ST. LUCIA: Telecommunications ministers meet to discuss new legislation that will facilitate investment and strengthen regulations.
Ministers with responsibility for telecommunications in the region of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will meet in Saint Lucia today, to discuss new legislation designed to strengthen consumer rights and ensure that the climate for investment remains competitive.
The main agenda item for the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) Council of Ministers’ 33rd meeting is the new draft Electronic Communications (EC) Bill. The EC Bill contains changes to the licensing process that will facilitate investment in all ECTEL member states; new rules that address competition issues facing the sector; and recommendations for strengthening the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRCS) to make it more effective. The bill also contains improved rules for resolving quality of service issues faced by consumers.
At the meeting, the ECTEL Council of Ministers will, additionally, discuss new quality of service regulations, consumer protection regulations, retail pricing, wholesale pricing, and the sharing of infrastructure; and consider a recommendation on measures to address the impact of the merger of Cable & Wireless Communications and Columbus International in light of the impasse in negotiations between ECTEL and the companies.
Managing Director of ECTEL, Embert Charles, said the meeting is an important one that will advance the policy objectives of member states.
“These submissions to the ministers are in response to the directives of the ECTEL Council of Ministers late last year for the Directorate to advance the process of regulatory reform, in order to address the wide range of emerging issues in the electronic communicationssector in ECTEL member states.”
Following deliberations, the approved new regulatory instruments including the EC Bill and an amended ECTEL Treaty will be submitted to the member states for promulgation.
The ECTEL Council of Ministers is made up of ministers responsible for telecommunications in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat have been participating, as observers, in the deliberations of the ECTEL Council of Ministers since 2012.
