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Feb 1, 1999

B.T.L. hosts CANTO conference

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Belize Telecommunications Limited is presently hosting the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) for its tenth Mid-Year Members meeting.

Selby Wilson, Secretary General, CANTO

“CANTO commenced in 1985. At that time there were five foundation members and B.T.L. was one of the first foundation members and indeed I might add that B.T.L. found the name CANTO which means in Spanish “I sing”.

The main mission of CANTO is to foster collaboration, cooperation amongst members in the Caribbean in the pursuit of telecommunication development and economic and social aspects in the Caribbean. Currently we have thirty-five members.”

The delegates hail from countries in the Caribbean including Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. They will be discussing the many challenges facing the telecommunication industry.

Q: “What are the challenges?”

Ediberto Tesucum, C.E.O., B.T.L.

“Easier said this way. Well, we have to deal with them and some of these have to do with the fact that there is globalization. There is liberalization going on throughout this world which in turn means that we have to be prepared to meet those challenges. One of these challenges to be a bit more specific is Internet telephone. For example we just can’t see another company coming in and doing this work or trying to hide behind the legislation itself and asking the governments to help us. We have to be proactive. We have to see what is technology. We have to see how we can use it for the benefit of our own B.T.L.”

CANTO Chairman Neville Calliste says the meeting is all about building a regional team.

Neville Calliste, Chairman, CANTO

“The importance of how working together as a team could benefit the region as a whole and as small operating companies. We cannot afford to go that way. We have to look around us and see what is happening in North America, Europe, people coming together for various reasons. I think in telecommunication we have demonstrated I think to the region and to the rest of the world that this one area that we cooperate and we hope to strengthen that.”

All the delegates that we spoke to said that they are happy to have had the opportunity to exchange information and expertise in the rapid growing industry of telecommunication. Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.

The meeting ends tomorrow at the Radisson Fort George Hotel.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

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