St. Kitts and Nevis, 30th September 2024 – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) successfully hosted its 22nd Caribbean Ministerial Strategic ICT Seminar on 30th September 2024, during CTU ICT Week 2024 in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Under the auspices of Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Week was hosted by the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in collaboration with the CTU, from 30th September to 4th October 2024.
The high-level gathering, featuring keynote addresses from prominent regional and international leaders, emphasised the need to leverage technology to address the unique challenges facing the Caribbean.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister The Honourable Dickon Mitchell of Grenada underscored the pivotal role of technology in driving the region’s development. Drawing parallels between technological innovation and athletic achievements, Prime Minister Mitchell urged Caribbean nations to “strive for gold” in their digital transformation efforts. He stressed that strong policy support, coupled with leadership and action at both the national and regional levels, is critical for the Caribbean to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape.
“Technological advancement is not just an option; it is a necessity for our region’s sustainable growth and development. We must act decisively and ensure that our policies are aligned with global best practices to make digital transformation a reality for all Caribbean citizens,” said Prime Minister Mitchell.
CTU Secretary-General Rodney Taylor echoed these sentiments, reiterating the Caribbean’s ambition to achieve technological excellence. In his remarks, Secretary-General Taylor highlighted the urgent need for the region to capitalise on emerging digital trends to build resilient economies. He called on governments, private sector stakeholders and international partners to work together to ensure the Caribbean’s digital future is inclusive, secure and sustainable.
“Our region has immense potential and, by leveraging technology, we can address longstanding challenges such as inequality, economic diversification and climate resilience. We must work together to achieve technological excellence and ensure that the Caribbean is not left behind in the global digital economy,” Taylor stated.
In her remarks, Mrs. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), highlighted the importance of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), a landmark initiative designed to guide digital development worldwide. Mrs. Bogdan-Martin emphasised the importance of fostering international cooperation and developing resilient digital infrastructures to support sustainable development in the Caribbean.
She highlighted key areas of the GDC, including guiding digital transformation, developing skills and fostering collaboration with both the public and private sectors. “The Caribbean is well-positioned to benefit from the Global Digital Compact, which promotes inclusivity, sustainability and innovation. By working together, we can ensure that digital transformation leads to equitable outcomes for all, particularly in underserved communities,” said Mrs. Bogdan-Martin. She also discussed the ITU’s Giga initiative, which aims to connect every school to the internet by 2030, underscoring the importance of universal access to digital education.
The Ministerial seminar also featured dynamic panel discussions on emerging technology trends, including the potential of 6G technology; a regional approach to adoption of Cloud storage for the Caribbean; and, importantly, strategies for bridging the Digital Divide in the region. Experts discussed the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks, highlighting the importance of affordable, resilient infrastructure to support the Caribbean’s digital transformation. Representatives from Huawei, the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and Dauphin Telecom provided valuable insights into how emerging technologies can address the Caribbean’s specific connectivity challenges.
As part of the Ministerial seminar’s action plan, participants identified several key initiatives for regional collaboration. These included developing a regional cloud strategy to promote cross-border collaboration; establishing a cluster of interconnected data centers to ensure resilience and data sovereignty; and partnerships with governments to provide customised cloud and AI-based solutions to address regional challenges.
Paradise Mobile, Headline Sponsor for CTU ICT Week 2024, took the stage with a presentation on next generation 5G networks, emphasising the critical role that high-performance and resilient infrastructure must play in the region’s technological future.
For more information on the CTU and its initiatives, please visit www.ctu.int.
