A two-day workshop for consumer advocates in ECTEL Member States will be convened in Saint Lucia next Wednesday and Thursday.
The main objectives of the workshop are to strengthen consumer participation in the development and benefits of an ICT regulatory framework and foster understanding of telecoms and data consumer regulatory provisions; provide consumer education-, mechanisms and tools for consumer awareness and engage and encourage consumer organisations to participate in consultation on new ICT and telecommunications standards definition and regulations.
It will also provide information on the draft new Electronic Communications Bill and the draft CARICOM consumer protection legislation. Both draft new regulations provide for consumer protection in the ICT sector.
Managing Director of ECTEL Embert Charles said: “In the review and reorganization of regulatory frameworks for the electronic communications sector, greater emphasis is being placed on the capacities, rights, powers and responsibilities of consumers, in order that they fully benefit from the advances in the sector.
“The workshop will provide critical information and also set the basis for building sustainable local and global consumer networks.”.
The session will originate from the conference room of the OECS Commission and linked by videoconference to locations in other ECTEL Member States Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Resource persons will be drawn from the ECTEL Directorate, Great Village International Consultants, Consumers International, the CARICOM Secretariat the OECS Commission and the Alliance for Affordable Internet, Web Foundation. Saint Lucia’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Allison Gajadhar, will give the opening remarks when the workshop convenes on Wednesday.
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