CTU ICT Week 2021

September 20, 2021 - September 24, 2021
Venue: Virtual

OVERVIEW

CARICOM Members States have made great strides in implementing digital platforms in response to the Covid -19 Global Pandemic, to enable access to critical public services and to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups in society.  There have been many success stories at the national level within CARICOM Member States.  Many have implemented digital platforms for public health to manage testing and vaccination programmes.  Additionally, systems have been implemented to facilitate the safe reopening of borders and to enable advanced notification of the health status of travellers and to facilitate the presentation of vaccination certificates to health officials.

This presents an opportunity for Caribbean countries to learn from each other regarding what has worked well, and what opportunities exist to share knowledge and build capacity regionally.  This is particularly important as regional governments seek to create a travel “bubble” within CARICOM that would facilitate easy and safe movement within the Single Space. 

ICT Week will focus on the theme “Regional Imperatives for Digital Transformation Post-COVID-19”, and will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas related to how regional governments can collectively respond using digital platforms in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also go beyond a discussion on digital responses to the Pandemic and also look at ways in which ICT can help the region to bounce back with greater social and economic resilience.  

ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

20th to 24th September 2021

DateEventDescription
Monday 20th 9:00am: 1:30pm43rd Executive Council (EC43)Open to Only the CTU’s Permanent Secretaries and Technical Officers, this statutory meeting will progress the work of the CTU.  
Monday 20th1:30pm-4:00pmJoint Meeting of 43rd Executive Council(EC43)24th General Conference of Ministers (GC24) Open to All: This session will feature presentations of the projects and initiatives of the CTU Secretariat and Members. 
Tuesday 21st9:00am-3:30pm 24th General Conference of MinistersOpen to Only:  CTU’s ICT Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Technocrats, this statutory meeting will progress and discuss the business and operations of the CTU, including receiving resolutions and recommendations from the Executive Council. 
Wednesday 22nd9:00am-3:30pm17th Ministerial SeminarOpen to All: This session will feature presentations by various ICT industry leaders and is designed to bring policy-makers up to speed with new and emerging technology trends that may require public policy interventions. 
Thursday 23rd9:00am-12 noon  Thursday 23rd9:00am-12 noon    Friday 24th9:00am-3:30pm    ICT Technical Collaboration Forum  5th Regulators Forum      Open to all CTU Members and is aimed at providing a space for collaboration, by technical advisors, on ICT projects of regional significance. Open to only ICT Regulators and Specially invited guests, this round-table discussion will address regulation for digital transformation and to prepare the region for the 4th Industrial Revolution. Open to only ICT Regulators and Specially invited guests, this round-table discussion will address regulation for digital transformation and to prepare the region for the 4th Industrial Revolution. 

REGISTER

Provisional Agendas (downloadable: PDF)

Joint Meeting of 43rd Executive Council(EC43) &

24th General Conference of Ministers (GC24) – Monday 20th

17th Ministerial Seminar – Wednesday 22nd Caribbean ICT Technical Forum – Thursday 23rd 5th Regulators Forum –

Thursday 23rd and
Friday 24th

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Agenda: Joint Meeting of 43rd Executive Council and 24th General Conference of Ministers – Monday 20th

Time Item Presenter
13:10 Opening Remarks & Welcome to New Members Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, CTU
13:20 Keynote Address: Regional Imperatives for Accelerating Digital Transformation Post COVID-19 Mr. John Curran, Chief Executive Officer, ARIN
13:30 Cultural Interlude – Saxophonist  Mr. Arturo Tappin, Barbados
13:35 Accelerating 21st Century Government Post COVID-19:
  • Digital Responses to COVID-19 Challenges
Mr. Gary Kalloo, ICT Policy Consultant, CTU
  • Digital ID Implementation for CARICOM
Mr. Junior Mc Intyre, ICT Consultant, CTU
13:50 Caribbean Internet Governance Forum 17 Mr. Nigel Cassimire, Telecommunications Specialist, CTU
14:00 World Telecommunication Development Conference 2021 (WTDC21): Review of Regional Priorities Mr. Rodney Taylor, CTU
14:10 Caribbean Spectrum Management Update Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTU
14:25 Caribbean Video Assistance Service Mr. Trevor Prevatt, Consultant, CTU
14:35 Q&A  
14:45

