Senior officials of CARICOM Member States meeting in Barbados on 13 October 2004 have endorsed and recommended to the Ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) a series of measures for mobilising ICTs for Caribbean Development. They endorsed a strategy for placing Caribbean development at the heart of regional ICT as well as a Plan of Action for the implementation of the mechanisms over the next 12 months.
These proposals build on the CARICOM Connectivity Agenda as approved by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2003. The new departure however places the utilisation of ICTs to improve the quality of life for people in the Region, as the main focus. The Regional strategy and Plan of Action was developed as part of a consultancy for the Secretariat by ICT policy and development consultant, Dr. Gillian Marcelle, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, who manages an international practice. She has advocated a new approach for utilising ICTs such as radio, TV, Internet, computers, e-mail and information systems for meeting Caribbean development challenges.
The proposed strategy includes the following guiding principles, namely: the need to develop clear focus on development and putting people first; building regional human capacity for planning and implementation; articulating a focus on sustainability and institutional strengthening and engaging Caribbean society and building on strengths and assets and effective articulation with the global information society.
The area of human capacity was highlighted as being foremost among the many concerns in developing an approach for effectively utilizing ICTs for development. Member states were encouraged to examine models being used by other countries and regions for utilizing ICTs for development with a view to reviewing existing practices and refining and adopting them to the Caribbean.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Member States to build greater momentum in their efforts to fully exploit Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for human, national and regional development by endorsing a strategy and action plan that place greater emphasis on accelerated implementation and on multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Member States are also cognisant of the need for functional connectivity and the rich potential of ICTs for transforming the Region's economic landscape, for the benefit of all citizens, particularly with the imminent implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
In endorsing the proposed new approach for mobilizing ICTs for development in the Caribbean, the officials agreed that the CARICOM strategy should take into consideration activities on ICTs being undertaken at the sub-regional level through the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Contact:
Huntley Medley
hmedley@caricom.org
Rose Blenman
rblenman@caricom.org
