Dear Editor,
Earlier this year the government made one of the most transformative decisions in communication by giving STARLINK a licence to operate in Guyana. With that decision communication throughout the country completely changed. Previous areas where communication was virtually nonexistent suddenly seemed like right next door. It benefited many, particularly those in hinterland and far-flung inaccessible areas. Communication definitely changed for the better. At the beginning the process to acquire STARLINK, from online order to delivery of product in Georgetown, took between a week to a week and a half. It was a simple yet efficient process.
However, within the past month or so there seems to have been some radical administrative changes to the delivery process which has drastically extended the timeframe for delivery of STARLINK products. What once took less than two weeks now takes almost triple that time frame. While the period for delivery from STARLINK overseas offices to Guyana remains the same, it now spends a very long period sitting in warehouses somewhere in Guyana while the new administrative processes kick in. And it is not only new STARLINK kits that are affected but also accessories that were ordered to replace defective parts for STARLINK already in operation. I had a defective adapter on my STARLINK and the company agreed to replace the part. That part arrived in Guyana since early November and to date I have been unable to collect this product. I enquired from DHL why the part wasn’t ready to be uplifted and was told that it has not yet been cleared by Customs despite it being in the country since around 13th November.
This is utterly unacceptable! Especially in this era where the government, led by the President himself, is working hard to speed up all government processes and remove the unnecessary red tape and delays.
Why did a process that usually took two weeks a mere few months ago now suddenly last 3 times that period? What caused government agencies to impose further layers of red tape on a product that costs less than $50,000? It’s not like massive taxes are being collected on this product? STARLINK is a poor man’s product. It is used mainly by persons in hinterland locations who have long had very unreliable communication. It has connected the remotest areas of the country and serves a massive purpose to many including the Indigenous people, loggers, miners, hinterland transportation providers etc. Hinterland communities no longer pressure the government to invest millions for internet connectivity because they know that an affordable private option exists. Why then would the government suddenly do a U turn and make this vital product difficult to acquire?
There are whispers that internet service providers sought high level representation to slow the import of STARLINK since it provided a direct challenge to their products. Certainly that cannot be a sufficient reason since most persons utilizing STARLINK do so in areas that are not serviced by these big internet providers. And in those few hinterland areas serviced by these companies the service is of very poor quality.
I therefore urge the government, and particularly our President, to review these onerous new layers of red tape that seem mainly intended to detract from the purchase of STARLINK. Let the small man enjoy this new technology as you intended when you granted the licence to the company. You cannot open your citizens’ eyes to better products with one hand and then take it away with the other by adding onerous bureaucratic layers.
Hope rationale and common sense prevails.