Despite the harsh economic crisis, persons are still willing to purchase telecommunications devices as they are high on persons’ list of needs.{{more}}

This assessment was made by Minister of Telecommunications Jerrol Thompson as he spoke during the opening ceremony of a Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU) conference at the Prime Minister’s Residence on Wednesday, May 12, 2010.

Thompson, giving the welcoming address, referred to the conclusion of a recently held ECTEL meeting. Thompson stated that the conclusions noted that despite the global economic crisis, the telecommunications industry had survived.

‘While telecommunications is not immune to the economic crisis, it does not suffer as much,” Thompson stated.

Speaking on the history of telecommunications in St. Vincent, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves commended the CTU saying that “they facilitated the liberalization of telecommunication in the Caribbean.”

Noting that there have been many improvements in telecommunications, Gonsalves added that Internet access is one area that needs to be improved.

He added that through improving telecommunications, there will be more access to information so that decision making is not done ‘in the blind.’

Secretary General of the CTU Bernadette Lewis also addressed the audience on the history of the CTU, and the accomplishments of the union over the years.

Members of the union as well as the speakers of the evening were presented with gifts of appreciation for their services to the union.(OS)