ICT development underscored at Internet Week launch

At the launch of the Internet Week on Monday, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes expressed that the way in which Guyana developed its Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector would determine how the country’s Internet industry was transformed.

She made these comments at the Pegasus Hotel, where stakeholders are gathering throughout this week to discuss solutions and strategies to improve ICT in Guyana.
The discussions are being held as part of Internet Week 2017, which is being held here for the first time. Minister Hughes told the gathering that Government was working to ensure that citizens have safe and secure access to the Internet. Regional and international stakeholders are collaborating with the Ministry to lead discussions on Internet governance, social networking, digital responsibility and cyber security during this week.
These stakeholders include the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU); the Internet Society; Internet Governance Day; Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG); and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Formed in 1998, ICANN helps to promote competition and develops policies for the top level of the Internet’s naming system, while CaribNOG is a group of network operators that deal with the management of IP networks in the Caribbean Region. Meanwhile, the CTU is inter-governmental in nature, formed by Caricom. It seeks to support the development of ICT technologies across the Region.
The discussion will focus on what regional players have implemented thus far to capitalise on the business opportunities and other technological advances that the sector offers. The afternoon session included discussions on net neutrality, Internet services and cyber security. The week of activities ends on Friday.