Coffee Break

14:55 Accelerating Caribbean Innovation – An Intersections Initiative Dr. Annalee Babb, Founder | CEO, Intersections
15:10 Digital Payment Initiatives Ms, Sybil Welsh, Senior Project Specialist, ECCB
15:30 Regulatory innovations for a Single Caribbean ICT space/ Digital Economy Mr. Denis O’Brien, Chairman, Digicel Group
15:45 Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP) Mr. Imran Williams, Project Coordinator, CARDTP, OECS
16:00

Wrap-up and End of Meeting

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Agenda: 17th Ministerial Seminar – Wednesday 22nd

Time Item Presenter
09:00 Welcome and Introductory Remarks Mr. Nigel Cassimire, Telecommunications Specialist, CTU
09:05 Keynote Address: COVID-19 and the Shift to Digital: A Global Perspective Mr. Robert Willett, Former Global CEO Best Buy International
09:25 Developing ICT Talent for Digital Transformation and Innovation Mr. Antonio Quiroz, Public Relations Manager, Huawei Caribbean and Latin America
09:45 Q&A  
09:55 Cultural Interlude: Steel Pannist, Ms, Keisha Codrington – Trinidad & Tobago
10:05 Panel Discussion: The Caribbean- A Mecca for Digital Nomads Moderator: Mr. Kirk Sookram, Deputy CEO, TATT

Hon. Minister E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs Trade and Information, Antigua and Barbuda

Prof. Avinash Persaud, Chairman, CARICOM Commission on the Economy

Mr. David Cox, Chairman, CANTO

Ms. Michele Marius, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, ICT Pulse

10:45 Tech Solutions for a Regional Travel Bubble Moderator: Dr. Annalee Babb, ICT Consultant, Barbados

Mr. Donovan Smith, ICT Consultant, CARICOM IMPACS

Dr. Lisa Indar, Director – Surveillance, Disease Prevention & Control Division, CARPHA

Mr. Frank O’Carroll, Chief of Staff, Digicel Group

Mr. Filipe Reis, Regional Director for Airports, Passenger, Cargo and Security, IATA

11:25 Panel Discussion: Pathways to a CARICOM Digital Identity as a Public Good Moderator: Mr. Junior McIntyre, ICT Consultant, CTU

Mr. Shrikant Karwa, International Institute of IT, Bangalore, India

Dr. Clarence Henry, Senior Technical Office Regional Integration Unit, OECE

Mr. Mark Arruda, Vice President, Solutions, Cloud Carib

12:05 Lunch Break
13:00 Keynote Address: Digital Transformation, Driving Economic Growth Mr. Cesar Funes, Public Relations Vice-president, Huawei Latin America
13:20 Sponsor Lightning Presentations (10 mins): Moderator: Mr. Trevor Prevatt, Consultant, CTU
Accelerating Caribbean Digital Transformation Through Next Generation Satellite Technologies Ms. Amy Mehlman, Vice President, U.S. Gov’t. Affairs and Policy, Viasat
Achieving Greater Control and Sustainability in Digital Transformation Mr. Eamonn Sheehy, Director Public Sector

Mr. Scott MacKenzie, CEO, Cloud Carib

Regulating the Single Caribbean ICT Space Mr David Geary, General Council Digicel Group
Cloud Services Mr. Darryl Duke, General Manager Enterprise Services (Ag.), TSTT
Q&A  
14:20 Break
14:30 Interactive Discussion: Rural Connectivity Policy Mr. Yacine Khelladi, Latin America and the Caribbean, Coordinator Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)

Ms. Sonia Jorge, Executive Director, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)

16:00  Wrap Up & Close of Seminar

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Agenda: Caribbean ICT Technical Forum – Thursday 23rd

