Bermuda will join a group of 62 countries who will reform and revitalise their postal system with the help of the Universal Postal Union.

Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, Terry Lister announced that the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which is a specialised agency of the United Nations, had completed the review.

According to the Minister the UPU had completed the Integrated Postal Reform and Development Plan (IPDP) review for Bermuda as part of an international effort to modernise the postal system.

He said: "The UPU is assisting in the development of postal reform globally through the formulation of an Integrated Postal Reform and Development Plan (IPDP) which is a road map for the next five years.

"This plan assesses postal services in a country under review, identifies areas that need greater focus and emphasis and provides recommendation for remedial measures as well as postal sector reform, goals and suggested strategies.

"By the end of 2008, 62 countries worldwide would have participated in formulating IPDPs. It is my honour to announce that Bermuda will be included in this privileged group."

According to the Minister, Bermuda's UPU team was led by the UPU Caribbean Regional Advisor from St. Lucia and included a UPU postal policy expert.

They worked in conjunction with Post Office managers, representatives from the Ministries of Justice and Finance, Bermuda Public Service Union and Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU).

The recommendations that came from this study included the need for a comprehensive study that would define the Universal Postal Service (UPS) and the funding mechanism for it.

The scope of it will include: a clear definition of the UPS and the necessary mechanisms needed to support it, establish a postal sector policy framework, establish an appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the postal sector in-line with world trends and to modernise and diversify postal services.

Mr. Lister added: "These are just some of the projects listed in the IPDP draft Report. These projects are designed to enable the Bermuda Post Office as a critical element of our national infrastructure to preserve and enhance its value in the face of increased international competition, technological evolutions and a changing market.

"The Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce is committed to adopting the appropriate recommendations in the IPDP Report which will align the operations of the Bermuda Post Office with the goals of the Universal Postal Union and its objective for global postal sector reform."