OECS Records a World First in Telecommunications Regulation

Contact: John Emmanuel

Thursday, October 19, 2000 - Member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are being hailed as the first group of sovereign states in the world, to have collaborated towards the establishment of a single regional regulatory body to manage and oversee telecommunications issues.

On Wednesday, October 18, 2000, ministers with responsibility for telecommunications in the OECS, launched the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunication Authority (ECTEL). St. Lucia’s Communications Minister Senator Calixte George told his colleague ministers, that ECTEL’s existence was critical to the overall economic survival of the region.

“This ceremony today, perhaps marks the single most important and far reaching initiative on the part of the OECS, for the future development of our countries in terms of the potential for participating in the opportunities that will be available in this new world order of globalization.

A significant achievement by all accounts and a regional enterprise that will say to the rest of the world that in our region, there is the capacity for work and unity in pursuing our common interest,” said Minister George.

Director General of the OECS Swinburne Lestrade is of the view, that ECTEL’s launching signifies a commitment on the part of sub-regional states to come to terms with the imperative of competitiveness, in today’s globalized economic environment.

According to Mr. Lestrade, “ECTEL, because it will be assisting our countries to regulate their telecommunication industries in a more open and competitive environment than we’ve ever enjoyed before, will help us to realize the potential of the sector as a bedrock for much needed economic diversification and development. The challenge facing our countries now is to continue the process beyond the telecommunications sector into more comprehensive information technology and science and technology strategies and to develop strategic policies and responses for the services sector.”

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony has described the launching of ECTEL as a significant milestone in the life of the region.  “In the face of stiff competition in new and traditional markets, we need to develop our non traditional opportunities. Internationally traded services offer such opportunity and also address the need to develop new capacities in our people. Internationally traded services however, rely on the availability of competitively priced, efficient communications. The OECS governments, therefore, understood and recognized this dilemma. The traditional relationship of the main service provider, therefore, had to be redefined if we were to deal with the pressing problems of economic diversification into new areas of economic activity and new areas of employment,” said Dr. Anthony.

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