Time Item Presenter
09:05 Opening Remarks and Overview Mr. Junior McIntyre, ICT Consultant, CTU
09:15 Country Presentation – Disease Surveillance, Health Information Management, Centre Administration, Personnel Management, Electronic Interfacing (SHAPE) Mr. Ian Weithers, Radiographer, Barbados
09:45 Country Presentation – Travel Pass Mr. Sherwin Ragoonann, iGovTT – Deputy CEO (Ag.), Trinidad and Tobago
10:15 Country Presentation – Geo-fencing Mr. Daniel Knight, Director of Government, Antigua & Barbuda
10:45 Coffee Break
11:00 The CARICOM Online E/D (Travel) Form Representative, CARICOM IMPACS
11:30 Apex Court Management Systems Mr. Richard Wall, CTO, Apex I Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions
12:00 Sustainable Digital Transformation – The Importance of a Very High Availability Supporting Environment Mr. Mark Arruda, Vice President, Solutions, Cloud Carib
Mr. Eamonn Sheehy, Director Public Sector, Cloud Carib
12:30 Wrap Up & End of Session

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Agenda: 5th Caribbean Regulators’ Forum – Thursday 23rd

Day 1: Open Session (Virtual)
Time Item Presenter
09:00 Invocation and Opening Remarks Mr. Selby Wilson, Telecommunications Strategist, CTU
09.05 Welcome Remarks Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, CTU
09:10 Keynote Address (video presentation) Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director BDT, ITU
09:20 Global Regulatory Trends Ms. Elena Scaramuzzi, Head of Global Research, Cullen International
09:40 GSR 20 & 21 Best Practices Guidelines Ms. Sofie Maddens, Head of the Regulatory and Market Environment Division, ITU
  Panel Discussion – Accelerated Transformation: Building a More Responsive Regional Regulatory Environment: This multi-stakeholder panel will discuss and present their requirements to make investments that will advance the development of the digital economy
10.00 Panellists: Moderator: Dr. Kim Mallalieu 
1. Viasat Mr. Ryan Johnson, Senior Director
2. Digicel Mr. David Geary, General Counsel Caribbean
3. CWC Mr. David Cox, Head Regulatory Affairs
4. Regulator / Government Advisor Mr. Kenva Williams, Director General, Turks & Caicos Islands
10:50 Break
11:00 Special Address: Preliminary considerations for a Single CARICOM Regulatory Authority Dr. Annalee Babb, ITU Consultant
  Panel Discussion – The Panel will address what regulatory initiatives will be required to advance the development of the CARICOM Single ICT Space
11:30 Panellists: Moderator: Ms. Sandra Sealy, Consultant, CTU
1. CWC MS. Opal Neil, Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs
2. Digicel Representative TBC
3. TSTT Ms. Lisa Agard, CEO
4. GTT Mr. Mark Reynolds, VP Legal & Reg.
12:15 Open Discussion Facilitator: Ms. Sandra Sealy, Consultant, CTU
01:00 Day 1 Synthesis Mr. Selby Wilson
01:15 End of Day 1
 

Agenda: 5th Caribbean Regulators’ Forum – Friday 24th

Day 2: Closed Session for Regulators (Virtual)
Time Item Presenter
09:00 Opening Remarks Mr. Selby Wilson, Telecommunications Strategist, CTU
09.05 Keynote address: Digital Transformation Mr. Philippe Defraigne, Founding Director, Cullen International
9:15 Panel Discussion: The Regulators role in Digital Transformation

The one positive arising from the COVID-19 pandemic is the recognition that there is a need to accelerate the adoption of technology solutions to provide efficient service to citizens and sustain an acceptable level of economic activity. During this COVID crisis, we witness the adoption of several ad hoc solutions. Yet, many did not have adequate access or the skills to use the technology solutions for education, social benefits payments, and online services.

This Panel will discuss the initiatives that can address these concerns as we respond to the policy shift of CARICOM governments to adopt technology solutions at a faster rate.

