The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC/The Commission) was established due to the promulgation of the Telecommunications Act of 2000. This Act mandates the NTRC to regulate the telecommunications sector in Saint Lucia. The NTRC works alongside the regional body, Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) who serves as a technical repository to the NTRC. The NTRC and ECTEL also guides the minister responsible for telecommunications in implementing policy.
It should be noted that any recommendation by ECTEL and/or the NTRC would have met considerable investigation and discussion. After which the NTRC and/or ECTEL can forward a recommendation to the minister responsible for telecommunications for action against any telecommunications provider where the licensee fails to observe a term or condition specified in his or her licence (section 40 (c) Telecommunications Act 2000).
Section 12 (2a) of the Telecommunications Act empowers the NTRC to acquire information relevant to the performance of its functions including whether or not a person is in breach of a licence, frequency authorization or this Act. In the process of the acquisition of documents to assist with investigations, confidential and privileged information is sometimes accessed. As such, and to maintain trust of all parties concerned, confidentiality must and will be adhered to at all times by the staff of the NTRC, a responsibility which is taken very seriously.
The Commission is mandated by the Telecommunications Act 2000 and is endeavoring to exercising all powers given by the same. It is with this the NTRC beseeches all telecommunications providers to adhere to the obligations set out in their licences, frequency authorisations and the Telecommunications Act 2000.
The NTRC would also like to make a special plea to content providers and the dissemination of information for public consumption to be factual and objective.
The NTRC is open to the public and providers for discussion on telecommunications matters.
