CARICOM Calls For Elimination Of Roaming Charges Across The Region

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, November 13, 2019 (CMC) – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ministers, with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), have agreed to collectively approach the region’s telecommunications providers, to eliminate roaming charges throughout the 15-member grouping.

A statement, issued here, said this is one of the priorities the ministers have identified as an early benefit, with respect to achieving a CARICOM Single ICT Space.

The statement noted that the matter had been discussed at a special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (ICT), last weekend, by video-conference, and that the meeting agreed that the elimination of the roaming charges would provide “social and economic benefits to the people and to the region”.

Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, who has lead responsibility for science and technology in the CARICOM quasi-cabinet, said this was an issue, which would give a real boost to regional integration, and had the potential to drive growth and development in the Community.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who agreed with Mitchell, said this should be viewed as low-hanging fruit, in achieving the Single ICT Space, which should be realised, as soon as practically possible.

The Single ICT Space will allow for harmonisation of the ICT and other legislative frameworks in CARICOM, the removal of roaming charges, the encouragement of digital entrepreneurship, equipping all CARICOM nationals as digital citizens and looking at ICT financial solutions among other regional benefits.

The statement said that the ministers emphasised the importance of cyber security, in underpinning the Single ICT Space, and also agreed on a “Ministerial Understanding on the Single ICT Space, in which they identified priorities as: developing the ICT sector as a catalyst to foster closer regional economic integration; enhancing the competitiveness of the region, through a vibrant ICT industry; and using the Single ICT Space as a driver of the CARICOM digital economy and the transformation of key sectors”.

It said that the Understanding notes that the realisation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be greatly advanced by the strategic application and increased usage of ICT and applying a whole-of-government approach.

The CSME allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the 15-member grouping.