One Page Abstract - Submission Deadline: 30 July 2004 (Include a CV with your abstract)

OOCUR invites submissions of papers on the independent and transparent regulation, preferably on the topics listed in the Tracks below from Utility Providers, Academics, Consumers & Consumer Interest Groups and Regulators.

Track I
• Independent Regulation including any of the following:
     - Role of an Independent and Transparent Regulator
     - Organizational and Financial Autonomy of the Regulator
     - Independent Regulator: a Constitutional Anomaly
     - Balancing Independence and Accountability of the Regulator
     - The Regulator's Independence in decision-making
     - Autonomous or Quasi-autonomous Regulator
• Institutional Framework for Independent Regulator
• Institutional Design: Cross-Sector vs. Sector/Industry Specific
• Arms length relationship with Government, Regulated Firms, Consumers
• Accountability and Benchmarking of the Regulator
• Regulatory Consistency and Predictability
• The Impartial, Rational, Open and Fair Regulator
• Regulatory Appeal & Review Processes
• Integrity and Impartiality of the Regulator: Code of Ethics

Track II
Experiences of Independent and Transparent Regulation in the Telecommunications, Electricity, Water and Sewerage Sectors

Track III
Regulators from around the world are also invited to present papers on their experience in carrying out their function in the Telecommunication, Electricity, Water and Sewerage Sectors.


Submit abstract to secretariat@oocur.org or persaudkongr@ric.org.tt Address: OOCUR Secretariat c/o RIC, Furness House, Corner Wrightson Road & Independence Square, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Tel. (868) 625-5384 or (868) 624-9168 or (868) 742-1092 & Fax: (868) 624-2027. Email: secretariat@oocur.org website: http://www.oocur.org

Notification of Acceptance of Abstract: August 2, 2004.

Paper Submission Deadline is 31 August 2004. No Paper–No Podium will apply

Theme: “Independent and Transparent Regulation in the Caribbean”

Abstract Format:
Abstract must not be more than one side of one page and it must have the following parts:
- Topic area specified with name of Presenter/Author
- Object (what the paper will do for the audience/reader)
- Why this presentation is worthy of selection (i.e., why it is unique and valuable)

Paper:
All papers should be typed on Microsoft Word 2000 version, Times New Roman, font size 10 and sent on a 3 ½-formatted floppy disk together with a hard copy.

Title:
- The main title of your paper must not exceed 60 characters, including space and punctuation.
- The title should be capitalized and centered at the top of the first page of your paper.
- Subtitles should be capitalized and centered below the main title.

Photographs & CV:
- All papers must be accompanied by one passport size color photograph together with full a brief CV (not exceeding 50 words) for your introduction at the Conference.

Assignment Authority:
- Your paper should be marked “OOCUR/CRRC” on top left hand side signifying that the author has assigned all rights to OOCUR and to CRRC for publishing the paper.

Publication:
All accepted papers will appear in a publication of the Caribbean Regulatory Research Centre (CRRC)

Presentation:
- All speakers are allowed 15-20 minutes each for presentation of their paper.
- Projector would be available for Power Point Presentations.

Deadline for hotel reservation is 24th August 2004

Venue and Hotel Accommodation:
The Conference will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Address: Rose Hall, Montego Bay Jamaica.

Special accommodation rates have been arranged for Conference delegates at the Ritz-Carlton Montego Bay as follows:
- All Inclusive US$240.00 Daily Single Occupancy
- All Inclusive US$360.00 Daily Double Occupancy

The daily rate is inclusive of all taxes and includes the following:
-Room and service charge daily
-Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily,
-Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages with meals

Hotel Reservation Forms should be faxed to the Ritz Carlton at (876) 953-2085 and should be faxed to Carolyn B. Young of the Co-Host, Office of Utility Regulation (OUR) at (876) 929 3635 to facilitate coordination of your registration.

Discount Airfare:
The official airline for the 2nd OOCUR Annual Conference is Air Jamaica who would provide discounts to their regular fares for OOCUR participants. You may wish to take advantage of these special fares.

Please Call 1-800-523-5585 and refer to OOCUR (Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators). Payment by major credit/debit card through any Air Jamaica Ticket office or by JM ticket by Mail Dept. Fares are subject to space availability at time of booking.

Transportation:
Transportation to and from the Sangster International Airport would be provided by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and would be paid for by OOCUR. Please ensure you provide accurate travel arrival and departure information in the Hotel Reservation Form.

Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island, measuring 146 miles at its widest point. Primarily of volcanic origin, the lush island features a mountain ridge that peaks at Blue Mountain and is 7,402 feet high. Many white-sand beaches and clear sea ring the island. Jamaica, part of the Greater Antilles, is located in the Caribbean Sea at latitude of 18 degrees north and a longitude of 78 degrees west (of the capital, Kingston). It is about 1127 km (700 miles) south of Miami, Florida, USA, and 145km (90 miles) south of Cuba, its nearest neighbor. The island has an area of 11453 sq. km (4411 sq. miles). It is 235 km (146 miles) long from east to west, and 82 km (51 miles) across at its broadest point, from St Ann's Bay in the north to Portland Point in the south. The people of Jamaica have emerged from a historical process in which peoples of all the continents were brought together within a well-defined social hierarchy.

Jamaica has a warm, tropical maritime climate. The average temperature on the coastal lowlands is 26.7·Celsius (80·F). There is a difference of about 5·C (34·F) in the average temperature between January-February and July-August (respectively the coldest and warmest periods of the year). There is an estimated fall in temperature of 16·C (4·F) per 1000 foot increase in altitude; the average temperature at Blue Mountain Peak, the island's highest point, is 13·C (56·F).

The country is divided into three counties - Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey- and further divided into 14 parishes. Kingston, the capital and commercial centre of Jamaica, is situated on the southeast coast of the island. Montego Bay, located on the northwest coast, is the island's second city. It was granted city status on May 1, 1980, and has a population of 85,503.

Tourism is an important part of Jamaica's economy. Many thousands of people from all over the world come here each year for a holiday because of the island's warm climate and year-round sunshine, its beaches and beautiful landscape. Mainly because of the white-sand beaches and pleasant weather, Jamaica's north coast has become the island's tourist centre, the main points being Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. Many tourists visit Kingston, but this city is most important as a commercial centre and the seat of the Government. Montego Bay is the most important centre of Jamaica's tourist industry, and many modern hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton, have been erected on the coast. North of the town is the Sangster International Airport.
Goods and services are usually purchased in Jamaican dollars, although prices are sometimes posted in U.S. dollars, and then converted. Credit cards are widely accepted.