According to CTU Secretary General, Bernadette Lewis, having uniform standards and policies for telecom development will put the regional governments in a stronger position to negotiate with telecom providers, and will facilitate better control over technology development in the region.

“Having common standards will also allow easier integration of the various providers and can lead to lower rates and easier roaming for subscribers,” Lewis told Caribbean technology ministers at a briefing seminar hosted by communications equipment maker Nortel, in Ottawa, Canada earlier this month.

The annual conference provided an opportunity for senior level government officials to consider the impact of new and emerging telecommunications technologies. The latest technological innovations in the telecommunications industry were also presented and discussed by participants.

Lewis stated that the inter-regional organization has been working on strengthening its organisational capacity and exposing regulators to the latest trends and technology available in telecommunications so the region could be more informed when planning its technology needs.

“We will also be better positioned to take advantage of opportunities to develop and use technology to enhance our economies,” she added.

Lewis explained that the organisation was working on developing common policies for regulators as well as policies to expand local ownership in the sector. The agency is also developing policy documents to encourage more transparency in the operations of the regional telecoms, including regulation for sale, competition and management of the sector.

“As local economies continue to transform, the growing importance of telecoms will require governments and regulators to keep informed about technology, changes and opportunities offered by telecommunications," she noted.

The CTU intends to play a greater role in educating regulators and governments as well as conducting research and creating policy documents that can be widely applied in the future.

Six Caribbean Government Ministers with responsibility for telecommunications attended the seminar, among them, President of the CTU and St Vincent & The Grenadines' Minister of Telecommunication, Science, Technology and Industry, Dr. Jerrol Thompson; Dr. Edmond Mansoor of Antigua & Barbuda; Arden McLean of the Cayman Islands; Gregory Bowen of Grenada and Felix Finisterre of St. Lucia. The full delegation included 33 Caribbean telecommunications government ministers, regulators, service providers and senior Canadian telecommunications officials.