Philipsburg: --- Managing Director of United Telecommunications Services UTS Glen Carty has placed all rumors to rest on Monday when he admitted to the media that the company is busy talking with management of TELEM group of companies. The talks he said is regarding the sale of the government owned company. Carty said parties signed a non discloser policy and he is not able to divulge much information on the negotiations that are ongoing.
He said ever since he joined UTS in 2002 he has been very consistent with his philosophy about the merging of the two companies whom he said came from the same grandparents Landsradio and TELCOM.
He said there is certain amount of synergy within the two companies and if they merge they would be able to compete rigoursly with other telecommunication companies. “One of these companies have the monies (infrastructure in place and the other has the know how, so bring them together would be beneficial to St. Maarten”. Carty admitted that the politicians would have to say how they would make this happen, since they would be able compete against giants like Digicel and France Telecom.
Carty said already they have a draft policy in place when the island takes on its country status. The idea of telecommunication is to provide jobs even from home. He said he does not believe that telecommunication is used sufficiently to create work locally. While he admitted that competition is healthy for any business he felt it is important for them to focus on creating more work and what would bring monies to the island.