By Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter 
Carlos Bofill (left), chief executive officer of Centennial Caribe, with Information Minister, Colin Campbell, at Wednesday night's launch of Centennial Digital Jamaica. The launch took place at the Hilton Hotel, New Kingston. - Michael Sloley
THE official launch of Centennial Digital Jamaica represents "an emancipation of telecommunications in Jamaica," declared Robert Seagal, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Oceanic Digital Communications, on Wednesday night. It represents "a most decisive moment in the future of Jamaica's telecommunications," added Michael Small, president and chief executive officer of Centennial Communications.
Both men were speaking in Kingston on Wednesday night at a gala banquet at the Hilton Kingston Hotel to officially launch the company in Jamaica.
Mr. Small said Centennial Digital hopes to employ 200 Jamaicans during its first year of operation.
With more than 800,000 customers in the United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Curacao and the US Virgin Islands, the US-based company is hoping to lure Jamaicans to use its service, which according to the principals, provides the "clearest sound ever".
CONFIDENT INVESTMENT
At Wednesday night's launch under the glare of a wide cross-section of the society in attendance, Carlos Bofill, chief executive officer of Centennial Caribe, said his company was confident of its investment in Jamaica. Mr. Bofill said he hoped the new service would enhance the process of linking the Caribbean, while stating firmly that service from Centennial would make a
difference.
Guest speaker, Information Minister Colin Campbell, said that Centennial Digital Jamaica's investment was a further demonstration of Government's effort to deregulate the telecoms industry. Calling the service the most advanced mobile system in the world, he said the company has invested US$130 million in Jamaica.
According to him, "with the recent award of new telecommunications licences, and the rollout of new businesses, we can expect an estimated US$450 million of additional investment with projected employment of 1,000 in year one."
Mr. Campbell said it was hoped that there would be full liberalisation of the telecommunications sector by March 2003, but the process could be completed six months earlier.
Mr. Seagal said he came to Jamaica 32 years ago on his honeymoon and was happy to be returning to Jamaica to do business. According to him, Centennial Digital Jamaica's phones work: "They are going to work wherever you go and they are going to be affordable."
