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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 02:23:15
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The news coming from the Gamtel is disheartening. This giant and the pride of the nation is about to breath its last after been starved and over-worked.
It has been reported that during the past two months a lone more than ten vital staff have resigned to take up appointments elsewhere in the Gambia or in the sub-region. Most of these people are highly trained engineers, who are the magical hands working wonders behind the scenes all these years.
Spectrum or whatever they are called have turned out to be fortune hunters par excellence. It is said that they made sure that all potential opponents are removed in the name of re-structuring. Some of those removed have experience spanning many yrs; some have been at Gamtel all their lives. All the welfare of the staff has been cut also in the name of cost control. Interestingly this Spectrum has not spent a dime in Gamtel since they came on board. But what do you expect if the President gives you carte-blanche to do as you like? I only hope this time round the President would not only drive Spectrum out, but apologise to the Gambians and make sure all those wrongfully removed are compensated and/or re-instated.
Reports have it that, the latest ploy of these fortune hunters is to issue stupid circular threatening staff who discuss Gamtel issues in town. Can you imagine this arrogance ?
In short Gamtel staff morale is at its lowest ebb hitting an all time record. Gamtel staff go to work only because they have to. Most have one leg in and the other out. Staff worry more abt their future rather than the job. So God help the poor customers! Is another GIA about to happen???
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madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 14 Jul 2008 00:33:57 |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 20:04:08
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Whilst I read what you have written I would like to bring to your attention that the industry that Gamtel serves changes rapidly and it is a fact that new equipment and devices are being brought to the market everyday and if Gamtel is to keep up with a very competitive market then they must have the most up to date equipment in order to do that,this stuff requires very specialist people to make it work effectivly.today we are in progress mode and unfortunatly when you say "more than ten vital staff have resigned to take up appointments elsewhere in the Gambia or in the sub-region. Most of these people are highly trained engineers, who are the magical hands working wonders behind the scenes all these years." no one would argue with that but its a bit like saying to the driver of a steam train built in 1888,OK mate you take this new train out,it does 200 miles an hour and is computer controlled,the driver would be lost even attempting to drive it,so it is with technology today,I am only pleased that those who have left Gamtel have been able to find employment elswhere.I also hope that Management know what they are doing.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 20:29:10
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Toubabs you are right. Gamtel's and other sectors that are technology driven are rapidly changing. Gamtel has been known to have the highest rate of staff training amongst the parastatals. If these people leaving had archaic qualifications they would not have easily found employment elsewhere. This is the mnore reason why any investor worth their salt, should inject capital to put in place the right equipment and train staff on regular basis to keep up with the growth rate of the industry.
According to Gamtel insiders this is not happening. Spectrum has been inplace for nearly a yr(i stand to be corrected), yet all they are doing is amassiing profits with no visible investment in return. |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 13 Jul 2008 20:35:08 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 21:31:46
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| Is Spectrum Gambia owned or a foreign investor? |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 23:04:24
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| Madiba,I am pleased that your take on the subject that you have posted is so up to date and progressive,I have no insight at all into the workings of Spectrum/Gamtel so I am a bit in the dark here BUT I do know that training is expensive UNLESS you get people who are already trained,(cost saving),new equipment needed,yes no doubt, but who would be best placed to evaluate and work with new equipment,the new people who are trained in its use,it you are updating a whole concept then such evaluation and contracts to buy such equipment must be carefully considered as it's all very expensive,there are cases in the UK where government has bought equipment and as it is being installed technology has overtaken the whole installation and just to keep up to date costs have overrun by five times,OK so it was taxpayers money a bit of a shame ,but its a different story if you are a private company,then you MUST get it right otherwise you run out of money and are no more.I only write this as a circumstance for what the company MAY be doing as I said I have no Knowledge of the inside workings of the company. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 23:20:29
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Toubabs thanks for raising pertinent issues. I fully understand where you coming from. I know for certain, that when a company chnges technogies even here in the UK, the installation has many phases and amongst this phases is staff training on the use of this new equipment. Before anyone mans or is appointed to a certain technical job they must have a minimum qualification. For example any network engineer in a telecoms company, would be expected to have atleast some entry level telcoms and networks knowledge. Now if their network is using Cisco products, anytime Cisco introduces a technology or improved version of a particular hardware/software, you would expect the engineer working with a previous version to quickly pick from there when put through or on his own.
Anyway those companies that sell and install products normally train those identified by the buyer to whom they handover. |
madiss |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2008 : 23:33:49
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| Bev - Spectrum is Lebanese owned |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2008 : 00:18:05
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Madiba
No more input, as I don't have any information to go forward with,if rumour control comes up with more "bits" I would be pleased to participate again.As regards your comments about qualifications,I personally would prefer that the man (or woman?)should know what they are doing in a practical way,western countries especially the UK are obsessed with qualifications,which are offered in all things these days,not free of course you must pay the approperate government training board !Difficult if you are forced to have a qualification before you can even apply for a job! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2008 : 15:51:48
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Re update.........hmmmmmmmmmmm......... lets wait and see what action comes about from this article  afer all it was published in the D.O. so it must be true! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 14 Jul 2008 15:54:17 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2008 : 23:02:20
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Madiba
Change is a slow process. gamtel will rebounce soon. Lets give them a chance. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2008 : 23:57:02
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| Kons I agree if you are going to revamp a complete industry with modern equipment its going to take time and if you try to maintain some sort of service then there must be problems I cannot really see the company running away from this one,Gambia is one of the few countries in Africa that has a very usable telecom service with lets not forget competition from others,but the backbone of the www is Gamtel and with all the new banks coming to Gambia (for whatever reason)and the trade and money that will generate no one is going to let Gamtel die,dispite the present gloom. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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