By FRANCIS JOSEPH Tuesday, October 2 2007

THE country’s third mobile provider, Laqtel Limited, yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a performance bond in the sum of $4 million to the Telecommunications Author-ity of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT).

The company, situated at 6 Fitt Street, Woodbrook, will be sentenced on October 11. Isaf Ali filed the complaint against the company and directed that the mobile provider appear in court.

Yesterday, Vijay Seegobin, corporate secretary, appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal- Gafoor in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Magistrates’ Court.

It was alleged that during the period April 1, and August 31, this year, Laqtel committed a continuing and material breach of condition of its concession granted on December 31, 2005 by failing to provide a performance bond in the sum of $4 million to TATT, contrary to section 65 (b) of the Telecommunications Act 2001.

The bond has to be provided before the company can obtain its mobile licence.

TATT on December 31, 2005, issued to Laqtel a concession for the operation of domestic mobile telecommunication services.

The concession contained requirements as to the launch and roll-out of relevant services throughout the country.

TATT required Laqtel to post a $4 million performance bond to guarantee that it performed its obligations in accordance with the concession.

The plaintiff laid the charge on September 12 in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court and served it on Laqtel on September 27. After the charge was read, Seegobin pleaded guilty.

However, special prosecutor Sean Cazabon was not in a position to state the facts of the case. Laqtel’s lawyer Mark Rawlins asked for a short adjournment, despite the guilty plea of his client.

Magistrate Baboolal-Gafoor then adjourned the matter to October 11 for the facts, a plea in mitigation and sentencing.

In the same court, Desi-Lee Bonterre appeared charged with operating a radio community service without a licence.

It was alleged that on March 30 this year, at 5 King Street, Point Cumuna, Carenage, Bonterre operated a radio community service without a licence granted by TATT. But he pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to October 11.