PUC to meet GT&T officials

The Public Utilities Commission is to meet with top officials of the phone company GT&T tomorrow.

Sources tell Stabroek News that PUC Chairman Prem Persaud and commissioners are expected to meet with newly installed Chief Executive Officer, Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh and Chief Financial Officer, Sonita Jagan. The duo has returned to positions they formerly held.

The meeting is set for 2 pm and comes in the wake of serious upheaval at GT&T.  Former CEO Yog Mahadeo tendered his resignation last week and three senior accounting staffers were dismissed including the CFO, Royston Rachpaul. These changes followed the results of an investigation by GT&T’s parent company ATN of transactions related to GT&T’s 10/10 cricket competition and other promotions. The 10/10 investigation also had connections to similar dislocation at state broadcaster, NCN which led to its CEO Mohammed Sattaur quitting and senior broadcaster Martin Goolsarran being suspended for eight weeks.

GT&T also has a new Chinese investor on board and the PUC is likely to be interested in how this might affect operations. Datang has purchased the government’s 20% shares in GT&T.