Embert Charles, Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), has handed over a donation of electronic communications equipment and furniture to the Haitian community Arcahaie (Akayé in creole), a community that lies to the north of Port au Prince.

Mr. Charles, accompanied by the staff of CONATEL (Conseil National de Telecommunications-the regulator for Haiti) visited the community to officially hand over the equipment. The team was met on arrival by the Director General of the Public Library and ICT Centre, Charles Rogles. Following remarks by Mr Rogles, Mayor of Arcahaie, Rosemila Sainvil Petit-Frere, and Director General of the Arcahaie Municipal Centre Giles Jean Ender, each gave brief remarks.

Secondary school students and a group of adult learners participated in the presentation ceremony. The equipment included 16 computers and peripherals, four printers, 16 chairs and desks. The equipment was transported and assembled during the week of May 16, when the community observed one of its important historical moments, the birth of the Haitian flag, on May 18.

In thanking ECTEL for the equipment, CONATEL Director General Jean David Rodney said: “We chose to place the equipment in this ICT Centre community of Arcahaie, because it will serve many more people – students and members of the wider community. Arcahaie is an important community. Our deepest gratitude to the people and governments of the ECTEL member states for this donation of 16 computers, printers and furniture. We are grateful to the ministers for considering our people in the aftermath of the destruction caused by hurricane Matthew in 2016.”

He added that CONATEL looks forward to collaborating with ECTEL on issues such as roaming and net neutrality.

“CONATEL is committed to working with regional institutions such as the CTU and the ITU Area Office for the Caribbean on the development of ICT services for the Caribbean people,” he said.

Mayor Rosemila Sainvil Petit-Frere expressed her gratitude for the donation and asked that this be conveyed to the governments and people of the ECTEL member states.

“We endeavor to extend education and ICT training to all members of our communities who are willing to learn. The equipment will be of tremendous benefit to the young children who are still attending school,” she said.

While in Haiti, the ECTEL Managing Director also held discussions with the new CONATEL Director and other officials on current issues facing the region in the delivery of telecommunications services, including roaming and net neutrality. He also briefed them on some of the current matters on ECTEL’s regulatory agenda such as the draft Electronic Communications Bill, roaming, interconnections and number portability.

Haiti was struck by Hurricane Mathew on October 4, 2016. Nearly 900 people were reported to have been killed and up to 90 percent of some areas destroyed. The ECTEL Council of Ministers approved the sum of EC$100,00.00 as a contribution from the member states to address the emergency rehabilitation of those who lost lives, property and livelihoods in the aftermath of the hurricane. Acting on the advice of CONATEL, these funds were used to purchase much needed equipment and furniture for the community.