Prime Minister Mia Mottley has voiced strong concerns over the reliability and quality of telecommunications services in Barbados, insisting that providers must be held accountable when broadband fails—especially as companies move to raise prices.
Addressing the issue of declining service quality alongside planned rate increases, Mottley declared that regulatory authorities should conduct a formal audit of local telecommunications services. She argued that if providers intend to increase the price of broadband, a comprehensive review of the actual service being delivered must happen first.
Mottley emphasized that connectivity issues are not hypothetical, pointing out that she personally knows where mobile and broadband signals regularly drop out across key transport corridors.
Among the problematic areas she cited were:
- Highway 2, specifically around Lancaster
- Areas near Coral Ridge and Searles
- Sections of the ABC Highway
According to Mottley, telecommunications providers must actively respond when services fail rather than leaving consumers to endure recurring disruptions without recourse.
Directing attention to consumer protection, Mottley called directly on the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to step in, examine the ongoing service deficiencies, and deliver concrete answers to the public regarding consumer rights in Barbados.
Emphasizing that the relationship between utility providers and the public cannot remain a “one-sided equation,” she underscored that price adjustments cannot be decoupled from standards of service and consumer protection.
