Belize Hosts 50th CTU Conference 

Belize is hosting the fiftieth Caribbean Telecommunications Union Executive Council Meeting and the Caribbean ICT Ministers Seminar and Retreat. The Caribbean Telecommunication Union or CTU was established in 1989 to bring CARICOM member states together to develop inter-regional and international communication networks. Since its creation, CTU has become a key regional voice for the formulation of information and communication technology best practices and policies within the region. Members of that union are in Belize, not only to learn from how we have progressed as a nation but also to share their knowledge. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Representatives from twenty CARICOM member states all gathered inside the San Ignacio Hotel’s Bedran Hall for the Fiftieth Executive Council Meeting of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union.

 

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities

“So we have representation from all twenty CARICOM member states. We have nine ministers and PS representing all the countries who are members of the CTU.”

 

The executive meeting is being held simultaneously with a Caribbean Information and Communications Technology Network. These events are being hosted by the Minister of Public Utilities, Michel Chebat.

 

 

Micheal Chebat

“I think this seminar really highlights the importance of this whole digital transformation agenda and the key role that IT is playing in transforming the lives of our citizens and our economies. So, having the presence of so many ministers from across the region really brings to the fore how important this sector really is.”

 

 

Regional digital collaboration is at the heart of this event. Through the development of regional strategies and policies, CTU member states have been learning from each other’s successes and failures. Hasil Bacchus is the President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and the Minister of Digital Transformation in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

 

 

 

 

Hassel Bacchus, President, CTU (Hasil Backas)

“We are all on the same journey. We are all on the same journey. We are just in different stages of that journey. There are some things in which Trinidad and Tobago is a bit ahead. There are some things in which Barbados is a bit ahead. In terms of energy and energy works you find Belize is ahead. We find St.Kitts is trying to follow. That statement I made that together we are stronger, it is not just about the strong bringing the weak, it is about learning from everyone and all of us creating this economy of scale for the Caribbean that individually we cannot do.”

 

Through the seminar, the union will update its members on developments in the information and communication sector. As technology evolves, CTU has established itself as a preferred source of ICT advice for regional governments. Rodney Taylor, the Secretary General at the union shared some areas that will be discussed.

 

Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, CTU 

“Such as 5G developments, cyber security and we also have a special presentation on renewable energy. So, that is an opportunity for them to be brought up to speed on what is happening in the industry. Beyond 5G, our governments are doing a number of initiatives such as public sector modernization using technologies. 5G and next generation technology and connectivity are fundamental to that, because we want to make sure that everyone has good connectivity so that they can have access to these services in a digital environment. So, connectivity is high on the list and cyber security is also important, that as they connect in a secure environment, that these public services are secure as well and people’s personal data is well protected.”

 

Also present at the seminar was Doctor Cosmas ZavaZava. He is the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau under the International Telecommunication Union.

 

 

Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director, TDB

“It is really a pleasure to be here and I want to thank the government and the people of Belize for the hospitality extended to me and the rest of the delegates. It is important because Belize is one of the Small Island Developing States and we are in the Caribbean and we are just almost getting to the UN Conference for SIDS and we try to find solutions with respect to connectivity and how connectivity helps to achieve healthy targets, agriculture, safeguarding the environment, etc. So all the sectors depend on connectivity.”

 

Michel Chebat

“So we have shared with them the progress we have made. We have spoken to them about the digital leave system we have for our public officers, we have spoken about our digital connect centers, about green energy and how that impacts ICT. You know we had a very interesting conversation with the representative from Cuba who spoke to us about their national ID and that is something we are embarking on. So it has been a great experience for all of us.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.