On Monday 3rd October, 2022, on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union’s Plenipotentiary Conference 2022, to further reinforce the commitment of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) to accelerating digital transformation in the region, the CTU signed a joint Declaration with the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL); the Latin American Telecommunications Regulators Forum (REGULATEL); and the Regional Telecommunications Technical Commission (COMTELCA), a specialised institution of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
“The CTU strongly supports multilateral collaboration with inter-American agencies because it provides opportunities to explore areas of cooperation on matters of digital transformation and harmonised regulation policies, which are all critical to the region’s social and economic development,” stated Rodney Taylor, CTU Secretary-General, during the signing of a joint Declaration with the inter-American organisations.
He added, “The CTU looks forward to strengthening collaboration and promoting the interests of the Caribbean among inter-American organisations. The region needs to learn from each other’s experiences, know what works within the context of small developing states and focus on the development of regional development as a key long-term objective.”
The Declaration seeks to enable digital transformation in the Americas through collaboration. This will be achieved through the promotion of regulatory frameworks focused on user needs, with special attention being given to vulnerable groups, unserved/underserved areas, remote populations and people with disabilities.
The collaboration with CITEL, REGULATEL and COMTELCA will enable the CTU to develop special cooperative relationships to further accelerate its existing 21st Century Government initiative, in which it supports and works with Caribbean Governments to improve government services so that they are personalised and responsive thereby enhancing citizens’ end-to-end experience of public services. Likewise, the CTU will promote and support actions to unleash the potential of Digital Transformation among its partner organisations.
Importantly, the joint declaration also establishes the framework for the parties to develop a harmonised telecommunication/ICT environment through the implementation of intelligent, harmonised regulation to promote the development of ICT services in the region.
The joint Declaration therefore provides an additional layer of collaboration between regulatory bodies from the partner organisations and will support the CARICOM Heads of Government recent mandate to establish a CARICOM single ICT regulator.
The joint Declaration was signed by Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General, CTU; Miguel Muñoz, PCC.II Specialist,CITEL; Javier Juárez Mojica, President, REGULATEL; and Mario Antonio Baten, Chairman of the Board, COMTELCA.
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