DURING HIS TENURE, MR CHARLES OVERSAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION TO MANAGE THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR.

Outgoing Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) Embert Charles, is projecting a robust and sustainable framework for consumer protection and empowerment for the multi-state telecommunications regulator.

Mr Charles, who retires from his position as ECTEL Managing Director after serving nine years, also looks forward to what he described as a “greater utilization of the collective competences and experiences of the regulatory team at the NTRCs and ECTEL.”

During his tenure as managing director, Mr Charles oversaw the development of new legislative tools to manage the electronic communications sector including a draft Electronic Communications (EC) Bill and regulations on consumer protection  and universal service among others; a cadre of regulatory technocrats in the ECTEL member states who have acquired expert competences through formal training programs and exposure to policy matters at regional and international fora; and increased awareness of telecommunications quality of service matters by consumers.

Andrew Millet, a national of Grenada, will replace Mr Charles as acting managing director for a period of three months, in the first instance. Millet has over 27 years of experience in the private sector, in the fields of telecommunications engineering and management. In June 2014, he joined ECTEL as the Director of Technical Services, with responsibilities that include the management of spectrum, numbering, licensing and a member of the regulatory team.

Millet holds a masters degree in Telecommunications from Coventry University in the UK. Over the next three months, he expects the main focus to be on enacting of the draft Electronic Communications Bill and the issuance of new operating licences, charting a strategic plan for the 2017/18 financial year; and launching of a new spectrum management and monitoring system for ECTEL member states.