Caricom officials move to fine-tune action plan for ICT strategy

Caricom senior officials with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will meet in St George’s, Grenada later this week to put the finishing touches on the draft implementation plan for the Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS), for submission to the Caricom heads of government, and to develop the framework for a regional broadband policy.

The strategy, which was approved by the 36th Special Meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in May, aims to establish a coordinated regional approach for improving ICT in the region and to use ICT as a critical development tool to advance the region on its path to an information and knowledge society. Its comprehensive implementation plan, which has since been circulated to all member states, was discussed at length at the Special COTED and was considered an ambitious plan that should be rolled out on a phased basis.

The COTED had also requested senior officials to discuss and develop critical elements of a complementary draft Regional Broadband Strategy framework for its consideration at an ensuing meeting. The meeting is being supported by the Ninth European Development Fund (9th EDF).

Broadband is a general purpose technology that significantly affects how people live and work. It is a key driver of economic growth and national competitiveness, and can contribute to social and cultural development.

The ‘new’ digital divides do not just separate the mostly high-income countries that are broadband leaders from the mostly middle-and low-income countries that are broadband laggards. Those divides also work within countries and communities, separating those who can and do use broadband from those who cannot or do not.

Countries, communities, businesses, and individuals that lack easy access to broadband may miss economic and social opportunities.

Broadband cities attract more services firms and so create more jobs than their narrowband counterparts.

Communities also benefit from faster Internet access: their residents have enhanced real and virtual opportunities to communicate with each other and to access government services and public officials, and to spur innovation and create new avenues of ‘wealth.’

In light of the region’s thrust for competitiveness, broadband is therefore an imperative for advancing the CSME and facilitating regional development. In this regard therefore, the meeting of senior officials is expected to spawn a fine-tuned ready-to-roll implementation plan and a regional broadband strategy framework to complement the RDDS for ultimate approval of heads of government of the Caribbean Community.