and ensure the smooth functioning of the telecom sector” but oversight is applied to selective products offered, in this case FLOW’s broadband and bundles.
The world has advanced to a point where the need for broadband services at the household and commercial can be deemed a necessity. Whether for work, school or even leisure citizens cannot adequately function without a quality broadband service. Although an exaggeration, It is up there in an expanding digital world with the basic needs of man – food, water, air, and shelter.
It seems illogical government understand the importance of protecting parties by enacting consumer protection laws to promote fair competition, protect consumer rights etcetera but would be selective in the products to regulate. We need the same vigour government, citizens and NGOs alike direct at calling for fairer bank fees for example.
The big irony is as the rates are being increased customer service and technical quality seem to be declining. In today’s Nation newspaper bigwigs at FLOW are featured ‘chillin’ in a hospitality suite at the Kensington Oval in the presence of Deputy PM Bradshaw. This is how we flow?
(right) in conversation with (from left) chief executive officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Neil Clark, country manager of Flow Barbados Desron Bynoe, programme coordinator for the bachelor of health sciences at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies Dr Roger Sealy, and head of communications at C& W Communications Marilyn Sealy – Source: Nation
The blogmaster is not immune to understanding there are costs to doing business. All we are asking is for a fair system to be used to ensure the interest of all the players is always considered. The use of broadband by citizens and small businesses is too important to how we have to function in a digital world for it to be left to those incentivise to make profit.
The blogmaster cannot recall who is the minister in Cabinet responsible for regulatory matters, whoever it is, this is a call to step up. Prime Minister Mia Mottley is busy attending to international business, it is imperative the many hands make light work mantra be perceived as more than ‘purty talk’.
The blogmaster invites you to join and add value to the discussion.