Telecom Rate Freeze Pending; AG Awaits Directive

At the opening of the High Court today, reporters pulled Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre aside to get an update on the government’s proposed move to freeze telecom rates. You’ll remember, just last week Prime Minister John Briceño said his administration is working on a statutory instrument that would lock in phone and internet prices for a year, while merger talks between BTL and SMART continue. Well, according to the AG, his office hasn’t received any formal instructions yet on that S.I. Sylvestre added that the proposed BTL buyout is expected to get a full airing when Cabinet meets on Tuesday.

 

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“So we act on instructions. A particular ministry may have an issue, so maybe we need to have a legislation that deals with environmental matters, fiscal matter, land matter, education. So, we will receive drafting instructions, and we would draft a rule or a statutory instrument or law base don that instruction of course to ensure that it complies and comports with the constitution and other prevailing laws and international obligations. We have not been provided with any request, but I cant speak to what you are talking about. What I can say is that this matter related to BTL will be discussed tomorrow. Cabinet has not had the benefit of discussing this matter so I will not wish to comment any further until we have an opportunity as a Cabinet to look at the matter collectively.”

 

Reporter

“How does the prime minister take part in such discussion given that it is his family who part owns smart.”

 

Anthony Sylvestre

“The discussion will take place tomorrow at Cabinet. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Your question presuppose that the prime minister will or will not take part in the discussion tomorrow. I don’t know what will take place tomorrow and I cant reach a guess and I don’t want to go down what could eventually be a rabbit hole.”