We are at a pivotal moment in global digital history. Technologies such as AI, quantum computing, 5G, IoT, and blockchain are no longer futuristic—they are shaping our present.
The Honourable Dickon Mitchell
Prime Minister of Grenada
Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) 40th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition
The Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and lead head with responsibility for Science and Technology (including Information and Communications), is advocating for a shared partnership between governments and the private sector towards the realisation of the CARICOM Single ICT Space.
He underscored this in his keynote address at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) 40th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition.
“Governments cannot do this alone. The private sector must be a full and active partner—not just in service delivery, but in shaping policy, co-investing in infrastructure, and ensuring inclusion,” stated the Prime Minister.
Please read his keynote address below:
Good morning
It’s a great pleasure to join you at this milestone 40th Annual CANTO Conference and Trade Exhibition. Being here in The Bahamas — a country that has not only helped shape the foundation of CANTO but continues to lead by example in regional ICT advancement — feels both timely and fitting. This gathering isn’t just a celebration of four decades of collaboration; it’s a moment to take stock of how far we’ve come and to ask bold questions about where we go next. I begin by extending heartfelt thanks to the Government and People of The Bahamas for their warm hospitality and unwavering commitment to regional ICT development.
CANTO @ 40: A Legacy Worth Celebrating
This 40th anniversary is not just a celebration of longevity—it is a testament to CANTO’s enduring impact, influence, and ambition. From its modest beginnings in 1985 with just eight members, CANTO has grown into a formidable regional force, now uniting over 120 members across 32 countries. It stands as the Caribbean’s premier platform for ICT cooperation, technical exchange, and public-private partnership.
CANTO’s evolution mirrors the digital transformation of our region—from landlines to fiber optics, from analog to digital, from isolated systems to integrated cloud infrastructure. It has been a constant enabler of progress, guiding us through the complexities of modernization and innovation.
Grenada’s Commitment: National Vision, Regional Responsibility
As Prime Minister of Grenada and the CARICOM lead Head of Government for ICT, I carry both the responsibility and the passion to ensure that digital transformation in our region is accelerated, inclusive, and human-centred.
In Grenada, we are advancing this transformation through five strategic pillars:
- Digital Government – Reimagining public service delivery through e-Government platforms that enhance transparency, reduce bureaucracy, and improve efficiency.
- Digital Infrastructure – Investing in resilient, future-ready systems, including national broadband and satellite connectivity, especially for disaster response.
- Digital Identity – Rolling out secure national e-ID systems to enable seamless access to services and prevent fraud.
- Digital Economy – Empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses with digital tools, skills, and funding to scale.
- Digital Inclusion and Skills – Ensuring every citizen, regardless of age or location, has access to devices, connectivity, and digital literacy.
CARICOM’s Unified Vision: The Single ICT Space
Grenada’s efforts are part of a broader regional ambition: the creation of a CARICOM Single ICT Space—a unified digital ecosystem enabling seamless movement of people, services, and data across borders.
This vision addresses our fragmented markets and infrastructural gaps by:
- Harmonizing spectrum and regulatory frameworks,
- Enabling cross-border digital identity recognition,
- Expanding roaming-free mobile environments,
- And developing shared approaches to cybersecurity, AI, and cloud governance.
Why This Agenda Matters: Global Trends, Local Urgency
We are at a pivotal moment in global digital history. Technologies such as AI, quantum computing, 5G, IoT, and blockchain are no longer futuristic—they are shaping our present.
The question is not whether we will participate, but how—and on whose terms.
Key priorities we must tackle together include:
- Satellite Connectivity – Crucial for small islands and disaster-prone areas to ensure digital continuity.
- Federated Cloud Infrastructure – Building regional cloud capabilities to store data securely and in compliance with our laws.
- Fraud Prevention & Digital ID – Embedding trust architecture into our digital systems from the outset.
- Open RAN and 5G – Leveraging cost-effective, vendor-neutral paths to 5G deployment.
- IoT, Smart Cities, and Fintech – Unlocking their potential through interoperability and regulatory agility.
- AI and Cybersecurity – Ensuring that innovation is matched with robust digital safety frameworks.
The Role of CANTO: Enabling, Bridging, Mobilizing
CANTO is more than a conference—it is a Caribbean institution. It bridges policy and innovation, government strategy and private sector action.
Through CANTO, we have:
- Shared best practices in universal service funding,
- Explored future-proof regulatory models,
- Fostered dialogue on OTTs, fair contribution, and infrastructure sharing,
- And most importantly, built trust across diverse economies with shared aspirations.
I urge CANTO to deepen its role in:
- Policy Shaping – Amplifying the Caribbean voice in global ICT forums,
- Capacity Building – Strengthening the skills of our regulators and engineers,
- Investment Brokering – Connecting infrastructure needs with global capital,
- Talent Development – Cultivating a digitally fluent Caribbean workforce.
Public-Private Synergy: A Shared Responsibility
Governments cannot do this alone. The private sector must be a full and active partner—not just in service delivery, but in shaping policy, co-investing in infrastructure, and ensuring inclusion.
To our telecom providers: your success is tied to the prosperity of the societies you serve. You are not just providers—you are partners in our digital future.
Let us commit to:
- Expanding affordable access in underserved areas,
- Sharing infrastructure to reduce duplication,
- Supporting national initiatives like digital ID and cybersecurity,
- And investing in the education and upskilling of our youth.
This is not a dream. It is a vision within reach—if we act boldly, collaboratively, and with urgency.
A Caribbean Without Digital Borders: Our 2030 Vision
Let us imagine, for a moment, the Caribbean in 2030:
- A child in Barbuda logs into school on a satellite-linked tablet after a hurricane, missing no lessons.
- A nurse in Saint Vincent securely accesses a Grenadian patient’s health records for regional telemedicine.
- A Dominican fintech startup expands to Trinidad and Jamaica through a common digital regulatory framework.
- A digital nomad living in Carriacou contributes to the global AI industry, powered by local gigabit internet.
- Our people, services, and ideas move seamlessly—united by a digital fabric that mirrors our shared history and destiny.
That is the unified and sustainable Gigabit Society we are building.
In closing, let us honour CANTO’s 40-year legacy by building a future that is unified, sustainable, and digitally empowered. We are not simply digitizing our societies—we are shaping the Caribbean’s place in the world.
Let us be bold. Let us be collaborative. Let us be future-ready.
Let us build a Caribbean where every citizen has the access, tools, and confidence to participate fully and securely in the digital age. Let us remember: the next 40 will be even more decisive.
Thank you—and may CANTO continue to grow, lead, and let us move forward—together—towards a truly connected Caribbean.
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Watch video highlights from Prime Minister Mitchell’s keynote address here.
