Internet service cannot be restored due to a dispute between Digicel and the manager of Kaliko Beach
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, in the morning, a failure was detected at the international submarine cable of the Digicelcrossing the Kaliko Beach Club hotel. This outage caused malfunctions in Digicel’s internet and Mon Cash services, a situation that worries customers.
On his X account, Digicel CEO Jean Philippe Brun informed that despite efforts to repair equipment affecting mobile internet services, the owner of the former Kaliko Hotel, where the damage occurred, refuses to provide access for repairs to be carried out.
A few hours later, the owner of Kaliko Beach Club, Fritz Emmanuel Paret, explained in a letter that since 2019, Digicel has owed him an amount that now exceeds 2.5 million US dollars. Emmanuel Paret points out that this debt results from the fact that he had granted Digicel the right to use his property for the passage of the international fiber optic cable.
Furthermore, Fritz Emmanuel Paret clarified that he can no longer support Digicel’s operations without receiving the compensation that is legitimately due to him. “My lawyers are actively working on this matter, seeking to enforce the court judgments against Digicel and ensuring that my rights are respected.”he continues in the letter.
Digicel issues formal denial and provides clarification
In a press release dated Monday, September 16, 2024, Digicel formally denied the information shared by Fritz Emmanuel Paret. “Digicel wants to be clear: we have no debt to Paret Hospitality Group SA”the note specifies.
Further, Digicel informs the population that legal action has been underway since 2021 regarding this case, and that no judgment has yet been rendered. “Pending a judgment, Paret Hospitality Group SA cannot unilaterally demand financial compensation.”
Furthermore, Digicel specifies that this cable is used by all operators in the country, who are also affected. While thanking the public for their patience and support, Digicel affirms that its teams remain mobilized on site and continues to seek the support of the competent authorities in order to quickly restore all services.
Asked during an interview with Juno7, Digicel CEO Jean Philippe Brun indicated that because of this situation, the company cannot specify in how long the problem will be resolved. However, he affirms that customers affected after activating an internet plan will be reimbursed. “The reimbursement process begins this Monday, September 16, 2024”he stressed.
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2024-09-16 23:02:54