Gov’t to announce Digicel-Claro decision soon

KINGSTON — Talks on the merger between Digicel and Claro Jamaica are far advanced with the Government to announce a decision within a week or two.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that the Government is awaiting the comments of the Spectrum Management Authority, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).

He informed that the agencies have been meeting jointly to “come up with one position paper for the Ministry and of course the Prime Minister.  I would say within the next week or two a decision should be taken and communicated."

Mr. Vaz was responding to questions regarding the deal between the telecommunication companies during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Digicel, in March, announced that it had signed an agreement with América Móvil to acquire its Claro business in Jamaica, and to sell to América Móvil its businesses in Honduras and El Salvador.

 Minister Vaz said that since the announcement, there have been consultations with agencies of Government in the Information and Telecommunications Department and the Attorney General’s Department, adding “there has been a number of pieces of information that have been required from… Digicel and Claro."

“It is not something that is open and closed. It has major considerations in terms of competitiveness and also consumer benefits and therefore it is not something that can…or will be rushed as it is something that has serious implications if not properly handled,” he stated.

CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON