Government
TCI to apply for Affiliate Membership in CTO
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 6, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos will apply to become affiliate members of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization in the near future according to Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs, with responsibility for Broadcasting Energy and Utilities, and the Telecommunications Commission.
Morris made the announcement via a government-issued press release after returning from the CTO’s ‘Digital Week’ held in London under the theme ‘Action for Impact’. Morris led a delegation to the event from February 20th – 24th.
Morris represented the TCI alongside Ministers from Montserrat, the Republic of Guyana, the Independent State of
He said the event was “a unique opportunity– to understand the plans CTO has to move towards digital transformation globally.”
The announcement comes as the Turks and Caicos government endeavours to build a brand new fibre optic cable to better connect all the inhabited islands, which outside of Providenciales, have always had extreme difficulties with telecommunications be they cable, cell service or internet.
The CTO represents countries across the commonwealth, born out of the Pacific Cable Board; it was officially signed into being via the Commonwealth Telegraphs Agreement, an international treaty between Commonwealth Nations signed in 1948.
If the TCI is granted Affiliate Member status it will be able to benefit from the Organisation’s programmes and gain observer status at the CTO Council.