Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago — 13th December 2025: The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), through its CTU Caribbean AI Task Force (CAITF), has released an Interim Report titled, Toward Harmonised AI Policies and Recommendations for the Caribbean, outlining an urgent and coordinated regional response to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for Caribbean development.
Developed by a multidisciplinary task force of more than thirty-five experts drawn from Caribbean governments, regional and multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector, the report responds to a mandate approved during the CTU’s 31st General Conference of Ministers in October 2025.
One of the Task Force’s Working Group Chairs, Mr. Kirk Sookram, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago presented the report during the Launch of The UWI St. Augustine’s Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC). Dr. Craig Ramlal is the Executive Director of the AIIC and Chair of the CTU Caribbean AI Task Force.
The Task Force was established to advance harmonised AI policy recommendations and to coordinate a Caribbean AI Forum in 2026 in alignment with the vision of the CARICOM Single ICT Space. The report situates the Caribbean within a global AI market projected to reach trillions of US dollars over the next decade, while cautioning that without collective action, the region risks remaining a marginal “standards-taker” in a rapidly consolidating global AI ecosystem.
Despite high levels of digital engagement across Caribbean societies, the report highlights a persistent “connectivity paradox,” whereby fragile infrastructure, high connectivity costs, fragmented regulation and limited data governance undermine the region’s capacity to fully benefit from AI-driven growth.
Against this backdrop, the Interim Report calls for establishing a harmonised, CARICOM-wide AI governance framework that is human-centric, rights-based, inclusive and resilient. It emphasises the importance of data sovereignty, ethical safeguards, regional collaboration and the alignment of AI development with the Caribbean’s sustainable development priorities, including climate resilience and economic diversification.
Five preliminary areas of action are proposed, including:
- Creating a regional AI policy and governance architecture, supported by model laws; shared oversight mechanisms; and procurement and audit standards;
- Strengthened data governance and digital infrastructure, including a Caribbean Data Commons and resilient regional data and computing facilities;
- Targeted support for AI innovation and industry development in priority sectors such as agriculture, disaster risk reduction, tourism, financial services, health and public administration;
- Comprehensive investment in human capacity, education, and AI literacy to address skills gaps and to counter persistent regional brain drain; and
- Institutionalised multi-stakeholder engagement through a Caribbean AI Forum and national advisory mechanisms to ensure inclusive and context-appropriate policymaking.
The report also underscores the Caribbean’s strategic opportunity to present a unified regional position in global AI governance processes, including those emerging from the United Nations system, ensuring that the specific realities of Small Island Developing States are reflected in international norms, standards and investment frameworks.
Importantly, the Interim Report is positioned as a foundation for broad regional consultation rather than a final policy instrument. Over the coming months, the CTU Caribbean AI Task Force will engage governments, regulators, industry, academia, civil society and international partners to refine the recommendations and develop a detailed implementation roadmap for the Caribbean to move from planning to action in creating a regional AI ecosystem.
A Final Report, together with consolidated policy guidance, will be presented at a CTU Caribbean AI Forum in 2026.
Read the Interim Report here.
About the Caribbean Telecommunications Union
The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting the development of the Caribbean information and communications technologies (ICT) sector. The CTU also promotes coordination of ICT at the regional level, identifies and removes roadblocks to ICT development, keeps track of industry progress and responds to the needs of the ICT sector, all with the aim of creating a cohesive regional approach to an ICT agenda which embraces the needs of all stakeholders. The CTU is committed to ICT development that reaches the citizens of the region, creating affordable access to ICT and helping citizens to use ICT effectively to transform their lives.
For further information, please contact:
Michelle Garcia
Communications Specialist
Caribbean Telecommunications Union
E-mail: michelle.garcia@ctu.int
Website: http://www.ctu.int/
Tel: 1 (868) 628-0281, ext. 246
Cell: 1 (868) 759-4438
