GREAT BAY, St. Martin (June 16, 2002) – With over 300 delegates in attendance, the 18th annual conference of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) got off to a very impressive start Sunday, June 16 at Maho resort’s Royale Theater.
Welcoming the guests that included deputy prime minister and minister of telecommunications of St. Kitts/Nevis, Hon. Samuel Condor, and Hon. Felix Finisterre, minister in the ministry of Communications and Works of St. Lucia, St. Maarten Telephone Company (TELEM) managing director, Hon. Dennis Richardson urged the delegates to combine the business sessions with some fun. He expressed gratitude to the CANTO board of directors for the confidence showed in their choice of St. Martin for the conference and invited the participants to explore the night-life, beaches and shopping opportunities the island offers. The TELEM managing director also urged the new Antillean minister of traffic and communications, Hon. Herbert Domacasse, to give due consideration to the issue of liberalization of the telecommunications sector, particularly as it concerns an economy of scale like that of St. Martin. “Unlimited liberalization could have serious consequences for St. Martin,” he said.
The overall mood and atmosphere at the official opening ceremony was, however, light-hearted, with TELEM’s corporate communications officer, Joe Dominique, setting the tone, the Acting Lt. Governor, Hon. Mathias Voges, CANTO chairman, Mr. Cornelius Prior Jr., and St. Martin’s commissioner of telecommunications, Hon. Frankie Meyers, took turns in welcoming the delegates.
The Motiance Dance group performed a segment of the island’s traditional dance, the Ponum, to the delight of the audience, with the An-la-ri-la drummers providing pulsating percussion, while playwright-actor-director Ian Valz recited a moving poem by Lasana M. Sekou entitled “People” from the book Born Here (1986), which was also very well received. The mini-cultural show was followed by a “Parade of the Flags” led by the Girls Brigade. Min. Domacasse, accompanied by Acting Lt. Governor Voges, then proceeded to cut the ribbon at the trade exhibition featuring some 60 booths at the Maho Conference Center.
The business sessions start on Monday, June 17, with the “Ministers’ policy statements” where the various government ministers in attendance will explain their country’s telecommunications policies. Min. Domacasse promised that he would outline his own vision on liberalization and other telecommunications issues at this forum.
The conference will also feature various forums for regulators, operators, customers and industry leaders.
Delegates will go on a boat excursion to Anguilla on Tuesday afternoon, while the closing ceremony and dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at Le Meridien. The trade exhibition also opens the public on Wednesday.
CANTO Facts & Figures
Establishment: The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) was as a trade association to serve the needs of telephone operating companies in the Caribbean. This marked the first time that Caribbean operating companies had come together to independently address a wide range of telecommunication issues of mutual concern.
CANTO was registered in 1999 under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago as a non-profit organization and its Secretariat was established in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Membership: CANTO currently has 45 member companies in 28 countries and territories from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. CANTO member companies employ more than 20,000 workers and provide 2.9 million customers with fixed line telephones and another million customers with fixed and mobile cellular service. Many of them also provide data communications and Internet services.
Mission Statement: “Working through the sharing of information, expertise and coordinating efforts to facilitate the provision of quality telecommunications services for regional, economic, social and cultural development for the Caribbean.”
Vision: To be the number one focal point for leading and objective opinions on telecommunications issues in the Caribbean in the 21st century.
Organizational structure: a General Assembly, a Board of Directors, and a Secretariat run CANTO.
Board of Directors: CANTO’s nine-member board of directors is currently chaired by Mr. Cornelius B. Prior Jr., of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co. Other members include: vice-chairman, Mr. Trevor Clarke of Cable & Wireless Barbados Ltd.; Treasurer Mr Julian Wilkins, of APUA, Antigua & Barbuda. Also on the board of directors are Mrs. Helma Etnel (TELEM, St. Martin), Mrs. Camille Facey, (C&W, Jamaica); Mr. Carlos Cueto (Codetel, Dominican Republic), Mr. Pedro Rodriguez-Perez (Min. of Information & Communications, Cuba); Mr. Ediberto Tesucum (BTL, Belize); Mr. J. Ludwig Jansen, (SETAR, Aruba) and secretary-general, Mr. Selby Wilson (Trinidad & Tobago).
Working Committees: CANTO has a system of Working Committees that provides a platform for its members to develop analyses and position papers on all key issues to ensure a significant input in policy- making internally by its members and externally by sector policy-makers.
Publication: CANTO publishes a quarterly magazine, Cancion, with the motto: “Many nations, one voice.” Cancion aims at informing CANTO membership of the telecommunications, technological and policy developments taking place in the member organizations. It also targets policy-makers in the Caribbean to make them more aware of regulatory developments and technological progress as it affects telecommunications in the region.
CANTO Secretariat: 67 Picton Street, Newtown, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean. Tel. (868) 622-4781/3770/5582. Fax: (868) 622-3751 E-mail: canto@wow.net; website: www.canto.org