By Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon has labeled the speed of data consumption by GSM companies in Liberia as “an act of robbery,” criticizing both the telecommunications providers and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) for actions he believes are exploitative and detrimental to the public.
Speaking on Tuesday during a debate of the Senate Post and Telecommunications Committee report, Senator Dillon condemned the sudden reduction in the lifespan of purchased data bundles and the unexplained increases in data costs over the past months.
He argued that consumers should be able to use their data fully within the timeframe paid for, stating, “If I pay for 30 days, my data should last 30 days, not 10 or 15 days. Anything less than that is robbery.”
The senator further criticized the promotional data schemes introduced by GSM companies, noting that customers often pay full price for limited data that expires prematurely.
“This is another form of robbery,” Dillon declared, urging immediate action to safeguard consumers’ rights.
Senator Dillon also raised concerns about decision-making at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, whose Board of Commissioners currently operates under an acting mandate from the President.
He stressed that individuals in acting capacities should not be allowed to make critical decisions with long-term implications, especially those that negatively affect the Liberian people.
Dillon noted that regulatory oversight has been weakened under the current LTA leadership, questioning their authority to approve pricing models that harm consumers. “People in acting positions must not go beyond their boundaries.
These decisions must be left to those with the legal authority under the Constitution and the consent of the Senate,” he said.
The senator further called for an investigation into the revenues generated by GSM companies in recent months and demanded that refunds be issued to consumers for unjust charges.
He urged the Senate’s Committee on Telecommunications to take the lead in addressing the issue, ensuring that regulations are enforced in a way that protects the interests of Liberians.
