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Hon. Nigel Carty (Photo by Erasmus Williams) | BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 30TH 2005 (CUOPM) The opportunities offered by the recently installed digital cable between Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe will be discussed on Tuesday at an International Conference for the Enhancement of Digital Connectivity in the Caribbean.
St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of State with responsibility for Finance, Sustainable Development, Information and Technology, the Hon. Nigel Carty, is representing the Federation at the meeting in Guadeloupe, being organised by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pointe-a-Pitre and the European Commission.
Other Ministers of Telecommunications from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Barbados have been invited to the meeting.
It is being held under the theme Promoting Digital Connectivity in the OECS Region: Opportunities offered by the Submarine Cable.
The meeting is in the spirit of cooperation in order to share with the interested neighbouring countries the opportunities and economic benefits which derive from such an important investment, said Director of the Joint Technical Secretariat of INTEREG III B Caribbean Space, Claudy Alie.
Topics for discussion include, The Telecom Environment in the OECS Countries, The need for concrete Broadband Telecom Infrastructure Projects Enhancing External Digital Connectivity, Positive Economic Repercussions expected for the Caribbean Region, and Financial Mechanisms Available.
Participants include Ambassador of the European Union to the Eastern Caribbean, His Excellency, Mr. Amos Ticani; European Investment Bank official, David Rush; World Bank representative, Mr. Robert Schware, President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, Mr. Victorin Lurel; President of the Pointe-a-Pitre Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Colette Koury and General Manager of the ECTEL, Mr. Eliud Williams.
The Guadeloupe Numerique will cut by ten-fold the price of broadband connectivity in Guadeloupe and includes a branching unit 100km south of St. Martin, which will allow an extension to St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and offer greater opportunities for access to bandwidth and ICT policies promoting competition and innovative broadband services |
