Cayenne, French Guiana – 22 September 2026 – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), through its Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN), convened the fourth CIYN Meeting during ICT Week 2026, providing a regional platform for young people to engage with opportunities, emerging technologies and the future of digital development.
The meeting opened with remarks from Mr. Nigel Cassimire, Deputy Secretary-General of the CTU, followed by an overview of CIYN by its Chair, Mr. Tariq Mohammed, and contributions from youth representatives.
As Chair of the CIYN, Mr. Mohammed highlighted the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for young Caribbean people to participate in shaping the region’s digital future.
“Young people are not simply preparing for the digital future; we are already contributing to it. CIYN provides a space where Caribbean youth can exchange ideas, build relationships and engage directly with the issues shaping our digital environment. Our responsibility is to ensure that those voices are part of the conversations and decisions that will define the region’s future,” said Mr. Mohammed.
In her keynote address, “The Role of Youth in Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” Blenda Silva, Programme Administrator and Youth Focal Point for the Americas at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), highlighted the role of young people in shaping a more inclusive digital future.
The programme featured a dedicated session on Opportunities for Caribbean Youth, with speakers from ICANN, LACNIC, the ITU and the One Caribbean Business Network sharing perspectives on pathways for young Caribbean people to participate in the digital ecosystem.
The meeting also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence through a capacity-building session on Generative AI for Development, providing participants with an opportunity to explore how emerging AI technologies can be applied to development priorities in the context of the Caribbean’s digital transformation. Across the discussions, a common message emerged: access to technology must be accompanied by the skills and opportunities to use it meaningfully.
Drawing these discussions together in her closing remarks, Ms. Gabrielle Johnson, Vice-Chair of CIYN, brought together the meeting’s key messages, highlighting the need to address gaps in digital capability and gender inclusion, ensuring that inclusion is considered from the outset of digital development. Ms. Johnson also underscored the value of networks, mentorship and recognition in helping young people develop their ideas and pursue opportunities. Participants were encouraged to actively pursue the programmes and resources presented and to help shape digital development throughout the policy cycle, from identifying challenges and designing solutions to implementation and evaluation.
Ms. Johnson further called for a human-centred approach to AI and encouraged young people to move beyond just consuming digital content towards creating solutions that respond to the needs of their communities.
“Access must lead to opportunity. Opportunity must lead to participation. Participation must lead to connection. And connection must lead to impact,” Ms. Johnson said.
The meeting concluded with discussion of next steps and continued engagement through CIYN, encouraging participants to turn the meeting’s exchanges into sustained learning, collaboration and action. Maintaining these connections beyond the meeting is central to CIYN’s role in supporting youth in shaping the Caribbean’s digital future.
Through its regional platform, the CTU’s Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN) supports this continued engagement by bringing together Caribbean students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and emerging policymakers to exchange ideas and collaborate on ICT policy, innovation, internet governance, digital development and regional cooperation.
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