H.E. Mr Alhaji Ibrahim BEN KARGBO Minister, Ministry of Information and Communications THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS VERY IMPORTANT 18TH PLENIPOTENTIARY ITU CONFERENCE, IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO. MR CHAIRMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AND MY DELEGATION. I WISH TO EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC CITY OF GUADALAJARA, MEXICO. ALLOW ME ALSO TO JOIN OTHERS IN CONGRATULATING YOU MR CHAIRMAN FOR CHAIRING THE SESSIONS SUCCESSFULLY. MR. CHAIRMAN, DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES, SIERRA LEONE HAS MADE NOTABLES STRIDES IN THE REFORM OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SECTOR TAKING INTO COGNIZANCES THAT WE ARE JUST RECOVERING FROM THE FEVER OF WAR AND TODAY WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN LIBERALIZING THE SECTOR WITH THE HELP OF THE INDEPENDENT REGULATOR. MR CHAIRMAN, SIERRA LEONE RECOGNISES THAT WE ARE IN THE INFORMATION AGE, AS ICT IS THE CENTRAL HUB TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF ALL SPHERES OF NATIONAL ENDEAVOURS, BE IT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL OR POLITICAL. MR CHAIRMAN; YOUR EXCELLENCIES; DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; MODERN SOCIETIES HAVE ALSO A LARGE AND GROWING DEPENDENCY ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) THAT 156