Sylvester Cadette, of the International Telecommunication Union, discusses the Tampere Convention, why it is important for more Caribbean countries to accede to that Convention, along with the need for Caribbean countries to have more comprehensive emergency telecommunications plans.

 

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Here in the Caribbean, and at the time of publishing, we are about 13 days away from the official start of the 2021 North Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November. According to Colorado State University, an ‘above average’ hurricane season is expected, with 17 named stores, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes.

Beyond the spectre of storms and hurricanes, the Caribbean region routinely experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity. For the most part, they are not severe, but several weeks ago, the La Soufriere volcano on Saint Vincent (in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) erupted, triggering the evacuation of thousands of residents who live in the danger zone.  

It is in light of these and other phenomena to which Caribbean countries are vulnerable, careful thought ought to be given to the extent to which we are prepared, especially as it related to telecoms and ICT. As it currently stands, many Caribbean countries might be challenged with respect to securing emergency communications equipment and support in the aftermath of a disaster, due to the fact that they are not signatories of, or have not acceded to, the Tampere Convention.

The Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, is a multilateral treaty that facilitates the provision of prompt telecommunication assistance to support disaster relief efforts. However, and although we live in a disaster-prone area, only five (5) Caribbean/Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are signatories of, or have acceded to, the Convention: Barbados; Dominica; Haiti; Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

As we brace for the start of another hurricane season, we thought it opportune to discuss the Tampere Convention and emergency telecommunications in the Caribbean region.

 

Introducing our guests

Sylvester Cadette

Sylvester Cadette is the Programme Officer appointed to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Area Office for the Caribbean, in Bridgetown Barbados. Prior to joining ITU, he served as Director of Telecommunications and Advisor to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and helped shape Dominica’s domestic and regional telecoms policy at senior policy levels both nationally and regionally.

Sylvester was also a member of the five-member Project Implementation Committee for the World Bank funded Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Telecommunications Reform Project, and was one of the key contributors to the formulation of the unique Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority/ National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (ECTEL/NTRC) structure.  He also oversaw the implementation of ICT policy and e-business strategy development and awareness and leadership development; legislative and regulatory framework; capacity-building, enhancing skills base of work force, business-oriented e-government initiatives, business skills development and e-business incubation in Dominica.

Sylvester is a national of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications and Broadcasting from the Ukrainian State Telecommunications Academy and speaks fluent Russian. He is also an alumnus of United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), and has received training from the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC),  and the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University.

 

Insights into our conversation

In just a few minutes of listening to Sylvester speak about the Tampere Convention and emergency telecommunications, two things become evident. He is very knowledgeable about natural disasters that have occurred in the Caribbean region, and he is very passionate about emergency telecommunications, and the role they can play in saving lives.

Many of us have not truly experienced the utter devastation that a hurricane, or even a storm, can produce. Hence, the loss of home and belongings, along with the being cut off from the rest of the world and depending on the kindness of others, are things we cannot fathom. However, for those of us who live in the Caribbean region, every year – during the hurricane season – potentially, we may experience it. That context not only provides a sobering perspective, but also emphasises the importance of our disaster preparedness efforts.

Below are a few of the questions posed to Sylvester during the course of our conversation.

  1. What the ITU is about, and why it is important?
  2. Although it may appear that the Caribbean region is subject to the odd hurricane, that may not necessarily be completely accurate. Can you show us the bigger picture and tie that into why the Tampere Convention is important?
  3. For countries that are signatories to the Tampere Convention, what are the benefits, and what should happen when it is invoked?
  4. Since the majority of Caribbean countries have not acceded to the Convention, what are some of the challenges that are likely to occur?
  5. Why do you think more Caribbean countries have not acceded to the Tampere Convention?
  6. Since many Caribbean countries have provisions for emergency licences to be issued under exigent circumstances, do you think they make the activity and powers under the Convention unnecessary?
  7. What has the ITU Caribbean Office been observing as it relates to the emergency communications plans that have been established across the region?
  8. How are the emergency telecommunication plans that the ITU has been recommending structured?
  9. What other work is the ITU doing in the Caribbean?

 

We would love to hear from you!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits: S Cadette; Direct Relief (flickr); EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (flickr); Wikimedia Commons

Music credit: Ray Holman

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez