22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
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Background
The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is a regional, non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder forum initiated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in 2005 to coordinate a regional approach to Internet Governance (IG), initially focussed on the proceedings of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The CIGF has since met annually and has delivered significant and pioneering benefits to the region including formulation of a Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework; the proliferation of Internet exchange points (IXPs); capacity building in IG principles and best practices; and growth in Caribbean influence in international IG fora. The CIGF is the longest running Internet Governance Forum in the world.
The Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) is a regional multi-stakeholder forum, also initiated by the CTU and designed by youth for youth, to coordinate the views, interests and challenges of young people across the Caribbean and to strengthen their participation in regional and global Internet governance. First staged virtually in 2022 by Caribbean youth who had attended the ITU Generation Connect Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, the forum sparked the formation of the Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN), which now independently coordinates the event under the auspices of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF). Thus far, successive editions have been co-located with the CIGF and in July 2024 the CYIGF was formally recognised as a National and Regional IGF Initiative (NRI) by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum.
This year the 22nd CIGF and the 5th CYIGF will be collocated in Grenada. They will both be staged in-person but with remote participation via online videoconferencing under the auspices of the CTU and the Government of Grenada. In addition to reviewing achievements over the years, the Fora will address various facets of Internet Governance of current import to the Caribbean. Convened under the theme “Connectivity to Capability: Shaping a Resilient, Trusted, and Innovative Digital Caribbean“ the 22nd CIGF arrives at a pivotal moment for the region, as the conclusion of the WSIS+20 review and the implementation of the Global Digital Compact reshape the global digital agenda and call for a coordinated Caribbean response. Discussions will examine how the region can close its cybersecurity maturity gap, harness and govern the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and advance development in ways that are effective, inclusive and sustainable. Central to these conversations is the continued strengthening of the region’s policy architecture, including the review and updating of the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework, so that it remains relevant to emerging technologies and evolving threats. Recognising that the next generation must help shape their digital future, the Forum places particular emphasis on the meaningful participation of Caribbean youth in governance processes. Therefore, the 5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (5th CYIGF) will also be hosted within the agenda of the 22nd CIGF.
Objectives
- Consider Internet governance policies and initiatives for priority attention and regional consensus to facilitate accelerated digital transformation in the Caribbean
- Elicit the voices and develop the capacity of Caribbean youth in Internet governance by facilitating the 5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum
- Build national and regional capacity and systems in IG to enable, support, strengthen and sustain socio-economic development and effective Caribbean participation and representation at regional and global Internet Governance for a
- Identify technological trends, opportunities and challenges and examine their implications for building a secure, inclusive and future-ready Caribbean Internet
- Facilitate productive networking linkages and collaborations among national, regional and international IG processes and initiatives to promote coherence across the IG ecosystem, avoid duplication of efforts and translate global commitments into coordinated regional action.
Target Audience
- Academia
- Civil society
- Government policy makers and IT Managers
- Internet users, including young professionals and entrepreneurs
- Internet service providers and Telecommunications operators
- International organisations
- ICT Regulators
DRAFT PROGRAMME OUTLINE AT A GLANCE
| Time |
Day 1 – 24th Aug |
Day 2 – 25th Aug |
Day 3 – 26th Aug |
| AM | Opening Remarks /
Day 1 Overview |
Opening Ceremony
(CTU, ARIN, LACNIC, ICANN, ISOC, UNIGF, Grenada) |
Hot Topics in IG
– Artificial Intelligence |
| Capacity Building
Session 1: Cybersecurity for Policymakers |
Caribbean Internet Governance Baseline | ||
| AM | Capacity Building
Session 2: Critical Infrastructure |
CIGF @ 21
National, Regional & Global IG Contexts: · Reports from National IGFs (T&T, SVG, Haiti, Guyana et al) · Report from LACIGF · Report from SIDS IGF · UN IGF and support for National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs) |
Grenada Focus Session
|
| PM | Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum | Policy Forum
– WSIS/GDC – ICANN SIDS/gTLD |
Policy Synthesis Session |
| PM | Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum | CIGPF Workshop | Open Microphone
Conclusions and Next Steps |
| Evening | Networking Reception |
22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
DAY 1: Monday 24th August 2026
| DAY 1: MONDAY 24 AUGUST 2026 | ||
| TIME | SESSION | SPEAKER |
| 09:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Mr. Rodney Taylor
Secretary-General Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) |
| 09:10 | Intro to Internet Governance
An overview of Internet Governance, what it means, why it matters and how it applies to the Caribbean (15 mins) |
Mr. Nigel Cassimire, Deputy Secretary-General, CTU Mr. Bevil Wooding, ARIN
|
| 09:25 | Capacity Building Session 1
Cybersecurity for Policymakers: From strategy to incident readiness: |
Ms Candy Saunders-Alfred, CARICOM IMPACS [Remote]
Ms. Utica Alves, CARICOM Secretariat [Remote] |
| 09:55 | From Connectivity to Cyber Resilience: Grenada’s Pathway to a Secure, Trusted and Resilient Digital Future | Mr. Jervis DaBreo,
Grenada CSIRT |
| 10:15 | DNS Abuse: What it is and what policy interventions can be considered to protect against it | Mr. Albert Daniels
ICANN |
| 10:30 | COFFEE BREAK | |
| 10:50 | Capacity Building Session 2:
Critical Internet Infrastructure Lab: A non-technical overview of IPv6, RPKI, routing security, DNS resilience, IXP development, local caching, and network measurement to create better understanding & awareness |
Moderator/Facilitator:
Mr. Bevil Wooding, ARIN Mr. Carlos Martínez CTS, LACNIC [Remote] |
| 11:20 | IXPs, Data Centres and Local Content: Case Study of Grenada IXP / Data Center and .gd Domain Management and Common Services | Mr. Brent McIntosh, NTRC, Grenada |
| 11:40 | The Physical Root Servers, Routing Resilience and Network Autonomy | ICANN /LACNIC / ARIN |
| 12:10 | The Human Layer: Research, Capacity Building and the Technical Community | Dr. Claire Craig, CaribNOG / ISOC [Remote] |
| 12:30 | LUNCH BREAK | |
5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum
Monday 24th August 2026
| TIME | TOPIC | SPEAKER |
| 13:30 | Welcome Remarks | Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General, CTU
Mr. Tariq Mohammed, CIYN Chair |
| 13:40 | Youth, AI & the Future of Digital Caribbean
About Panel: this session will focus on how youth can leverage AI and other related digital tools to support their development, in the classroom or at the workplace. |
Moderator: Mr. Tariq Mohammed, CIYN Chair & Advisor to the Secretary-General, CTU
Panellists: Mr. Shergaun Roserie, CEO, Obtronics Ltd. [Remote] Mr. Joshua Andall, Youth Ambassador, CARICOM Mr. Steffan Boodhoo, Chief Technical Officer, Innovatech Enterprises Ltd.[Remote] Ms. Shanelle McPherson, Board Member, ISOC Jamaica [Remote] |
| 14:30 | Youth in the Digital Space: Opportunities and Barriers
About Panel: This session will focus on opportunities for youth development within the digital space, whether locally, regionally or internationally, as well as potential barriers which are being experienced around the world, such as calls for, and implementations of, social media bans. |
Moderator: Ms. Gabrielle Johnson, CIYN Vice-Chair, CTU
Panellists: Mr. Jalen Monzac, Programme Officer, Liberty Foundation [Remote] Mr. Albert Daniels, Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement – the Caribbean, ICANN Mr. Andrew Sieupresad, Director, TAIROne Initiative and Community Director, IEEE Young Professionals Trinidad and Tobago [Remote] Mr. Terren Finley, President, ISACA Student Group, Trinidad and Tobago [Remote] |
| 15:15 | Coffee Break | – |
| 15:30 | From Clicks to Cash: Monetizing Caribbean Content Creation
About Panel: this session focuses on the monetization of Caribbean content, pathways for jobs in the digital economy, and the associated barriers that are faced in the region. Furthermore, it will explore the practical ways in which creators have overcome the existing barriers, and foster collaborative pathways to support the creation of jobs in the creative space. |
Moderator: Mr. Marlon McCarthy and Ms. Shariah Mohammed, Policy and Research Interns, CTU [Remote]
Panellists: Ms. Alyssa Bierzynski, Project Officer, Office of the Creatives, Grenada Government Mr. Joshua Andall, Youth Ambassador, CARICOM Mr. Jerome Mc Cave, Founder,TiketCaribbean [Remote] |
| 16:15 | From Connectivity to Opportunity: Empowering Grenadian Youth to Shape a Safe, Inclusive Digital Future
|
Moderator: Ms. Teah Cummings, Consultant, NTRC
Panellists: Ms. Zinzee Noel, Disability Advocate, UN Youth Advisory Group Mr. Micah Lambert, IT Educator | Speaker of the House of Youth Representatives in Grenada’s National Youth Parliament Mr. Keshawn Paul, IT District Officer, Ministry of Education Ms. Denicka Samuel, Educator/disability advocate/ community advocate |
| 16:50 | Closing Remarks | Ms. Gabrielle Johnson, CIYN Vice-Chair |
| 17:30 | Networking Session – Radisson Grenada Beach Resort | |
22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
DAY 2: Tuesday 25th August 2026
| DAY 2: TUESDAY 25 AUGUST 2026 | |||
| TIME | SESSION | SPEAKER | |
| 08:30 | Video on Grenada | ||
| 09:00 | National Anthem | ||
| Invocation | Pastor Noel Schultz | ||
| OPENING CEREMONY | |||
| 09:05 | Opening Remarks | Mr. Rodney Taylor
Secretary-General Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) |
|
| 09:10 | Greetings from Partner Organizations | Mr. Albert Daniels
Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement – Caribbean, ICANN. [Remote] Mr. Christian O’Flaherty VP, Latin America and the Caribbean, ISOC. [Remote] Ms. Paula Oteguy Head of Multistakeholder Engagement, LACNIC. [Remote] Mr. Bevil Wooding Director of Caribbean Affairs, ARIN & CAJS. Ms. Jennifer Chung – UN IGF MAG Chair [Remote] |
|
| 09:35 | Cultural performance | Local dance group | |
| 09:50 | Feature Address | Hon. Ron Redhead
Minister of Digital Transformation – Grenada |
|
| 10:00: | Vote of Thanks | Mr. Nigel Cassimire – Deputy Secretary-General CTU | |
| 10:05 | OFFICIAL GROUP PHOTO | ||
| 10:10 | COFFEE BREAK | ||
| Caribbean Internet Governance Baseline | |||
| 10:30 | Reflections on CIGF @ 22 | Ms. Shanea Lewis
Policy Advisor, CTU |
|
| 10:45 | National, Regional and Global IG Contexts | Reports from National, Regional & Global IGFs
Mr. Kevon Swift – Trinidad and Tobago MAG [Remote] Mr. Max-Larson Henry – Haiti IGF [Remote] Mr. Marcellus Constance – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines IGF [Remote] Mr. Aggrey Marsh – Guyana IGF [Remote] ViceMinister, MINCOM – Cuba IGF (Video msg) Ms. Lilian Chamorro Rojas – Coordinator, LACIGF [Remote] Mr. Tracy Hackshaw – SIDS IGF [Remote] Ms. Anja Gengo – UN IGF Secretariat [Remote] |
|
| 12:15 | General Discussion and Q&A | ||
| 12:30 | LUNCH BREAK | ||
| POLICY FORUM | |||
| 14:00 | Aligning Implementation of WSIS+20 & GDC | Ms. Paula Oteguy, LACNIC [Remote]
Mr. Israel Rosas, ISOC [Remote] Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTU Ms. Shanea Lewis, CTU |
|
|
15:30 |
Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework Workshop
|
||
| 17:00 | End of Day 2 | ||
| 19:00 – 22:00 | Evening Cocktail Reception on Esta Sea (Odyssey Cruises) | ||
22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
DAY 3: Wednesday 26th August 2026
| DAY 3: WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2026 | ||
| TIME | SESSION | SPEAKERS |
| 09:00 | Opening Remarks | Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTU |
| 09:10 | Hot Topic: Caribbean AI Strategy
CAIF forum and next steps |
Dr. Craig Ramlal, UWI-AIIC [Remote] |
| 9.45 |
AI and Data Governance for Caribbean Public Institutions: Focus on issues around public-sector digital development (incl. AI procurement, AI in education, privacy, data management etc.) |
|
| 10:30 | COFFEE BREAK | |
| Grenada Digital Resilience Lab: Lessons for Small Island Internet Governance | ||
| 10:45 | Opening Remarks
and Presentation on Grenada Digital Agenda |
Minister Ron Redhead
Minister for Digital Transformation, with responsibility for Information and Communications Technology.
