AMBASSADOR Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has underscored the critical role that the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) had to play in the integration architecture.Speaking at Monday’s opening ceremony of the CTU’s 25th anniversary ICT week, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretary-General pointed out that ICT was a “crucial element in not only resolving our present challenges, but also in building the platform for our growth and development”. “The CTU, therefore, has a critical role to play in the integration architecture”.

The Secretary-General called attention to the five-year Caribbean Community Strategic Plan 2015 – 2019, approved by Heads of Government last July, which identifies the creation of a single ICT space as a high priority for the technological resilience of the Community. He noted that to fulfill its objectives, “there will have to be an adjustment in the Community’s methods of operation”.

Ambassador LaRocque emphasised that such adjustment called for increased coordination and collaboration among Member States, Institutions and the CARICOM Secretariat.

“Working together with Member States and partner institutions, there is an opportunity to make a difference and substantially improve the lives of the people of the Community,” he stated.

In reiterating the Region’s confidence in the CTU’s ability to deliver, Ambassador LaRocque commended the institution for its achievements. These included harmonised regional ICT policies and legislation, coordinated regional positions on telecoms in the global arena, spectrum management policy reform; a framework for regional internet governance and minimum network speed for entry level broadband.

According to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat, Ambassador LaRocque indicated that he looked forward to the development of the roadmap for the Single ICT Space.

Dr. Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Science and Technology in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, and Hon Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining of Jamaica and President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, also addressed the opening ceremony.

The CTU was established in 1989 by CARICOM Heads of Government and designated an institution of the Community under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. This 25th anniversary of ICT week is being held under the theme “Celebrating our Past; Committing to our Future”.