PARAMARIBO, Surname, CMC—The annual conference of the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) has started here, and delegates are being urged to collaborate further to strengthen the regulation of utilities in the region.
The conference, held under the theme “Right-sizing Regulatory Agencies: What Is Needed,” ends on Wednesday and is hosted by the Energy Authority Suriname (EAS).
The acting general director in the Office of the President, Arleen Emanuels, who represented President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, told the opening ceremony that relatively young countries like Suriname face unique challenges, underscoring the importance of exchanging knowledge to strengthen utility regulation.
“By sharing experiences, we can better respond to the growing demand for energy, information technology, and water. Good regulation of our utilities is crucial for the social and economic development of our country and the region,” he said.
The OOCUR is a collaboration of regulators from the telecom, energy, and water sectors in the Caribbean, focusing on joint solutions to regional challenges. The conference will discuss themes such as regulator size, capacity, and expectations, with an emphasis on collaboration between regulators and society.
EAS Director Anand Kalpoe said sufficient resources and expertise are essential to ensure the quality of services.
“The collaboration with other OOCUR members allows us to learn from their experiences and apply them in Suriname,” he said, adding, “Our supervisors are faced with complex tasks. We must have sufficient resources and expertise to guarantee the quality of our services.”
OOCUR chairman Ansord Hewitt said the theme offers an opportunity to reevaluate the structure, content, and activities of supervisory bodies, adding, “This is an excellent opportunity to learn from each other and avoid mistakes.
“We aim to have a conference that includes all sectors and provides insight into the main challenges within different sectors. This helps us better understand the priorities of our members and integrate them into our annual work plan,” he added.
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