4th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum

August 20, 2025
Venue: Meliá Internacional, Varadero, Cuba

The Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) is a regional, multi-stakeholder forum, initiated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, to coordinate regional views, interests and challenges of youth within the Caribbean. 

The first CYIGF took place in 2022, and was planned and facilitated by Caribbean youth that attended the ITU Generation Connect Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. It sparked future integration of young professionals within the CTU’s stream of work, resulting in the formation of the wider Caribbean ICT Youth Network (CIYN). Since its inception, the CYIGF has hosted three successful fora, with representation and participation from around the world, and is a registered NRI under the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. 

The 4th CYIGF will take place as a hybrid event on 20 August 2025 in Varadero, Cuba and precedes the 21st Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF). Key topics will include leveraging AI and other emerging technologies for digital transformation, discussions on the existing policy and regulatory environment, empowering women in ICTs, and much more! Youth from all over the world are invited to participate, and ensure that the voices of the leaders of tomorrow are heard from today!

REGISTER

4th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum

Wednesday 20th August 2025

Cuba

Provisional Agenda

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST 2025
Time (AST) Session Speakers
13:30 Introductory Remarks Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson

Host of Ceremonies

13:35 Welcome Remarks Mr. Tariq Mohammed

Chair, Caribbean ICT Youth Network & Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum Coordinator

 

Mr. Jose Carlos Cruz Sandoval

Vice President of the Informatics and Communications Enterprise Group of Cuba (GEIC)

13:45 Panel 1: Development and use of Artificial Intelligence in the Caribbean for Digital Transformation and innovation Moderator:

Ms. Nayma Cepero Pérez, Professor at the Technical University of Havana “José Antonio Echeverría” (CUJAE)

 

Speakers:

Mr. Christopher Derrel

Youth Can do it Too (YCDI), Jamaica

 

Mr. Shergaun Roserie

Co-CEO, RifBid, St. Lucia

 

Mr. Orlando Grabiel Toledano López, Professor of Data Structures and Algorithms at the University of Informatics Sciences (UCI)

 

Mr. Roberto Marti Cedeño

Vice Dean of Research and Digital Transformation, University of Havana, Cuba

14:25 ·  Panel 2: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Resilience: Protecting the Caribbean’s Digital Future Moderator:

Mr. Tariq Mohammed

Chair, Caribbean ICT Youth Network

 

Speakers:

Ms. Federica Tortorella,

Youth Advisory Board Member for the “Resilience Project” at SubOptic Foundation, Dominican Republic

 

Mr. Daniel Perea Núñez, Director General of the Computer Network Security Office (OSRI)

15:00 BREAK
15:15 Panel 3: Women Empowerment in ICTs Moderator:

Ms. Gabrielle Johnson

Vice Chair, Caribbean ICT Youth Network

 

Speakers:

Ms. Jael Goddard (Remote)

ICT External Relations Associate, Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Trinidad and Tobago

 

Ms. Jennifer Boodoo (Remote)

Outreach Officer, Office of the Prime Minister, Guyana

 

Ms. Maidelys Pupo Torres

General Director of the Youth Computer and Electronics Club (JCCE), Cuba

 

Ms. Suany Leyva Hernández

Cuban Network of Empowered Women, Cuban Computer Scientist Union (UIC), Cuba

 

Ms. Analaisy González Prieto

Director of Institutional Communication, Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), Cuba

16:05 Panel 4: Youth Perspectives on Global Fora: GDC, WSIS, IGF, etc.  Moderator:

Ms. Jael Goddard (Remote)

ICT External Relations Associate, Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Trinidad and Tobago

 

Speakers:

Mr. Shergaun Roserie

Co-CEO, Rifbid, St. Lucia

 

Ms. Anja Genjo

NRI Coordinator, UNIGF Secretariat, Geneva

 

Ms. Elaine Grenet Albernas

Specialist on Foreign Relations (MINCOM), Cuba

 

Mr. Leysdel Emil Hernández

Specialist in International Organizations and Bilateral Collaboration, Cuban Telecommunications Company, ETECSA, Cuba

16:45 Vote of Thanks & Closing Ms. Gabrielle Johnson

Vice Chair, Caribbean ICT Youth Network

 

Ms. Ailyn Febles Estrada

Vice Minister of Communications of Cuba, Cuba

 

Mr. Rodney Taylor

Secretary-General, CTU

17:05  End of Day 1

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