The Virgin Islands is swiftly becoming engrossed in the expansion of telecommunication and hence it should come as no surprise that a debate has commenced on the erection of cellular towers across the Territory.

Electromagnetic radiation has been around since the birth of the universe; light is its most familiar form. Electric and magnetic fields are part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation which extends from static electric and magnetic fields, through radiofrequency and infrared radiation, to X-rays.

Mobile phones are considered low-power radiowave devices that transmit and receive signals from a network of fixed low power base stations, allowing people to be within reach at all times.

Each base station provides coverage to a given area, and depending on the number of calls being handled, base stations may be from only a few hundred metres apart in major cities to several kilometres apart in rural areas.

Mobile phone base stations are usually mounted on the tops of buildings or on towers at heights of between 15 and 50 metres. The levels of transmissions from any particular base station are variable and depend on the number of calls and the callers' distance from the base station.

Perhaps had it not been for the widening of the local market with the entrance of Digicel, as a people we might not have been having this debate. Probably, the Territory is gearing up for exciting times in the industry as is the case when Digicel gains access to a market – customers await an enticing battle similar to those being waged across the Caribbean.

Arguments for and against erecting cellular towers and the adverse effects on life and property are endless. But the greatest fear emerges when towers are placed in heavily populated residential areas and with limited land space on these islands, it is important to have restrictions imposed.

Following months of public debate on the radio, television and internet, Minister of Communications, Minister Fraser met with representatives from CCT Global Communications, Cable and Wireless (BVI) Ltd, and Digicel (BVI) Ltd., at the Long Bay Beach Resort’s Conference Room to discuss issues surrounding cellular towers and antennas,. During the meeting he voiced the Territory’s concern and presented the Government’s position on the proliferation of towers and the standards to which the towers are built.

As anticipated, the meeting took a lengthy course, but Minister Fraser ensured that at the end of the meeting, the people’s concerns were taken on board and that the companies all agreed to share towers where possible.

More importantly, the role played by Government in having the matter resolved at a time when many felt that the companies were flexing the arm of the citizenry, is commendable.

However, the Government must not rest, but should work to ensure that the agreed principles flowing from the ‘Long Bay Cellular Agreement’ are upheld and enforced with the requisite regulation passed in the National Assembly.

Much more discussions will take place between the three companies as they seek to iron out the technicalities to determine which of the 49 cellular towers currently located throughout the Territory will be shared or brought down. However, the single most important objective of putting an end to the proliferation of towers has been achieved.

It must be noted that initially, none of the companies heeded the public criticisms that the erection of the new towers were attracting, eventually forcing the Minister for Communications and Works to announce a Government decision to put a freeze on the erection of cellular towers in the Territory until further notice.

Subsequent to the decision to halt tower erection, the Government’s Planning Authority issued a revocation of development permission notice to Digicel, the only operator that has not completed its network.  According to Section 37 (2) of the Planning Act a revocation notice can only be issued for projects that are not completed. This freeze also affects Cable and Wireless and CCT’s network expansion plans. 

According to a GIS statement, Minister Fraser reminded the companies that they are corporate citizens and their responsibility is to make sure they take into consideration the needs of the people, whom they are endeavouring to serve.

He noted that no doubt that was the companies’ objective when they set out.

The companies are being pleaded with to remember to serve the people of this Territory and that includes listening to the people.

In response to growing public health concerns over possible health effects from exposure to an ever increasing number and diversity of electromagnetic field sources, in 1996 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a large, multidisciplinary research effort. The International EMF Project brings together current knowledge and available resources of key international and national agencies and scientific institutions.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Antennas emit a very narrow beam of radiowaves which spreads out almost parallel to the ground. Therefore, radiofrequency fields at ground level and in regions normally accessible to the public are many times below hazard levels, according to research commissioned by the WHO.

The global health organisation found that guidelines would only be exceeded if a person were to approach to within a metre or two directly in front of the antennas.

Until mobile phones became widely used, members of the public were mainly exposed to radiofrequency emissions from radio and TV stations. Even today, the phone towers themselves add little to our total exposure, as signal strengths in places of public access are normally similar to or lower than those from distant radio and TV stations, the WHO notes.

However, despite the various studies conducted, the people of the Virgin Islands need to rest comfortably and to have their children and other future generations.

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