Bureau Telecom, Post to St. Maarten

September 16, 2010 6:26 AM

Minister of Tele communications Patrick Illidge and Commissioner of Tele communications Frans Richardson signed the protocol to officially transfer the tasks and responsibilities of the Bureau of Telecommunications and Post (BT&P) to St. Maarten from the Central Government on Wednesday.

Calling the moment "an historic day" for St. Maarten, Minister Illidge said St. Maarten now had full authority and the "power to govern" its own BT&P. Joining Illidge and Richardson at the signing was attorney Peggy Ann-Brandon, who has been appointed by the Executive Council as Interim Director of St. Maarten's BT&P.

Commissioner Richardson expressed pride in witnessing tasks being transferred to St. Maarten as the island headed towards country status. "The island government has been working diligently to complete the preparations for the transfer of tasks of the Netherlands Antilles to St. Maarten and we have opted for a pragmatic approach to the transfer of these tasks," he said.

"As long as we can remember, this service [BT&P-Ed.] has been headquartered in Curaçao with a small dependent office in St. Maarten. This is the bureau that has to deal with the radio and TV broadcasters when it comes to matters such as concessions, telecom requirements, licence fees, telecommunications laws, telecom providers, and radio and TV broadcast finalists. It also makes sure the infrastructure available complies with standards, as well as advises on government, telecom and postal issues," he said.

He said now that St. Maarten was becoming a country, falling behind was not an option. "We need to be in a position to keep pace with fast-changing telecommunications developments. We do not need to re-invent the wheel, but we need to have some sense of direction to develop telecommunications and enable free competition.

"The same could be said of the postal market. It is up to us to safeguard the interests of Country St. Maarten. I am most grateful to all those who have been working diligently to get us to where we are today," he said.

The Commissioner also noted that, even though everyone was "in the heat of an election," government continued to work on behalf of the people of St. Maarten.

(Source: St. Maarten Newspaper The Daily Herald)

15 September, 2010