Guyana to host 20th edition of C’bean Internet Governance Force in August

Guyana is set to host the 20th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) and the 3rd Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) from August 21-23 at the Pegasus Hotel under the theme “Reflections, Priorities and Projections re Caribbean Internet & Digital Governance.”
The CIGF is known as the longest-running Internet Governance Forum in the world and this year’s dynamic forum features a blend of in-person and virtual participation and aims to further solidify the Caribbean’s role in shaping global Internet governance policies as part of the CTU’s efforts to support regional digital transformation.
Primary focus of the CIGF is to address Internet governance policies and initiatives for priority attention and regional consensus to facilitate accelerated digital transformation in the Caribbean. It will also feature an array of distinguished speakers, including key figures from the global Internet governance community, government officials and industry leaders.
Attendees can look forward to receiving updates from national, regional and global IG fora; engaging capacity building sessions led by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE); and insightful panel discussions on topics such as digital inclusion, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and much more.
Running concurrently with the CIGF, the 3rd CYIGF is designed to amplify the voices of Caribbean youth in the Internet governance conversation and ensure they are heard. This unique platform allows young leaders to engage with their peers, share idea and contribute to critical topics such as securing their digital future, bridging the digital divide, overcoming challenges, advancing monetisation for Caribbean content creators and boosting business efficiency through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
As of July 2024, the CYIGF has been recognised as a National and Regional IGF initiative (NRI) by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. NRIs are platforms established to discuss, develop, and influence policies and practices related to Internet governance at various levels with a focus on local/regional priorities.
The event will be hosted in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).
“We are at a critical juncture in the digital evolution of the Caribbean,” Secretary-General of the CTU Rodney Taylor stated. He further added, “The 20th CIGF and 3rd CYIGF represent an important opportunity for all stakeholders across the region to come together, share knowledge, and collaboratively chart a course towards a secure, inclusive and innovative digital Caribbean.”
The Forum comes at a time when Guyana is experiencing tremendous growth in the ICT sector and is actively pursuing policies aimed at accelerating broadband penetration. We expect the outputs of the 20th IGF to contribute to accelerating national and regional efforts at achieving universal meaningful connectivity,” stated Prime Minister of Guyana Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips MSS. The forum will feature keynote speakers, interactive discussions and case studies on international Internet public policy topics relevant to the Caribbean.