News

Sylvester Cadette who has worked as Dominica’s Telecoms Director for the past fifteen years, effective March 01^st 2013, will take up a new position as Program Officer, at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) based in Barbados.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications.

Cadette who holds a Masters in Telecommunications Engineering, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area Telecoms, having been formally trained in Telecoms management, policy and spectrum.

With a proven track record of achievements in the Telecommunications sector at senior policy levels both nationally and regionally Cadette has accepted the new ITU position and looks forward to making a valuable contribution to the wider region.

“I will embrace with humility the opportunity which has been afforded to me through employment with the United Nations specialized agency for Telecommunications and ICT’s. I believe that with my vast amount of knowledge in ICT’s, I will be in an ideal position to impact on the region and also continue to impact on Dominica” Cadette said.

As Director of Telecoms in Dominica, Cadette was able to elevate and transform Dominica’s Telecommunications sector and was instrumental in shaping Dominica's domestic Telecommunications policy and regional Telecommunications policy positions in his capacity as Director of Telecommunications and Adviser to the Government.

“As a modality for telecommunications policy formulation and implementation, I have been able to utilize the creative and cohesive combination of Public and Private Sector. My initiative, together with the contribution by the various stakeholders, has cemented Dominica's first major reform in the telecommunications market. Additionally, I was able to initiate extensive Telecoms Consultations with Operators, Service Providers and other Stakeholders - this was non-existent before” remarked Cadette.

He cites the implementation of the ICT Development Program as another significant achievement under his directorship.

“In collaboration with the EU National Authorizing Office (NAO) I oversaw the implementation of a 5 million (Euro) European Union funded ICT Development Programme. It encompassed ICT and E-Business Strategy Development & Awareness and Leadership Development; Legislative and regulatory framework; Capacity-Building Enhancing Skills Base of Work Force, Business-oriented E-government initiatives, Business Skills Development and E-Business Incubation. It also involved curriculum development for schools at different levels including primary and secondary”.

Cadette said training of teachers also formed an integral part of the ICT Development Programme.

He added that the ICT Development programme also looked at the development of the sector through an employment standpoint.

“Right now one would see the development of Clear Harbor as a typical example. This would not have been possible if we did not have the requisite infrastructure as well as the regulatory framework” Cadette added.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) was established under the portfolio and direction of Cadette as Telecommunications Adviser to the Government of Dominica while in its embryonic stages of development.

At policy level, Cadette was also the main driving force behind the Universal Access initiatives to narrow the digital divide especially in rural areas through the UNDP, UNESCO & ITU Multi-Purpose Community Telecentres project.

“In recent times we have successfully evaluated the CORICS programme - Telecentres in rural areas”.

Cadette believes his understanding of telecommunications in the Caribbean region served as a catalyst to landing him this new position at the ITU.

“From a regional perspective, I was able to have seen the intricacies of the telecommunications sector as it unfolded during the later part of the 20^th century. Also, I had a very good understanding of the pulse of telecommunications in the Caribbean region. I have had experience in regional affairs as one of the five members of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) in the World Bank funded OECS Telecoms Reform Project”.

In his new position Cadette is expected to work with Caribbean member states of the ITU.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) was established in 1865 as an impartial, international organization within which governments and the private sector could coordinate the operation of telecommunication networks and services.

The ITU also serve to advance the development of information and communication technology (ICT).