Caricom Secretariat hosts national consultations on gaps in ICT sector

– to advance Caribbean single ICT Space initiative

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister via the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), has held consultations with public and private sector agencies on the “CARICOM Regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Sector Gap Analysis.”
Hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, those sessions constituted a critical step in realizing the Caricom vision for a Single ICT Space, an initiative that aims to revolutionize the region’s digital economy and support the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Those consultation sessions were focused on key areas such as ICT policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, broadband infrastructure/ connectivity, competitiveness in the ICT sector, advanced ICT skills, and innovation & entrepreneurship.
Caricom Deputy Programme Manager for Information and Communication Technology for Development, Jennifer Britton, stressed the timeliness of the project, and noted that it allows the region to assess its digital maturity and respond to the challenges and opportunities of the post-COVID-19 world.
Representatives of the NDMA were present alongside technical experts from various Government and private sector agencies.
NDMA, as the focal point for Guyana in respect of this project, has been instrumental in coordinating the country’s involvement in this initiative, ensuring that Guyana plays a key role in the region’s digital future.
The continued support and collaboration of representatives of Government agencies and the private sector are crucial in advancing this cause. As such, special thanks have been extended to Government agencies, banks, insurance companies, and local telecommunications providers that participated. Their concerns and feedback would help to guide not only local, but also regional ICT policy.
The journey towards the Single ICT Space began in 2017 when the Caricom Heads of Government approved a comprehensive roadmap, work plan and budget to create a harmonized digital environment across the Caribbean. This roadmap outlined key goals for establishing a seamless ICT-enabled space to foster economic growth, social cohesion, and cultural integration. At the core of the roadmap is the need to address existing disparities in the region’s digital infrastructure and capabilities.
In 2019, Caricom identified a major priority for this initiative: conducting a thorough ICT Sector Gap Analysis to assess the current state of ICT across member states. Funded by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), the gap analysis aimed to audit the ICT landscape and pinpoint the areas that needed urgent development with a view to enabling Caricom to streamline its efforts and create a unified framework for ICT policy, infrastructure, and services across the region.
As consultations continue across the region, findings from the gap analysis would inform development of the Caricom Regional Digital Agenda and Cooperation Framework, both of which are expected to guide the region’s ICT development for the next five years.
The consultancy is set to conclude by December 2024, and the final recommendations are expected to bring Caricom closer to achieving its vision of a fully integrated, ICT-enabled, borderless Caribbean community.