The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will focus over the next two years on unveiling the Single Information Communication Technology ICT Space as the digital layer of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said Tuesday evening that a roadmap to this end would be developed and presented to the Heads of Government Meeting in July 2014.
The community’s efforts to boost development through the use of (ICT) would be undertaken in tandem with the reform process for the years 2014-2019, Dr. Gonsalves said at the conclusion of the 25th Intersessional Meeting.
Briefing the media from the Buccament Bay Resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where the meeting was held, Dr. Gonsalves, said that the roadmap would include elements such as spectrum management, bringing technology to the people and transforming them to digital citizens, diaspora re-engagement, cyber security and public-private partnerships.
Utilising ICT for the region’s sustainable development was the first substantial item on the Heads’ agenda following the formal opening session on Monday. The discussions were led by Dr. Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada, and lead head of government on ICT in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet. He spoke under the chapeau of `ICT for CARICOM Transformation’.
Developing a single CARICOM ICT space to enhance the environment for investment and production was identified as one of the key areas that the Community should undertake in the short-term to become competitive.