Panellists: Moderator: Mr. Phillipe Defraigne
1. Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA), The Bahamas Mr. Carlton Smith, Chief Executive Officer
2. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, BVI Mr. Guy Malone, Chief Executive Officer
3. Colombian Regulatory Commission Mr. Carlos Lugo Silva, Commissioner
4. CARICOM: Caribbean Competition Commission Ms. Nievia Ramsundar, Executive Director
09:55 Q&A  
10.10 Break
  REGULATION IN A SINGLE ICT SPACE

The Heads of Government have identified the need for a Single Regional Regulatory Body or a more harmonised Regional Regulatory Framework as an essential requirement for the ICT Single ICT Space. What strategies can National Regulatory Authorities adopt to achieve this vision

10:20 Panellists: Moderator: Mr. Rodney Taylor
1. ECTEL, OECS Ms. Cheryl Hector Fontenelle, Ag. MD
2. CARICOM: Caribbean Competition Commission Ms. Nievia Ramsundar, Executive Director
3. Telecommunications Unit, Barbados Mr. Clifford Bostic, Director, Chief Telecommunications Officer
Cross-Sector Regulatory Collaboration: Preparatory Considerations for G5 Regulatory framework Cross-Sector Regulatory Collaboration

The use of ICT applies to all sectors of the economy. Accordingly, there must be cooperation and collaboration across all sectors to promote the digital economy. Generation 5 status gives recognition to this fact and encourages this cross-sector collaboration. The Panel will examine actions to achieve Generation 5 status for our regulatory authorities.

11:00 Panel Discussion: Moderator: Ms. Sofie Maddens, ITU
1. Telecommunication Regulator Ms. Cynthia Reddock-Downes, Chief Executive Officer, TATT
2. Financial Services Regulator Ms. Sharmyn Powell (TBC), Chief Risk Officer, ECCB
3. Health Services Regulator Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
4. National Security Agency Lt. Colonel Michael Jones, Executive Director, CARICOM IMPACS
12:00 Open Discussion: Synthesising the Discussions and the Way Forward Facilitator: Ms. Sofie Maddens, ITU
12:30 End of Day 2: Forum Ends

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Day 1 (Joint Meeting of 43rd Executive Council and 24th General Conference of Ministers – Monday 20th)

Mr John Curran, ARINImperatives for Digital Transformation Post-COVID-19
Mr John Curran, ARINImperatives for Digital Transformation Post-COVID-19
Mr. Junior Mcintyre, CTUDigital Identity Implementation for CARICOM
Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTUAdvancing Caribbean Internet Governance
Mr. Nigel Cassimire, CTUCTU Spectrum Management Update & Plans
Dr. Annalee Babb, IntersectionsAccelerating Caribbean Innovation - An Intersections Initiative
Dr. Annalee Babb, IntersectionsAccelerating Caribbean Innovation - An Intersections Initiative
Ms. Sybil Welsh, ECCBEC Digital Cash
Ms. Sybil Welsh, ECCBEC Digital Cash

Day 3 (17th Ministerial Seminar – Wednesday 22nd)

Mr. Antonio Quiroz, Huawei Caribbean and Latin AmericaDeveloping ICT Talent to Accelerate Digital Transformation
Mr. Shrikant Karwa, MOSIPTrusted Digital Identity Key to Digital Transformation
Mr. Cesar Humberto Funes Garay, Huawei Latin American & CaribbeanDigital Economy, ICT to boost Recovery
Mr. Eamonn Sheehy and Mr. Scott MacKenzie, Cloud CaribRegional Imperatives for Digital Transformation: Achieving Greater Control and Sustainability
Mr. David Geary, DigicelRegulation for a Single Caribbean ICT Space
Mr. Darryl Duke, TSTTCloud Services
Mr. Yacine Khelladi, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)Rural Broadband Policy Framework: Closing the Rural Digital Divide

Day 4 (Agenda: 5th Caribbean Regulators’ Forum – Thursday 23rd)

Ms. Sofie Maddens, ITUITU GSR Best Practice Guidelines 2020 & 2021
Ms. Sofie Maddens, ITUITU ’s concept of G5 collaborative regulation
Dr. Annalee Babb, ITU ConsultantPreliminary considerations for a Single CARICOM Regulatory Authority

Day 4 (Caribbean ICT Technical Forum – Thursday 23rd)

Mr. Sherwin Ragoonann, Trinidad and TobagoTTravelPass A Country Presentation
Mr. Eamonn Sheehy and Mr. Mark Arruda, Cloud CaribSustainable Digital Transformation – The Importance of a Very High Availability Supporting Environment
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