Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday underscored the critical role that the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) has to play in the integration architecture.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the CTU’s 25th anniversary conference and ICT week at the Hyatt Regency, Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretary-General pointed out that ICT was a “crucial element in not only resolving our present challenges, but also in building the platform for our growth and development”.
“The CTU, therefore, has a critical role to play in the integration architecture. Working together with Member States and your partner institutions, there is an opportunity to make a difference and substantially improve the lives of the people of the Community,” Ambassador LaRocque said.
The Rt Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Science and Technology in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, and the Hon Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining of Jamaica and President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, also addressed the ceremony on Monday morning.
Please see text of the Secretary-General’s remarks below:
It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, as you commemorate Twenty-Five years of service to the Caribbean Community. The theme chosen for this week’s activities: “Celebrating our Past; Committing to our Future” is quite appropriate. You have much to celebrate. And we must all commit to building the future of our Region in which Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a transformative role.
I am pleased to be joining with you in celebrating this major milestone. I want to assure you of my commitment and that of the CARICOM Secretariat to work with you in “committing to our future”.
Your 25th Anniversary, should serve as an inspiration to you, as you continue your important role in the development of the ICT sector, which is so fundamental to CARICOM’s growth and development.
The CTU was created in 1989 by the CARICOM Heads of Government. It was subsequently designated an Institution of the Community in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The goals that the Heads of Government defined for this Institution back in April of 1989 were visionary and continue to be relevant today. Among the primary ones were–
To facilitate the development of intra-regional and international communications networks to meet the immediate and future telecommunications needs of the Region;
To assist the development of the national components of regional and international telecommunications networks;
To promote the general awareness of the telecommunications needs of the Caribbean Region, and its potential for promoting the socio-economic development of the Region; and
to harmonise the positions of members for representation at international fora.
The role of the CTU has since evolved. This Institution is now at the heart of CARICOM’s effort to use ICT as an enabler of regional development.
All Governments have identified ICT as a key pillar of their country’s socio-economic transformation.
And, as I have said on several occasions, ICT is the new frontier for regional integration.
The Caribbean Community’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, 2015-2019, approved by the Heads of Government last July, identifies technological resilience as one of the eight strategic priorities. The creation of a Single ICT Space is at the heart of this priority.
This is a Plan for the Community. It is clear that to fulfil the objectives, there will have to be an adjustment in the Community’s methods of operation.
It calls for an increased level of co-ordination and collaboration among the Community’s Member States, Institutions and the CARICOM Secretariat.
The implementation of the Plan will require the most efficient and effective use of all the Region’s resources. It has always been my view that the specialized institutions established by this Community, of which the CTU is one, must use their unique skills to serve a common purpose – namely the integration of our Region to improve the quality of life of our people.
In that context, I have asked my colleague, Bernadette Lewis, the Secretary-General of the CTU, to chair the cluster of Institutions and stakeholders in the work towards establishing the Single ICT Space. I am pleased to see she is hard at work already and that this week, a significant amount of time will be devoted to elaborating the roadmap to arrive at that destination.
It is also clear, that ICT is a crucial element in not only resolving our present challenges, but also in building the platform for our growth and development. The CTU, therefore, has a critical role to play in the integration architecture. Working together with Member States and your partner institutions, there is an opportunity to make a difference and substantially improve the lives of the people of the Community.
The major tasks that you have been assigned is testament to the confidence that the Region has in your ability to deliver. The 25 years that you have served the Community has given that assurance.
You have helped to develop harmonized regional ICT policies, as well as legislation.
You have worked on Spectrum Management Policy Reform, and a framework for Regional Internet Governance.
You have been deeply involved in establishing regional internet exchange points in some of our Member States.
You have coordinated regional positions on Telecoms and ICT in the global arena.
You have begun the discussions on number portability and the Region being treated as one market, in relation to roaming.
You have also sought to define the minimum network speed for entry level broadband.
And now, I look forward to the development of the roadmap for the Single ICT Space.
We are all aware that it takes much for an organisation to succeed over 25 years. It needs visionary insight of those at the top, effective leadership and management, dedicated employees, but most of all, a strong desire to provide quality service that makes an impact.
I join with all here in congratulating the management and staff of the CTU for their good work, commitment and achievements.
Congratulations!
