Minister of Public Administration supports regional collaboration for the development of broadband in the Americas

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24 April, 2012

 

Minister of Public Administration supports regional collaboration for the development of broadband in the Americas

 

Mexico City, Mexico – 19 April, 2012: The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) Regional Development Forum for the Americas was held in Mexico City, last week to discuss the latest developments in broadband with top level Government and regulatory officials from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as representatives from many of the world’s most dynamic ICT (Information and Communications Technology) companies. Trinidad and Tobago was represented by The Honourable Carolyn Seepersad Bachan, Minister of Public Administration and President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). Addressing the Forum, Minister Seepersad Bachan stressed the need for the closure of ICT gaps nationally and within the region. The Minister outlined proposals for an appropriate legal and regulatory framework in Trinidad and Tobago to encourage the establishment of a National Broadband Infrastructure. However, she emphasised the need for alignment with national strategies as is being done in Trinidad and Tobago with the National ICT Plan and the harmonisation of regulatory policies, ICT legislation and spectrum management across the region. The Minister told the audience, “It is also important for us to take a regional approach in the adoption of standards in order to benefit from economies of scale which will help us attract potential investors. ICT is critical to economic diversification and key to our strengthening of competitiveness and viability in the global market as individual nations and as the CARICOM family of nations.” Earlier in opening the Forum, Yury Grin, Deputy Director of ITU’s Telecommunications Development Bureau, said, “We are in Mexico City to carefully examine national and regional policies to facilitate the roll out of broadband in order to connect people everywhere within the region. The discussions here will pave the way for significant commitment in Panama City, at the upcoming Connect the Americas Summit in July.” Commenting on the significance of the forum, Minister Seepersad Bachan stressed that “Access to computers, mobile phones and the Internet can no longer be regarded as a privilege. It is now being argued that access to technology is an inalienable human right - just as is access to food, water and education.” The Connect the Americas Summit is part of an ITU “Connect the World” initiative. The purpose of this and other Summits is to identify key ICT projects which can help to bridge the digital divide; gain political support at the national and regional levels for the projects; identify and engage potential partners; and match partners and projects. This Forum also examined the use of Public/Private Partnerships (PPPs) and how such approaches can be better used to implement national ICT strategies and broadband infrastructure. A Caribbean preparatory meeting for the Connect the Americas Summit was held in March of this year and another will be held in June. Member countries are finalising their projects and the CTU in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration will be seeking to group these projects under major themes for onward submission to the upcoming Connect the Americas Summit in July. -ENDFor further information contact: Deniece Serrette, Communications Services Coordinator (Internal) Corporate Communications Division Ministry of Public Administration Tel: 625-6111 extension 2086 E-mail: serrettede@mpa.gov.tt