Hon. Julian Fraser RA.

“The only way you are going to do that is by involving yourself in the industry. It is going to require travel, you have to attend seminars, lots of them because that is where these technologies unfold and you can’t wait here in the BVI as the TRC and expect the carriers to bring the technology to us. We have to let them know that we know that it exists and that we want it here.”

The 3rd District representative also highlighted the importance of being able to get the support of the carriers and noted that had the TRC been able to get the full cooperation of all the carriers the Virgin Islands would have had the first internet exchange point in the English speaking Caribbean instead of being the second to have it.

“You sitting next to a friend and you send him and email it goes to Washington DC, it goes to New York or somewhere in Colorado before he gets it. Today we have an exchange point right here in Tortola that gets that email routed through Tortola instead of going those places, depends on which carrier you use. If you don’t get the full cooperation of all the carriers it goes to Washington DC.... What it does for national security here is huge because all those things that go to the United States are monitored. It doesn’t have to be that way.”

Meanwhile, Hon. Fraser also believes that every student, from class five and up should have access to a computer and be able to manipulate the functions of the computer and its internet related functions. “Whose responsibility is to make sure these things happen? I don’t think it is just Education alone but the TRC has a role to play and that is one of the things they did with the road show and it should continue.” According to Mr. Fraser, the road show was designed to bring to the general populace, the benefits that can be derived by “indulging in telecommunications”.

“So a keen knowledge of what takes place in the industry is going to be needed in order to be the best Chairman you can possible be. Listening to the background of the candidate I have no doubt that they could be the best chairman they could be. Will time permits? That’s up to the individual as to what they can put in but you only are going to get out of this what you put in,” Hon. Fraser said.

The Second House of Assembly (HOA) on December 21, 2011 approved the appointment of Attorney At Law Ayana Hull-Braithwaite as Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) in the Virgin Islands for a period of three (3) years with effect from December 15, 2011.

The Motion was brought to the House by Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool. The Motion stated that Section 7 (1) and (2) of the Telecommunications Act, 2006 (No. 10 of 2006) provides for the establishment of a Board of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, comprising a minimum of three and a maximum of five Commissioners.

Virgin Islands News Online had firstly and accurately reported that Hull-Braithwaite was tipped to fill the position vacated by former TRC Chairman Collin Scatliffe, who resigned two months ago to seek political office in the 4th District as an independent candidate. Fiona Forbes was the acting Chairman.