|
| 11:10 | Panel: Local ICT Companies
Beyond Connectivity: How ICT Companies Can Drive Digital Innovation, Cyber Resilience and Economic Growth in Grenada |
Moderator – Ms. Teah Cummings
Mr. Clevon Noel – Metarelic Mr. Cameron Philbert – Digital Growth Mr. Chad Fraser – Sonover Mr. Oluwatosin (Tosin) Ishmeal – Datanexis Technologies Mr. Kimanii Daniel Mr. Dwight McIntyre |
| 12:15 | Session closure | |
| 12:30 | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 13:30 | Policy Synthesis and Strategic Priorities: Charting a Coherent Path for Caribbean Internet Governance
Integrating Insights Across Sessions to Inform Regional Action, Collaboration, and Representation in Global Forums CIGPF |
|
| 15:15 | COFFEE BREAK | |
| 15:30 | Open Microphone | |
| 16:00 | Conclusions and Next Steps | Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTU |
| 16:30 | Closing remarks of the CIGF | |
| END OF 22nd CIGF | ||
Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| Bevil Wooding | Understanding Critical Internet Infrastructure - The Resilient Digital Foundation |
| Utica Alves | Caribbean Community Secretariat Presentation - Cyber Resilience Strategy 2030 - 22nd CIGF |
 Secretary-General, CTU Rodney Taylor Mr. Rodney Taylor, a national of Barbados, was appointed Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) on March 1, 2021. Prior to this, he held senior positions in the Government of Barbados, serving as the Chief Digital Technology Officer at Barbados’ Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology(MIST) where he led the nation’s digital transformation, focusing on enhancing public sector service delivery through strategic innovation, science, and SMART technology applications. Additionally, Mr. Taylor served as the Head of the Information Systems Unit at Barbados’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, where he oversaw operations at both local and overseas missions. With over 30 years of professional experience in the Public Sector, Mr. Taylor currently supports collaboration amongst Caribbean Governments and other ICT Stakeholders in shaping regional ICT policies and in implementation of national digital transformation strategies. Mr. Taylor currently chairs the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Informal Expert Group for the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 (IEG-WTPF). He is also a member of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience which was established by the ITU in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) in November 2024. |
 Independent Contractor, National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (Grenada) Teah Cummings Teah Cummings professional experience spans consulting, academia and industry. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, education and sustainable development. Currently she serves as member of the CIGF and CYIGF planning committee. With a strong commitment to technology, she has dedicated much of her journey to creating meaningful opportunities for adults and youth to develop their digital skills and become active contributors to society. She has shared her expertise and perspectives at national and international engagements. Teah is committed to advancing sustainable and inclusive learning ecosystems that equip individuals, professionals and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive in an evolving digital future. |
 Ministry of Education Grenada Keshawn Paul Keshawn is a dedicated Educational Technologist who has committed his career to driving digital transformation in education. He has trained countless individuals in technology integration and the practical implementation of digital tools, including AI, both locally and across the region. His expertise extends to prominent regional initiatives, where he contributes to and advises on digital learning, educational platform development, and EdTech policy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and is currently pursuing a Master’s with a focus on implementation of EdTech platforms in Education and Instructional Design, further strengthened by qualifications in Technology Governance, AI Policy, and Public Sector Leadership. He is also a member of the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI. Deeply passionate about advancing digital literacy and internet safety, Keshawn merges his love for education with cutting-edge technology. He remains committed to equipping individuals and institutions across the Caribbean to innovate safely, effectively, and responsibly, helping shape a future where technology serves as a powerful catalyst for educational excellence. |
 Director and PRO of Advocacy Grenada Inc Youth Ambassador for Grenada, United Nations Youth Advisory Group Zinzee Noel Zinzee Noel is a Grenadian disability advocate and community organiser who uses advocacy, storytelling, and digital media to advance disability inclusion and social change. She has worked on initiatives including HireAbility, a campaign highlighting the skills and contributions of persons with disabilities in the workforce, and Mas With Respect, a Carnival campaign promoting consent, safety, and violence prevention. Zinzee also facilitates community-building among persons with disabilities, creating spaces for peer support, social connection, and collective action. Her advocacy extends to gender-based violence prevention, mental health awareness, accessibility, and positive representation of persons with disabilities. She has participated in regional and international discussions on disability and youth development and continues to use her lived experience and public platform to challenge stereotypes and encourage greater inclusion. She is also an active Toastmaster, developing her skills in public speaking and leadership. |