Chief Executive Officer at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Mr. Guy L. Malone has said that getting residents prepared for the hurricane season is the focus for this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD).

Mr. Malone said, “The theme for this year is ‘Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season; The Importance of Staying Connected During and After a Disaster’. He further added that the decision to use the theme was as a result of the devastation to the Territory during last year’s hurricane season and the need to ensure that all residents are prepared.

Mr. Malone said there will be a more community minded outreach where the commission will be assisting residents in initiating their readiness plans for the hurricane season.

The TRC team will be visiting the sister islands of Jost Van Dyke on June 18 from 1:30 p.m. at the Customs Building; Virgin Gorda on June 19 from 10:30 a.m. at Vanterpool Administration Building Grounds; and Anegada on June 20 at the library, from 10:30 a.m.  Activities will conclude on Tortola on June 22 from 10:30 a.m. at the parking lot adjacent the Road Town Fire Station.  Items to be distributed will include power banks, night lights, charging kits, radios with LCD clocks, and first-aid kits.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) was observed worldwide on May 17 under the theme “Enabling the positive use of ‘Artificial Intelligence for all’. However, the TRC usually places its own personal subtheme to highlight local relevance.

The day is observed annually worldwide since 1969 and helps to bring awareness to the possibilities what the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as find ways to bridge the digital divide. The British Virgin Islands joined the rest of world in 2009 in observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.