Dickson Igwe. Photo: VINO/File

Since this Observer started writing about the state of poor customer services in the telecoms sector in the Virgin Islands, a few weeks back, the service has got even worse. He is tempted to think that this is being done on purpose, that even his own internet service is being used as a special example, that he is being bullied into silence.

The dreadful state of his internet service would be fodder for any conspiracy theorist. A paranoid type would come to the conclusion that this Journalist’s IP Address is being monitored and his service compromised. This: owing to his ongoing series of stories on a dysfunctional Virgin Islands telecoms industry.

Thankfully, this Old Boy Writer has always been wary of conspiracy theories. He is an empiricist by nature: a realist. He does not subscribe to the TWILIGHT ZONE. He knows that this is not the case of a prickly customer being singled out: his very poor internet service is not the result of a willful manager, or underhanded technician.

And the silence coming from the ruling establishment over this appalling matter of a Stone Age internet service is actually deafening. Some say the media is damaging the country by pointing these problems out.

The media is not damaging the country. Quite the reverse: it is giving the establishment the opportunity to save the country from a technological disaster that is severely impacting the national economy. Get this problem fixed now Powerful Senator! It is affecting the national bottom line. A dreadful internet service and below average telecoms are not an option for a service based economy.

One can only conclude that the telecoms beast is trying to prove that it is more powerful than Jack Customer. It may be purposely attempting to frustrate customers through its terrible customer service model. The telecoms beast clearly has no consideration for the longsuffering consumer.

One is tempted to think some of these telecoms businesses consider customers an inconvenience. Virgin Islands Customers must either be exasperated, or truly believe they deserve to be second class citizens.

One company continues to throw its "marketing bull’’ in the face of Joe Public. This is a simple cover up for a terrible service. The hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on Mickey Mouse gimmicks would be better spent fixing and then enhancing the service.

Customers are more interested in advertising and marketing that explain how their poor internet service will be improved by new technology and greater investment in the technological infrastructure.

Not by a 20 thousand dollar production of SNOW WHITE and the SEVEN DWARFS.

To be continued

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