Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Meeting
held under the auspices of the
United Nations Information and Communication Technologies
Task Force
A Publication of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
s
UNFIP
“Information technology is not a magic formula that is going to solve all our problems. But it is
a powerful force that can and must be harnessed to our global mission of peace and development.
This is a matter of both ethics and economics; over the long term, the new economy can only be pro-
ductive and sustainable if it spreads worldwide and responds to the needs and demands of all people.
I urge everyone in a position to make a difference to add his or her energies to this effort.”
Concept Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Rationale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Caribbean Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Strategic Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Application of ICTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Project Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Appendices
Table 1 Teledensity in CARICOM Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table 2 ICT Access – Internet Users and Number of PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table 3 Telephone and Internet Accounts in CARICOM Countries . . . . . . . . . 15
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The Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Main Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Roundtable Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1. ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2. Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3. Human Capacity Development - e-Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4. Health and Telemedicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5. e-Business Environment: Enabling effective e-Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6. Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism Sector . . . . . . . . . . . 23
7. Strengthening Civil Society and Governance – Focus on e-Government . . 24
8. Developing Agriculture with Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
9. Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network . . . . . 27
10. ICT and Outsourcing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Appendices
Meeting Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
List of Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
iv
Preface
Convinced of the positive potential of ICT to accelerate economic growth and social development, the
United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (United Nations ICT TF), in col-
laboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Fund for
International Partnerships (UNFIP), embarked on an initiative to contribute to the development process in
the Caribbean. The initiative aims at the establishment of a Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean
(DDN-C) that will seek to bring together qualified members of the Caribbean Diaspora -- high-tech profes-
sionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders -- into a network with their counterparts in the Caribbean.
Through the Network, Caribbean expatriates working in the high-tech sector in North America will seek
to jump-start ICT initiatives in their home region. Thousands of Internet nodes and digital activities are tak-
ing shape in the Caribbean, but usually lack the capital, expertise and networking ability to stabilize and grow.
The Network will mobilize expatriate leaders and entrepreneurs to underwrite and mentor these developments.
The initiative is modeled on the successful Digital Diaspora Network for Africa, launched in July 2002 by
the United Nations ICT Task Force, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM), United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), the Digital Partners Institute
(Seattle, United States) and Gruppo CERFE (Italy).
The Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean was formally launched on 24 January 2003. The meet-
ing on Bridging the Digital Divide for the Caribbean was held in partnership by the United Nations ICT Task
Force, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), while also supported by the CARICOM Permanent Missions to
the United Nations, the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
The following publication contains two informative resources providing a variety of details on the Digital
Diaspora Network for the Caribbean. The first part contains the concept paper detailing the original propos-
al for the network, while the second part provides a summary of the launch meeting of the Digital Diaspora
Network, held on 24 January 2003.
For further information please contact the United Nations ICT Task Force: http://www.unicttaskforce.org/
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Concept Paper
Summary
The Mission
The mission of the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean is to promote ICT development in the
Caribbean (CARICOM Countries) by providing a rich source of ideas, skills and support and acting as a plat-
form for the exchange of information and other resources to create and sustain digital opportunities in the region.
It is recognized that there are other initiatives focusing on the Caribbean, each with its own particular
objectives and methodology. However, it is also accepted that new synergies and potentials can be created with-
in the proposed network. Furthermore, acting partly as a forum for motivating, facilitating and evaluating ICT
development in the Caribbean, it could also stimulate further rationalization in the application of resources to
the challenges facing the Caribbean and lead to a more integrated and effective ICT development process.
A defining component in the development of the DDN-C is a meeting scheduled for January 24th 2003
at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This conference is meant to review the current status of ICT
development, the challenges which must be faced, the proposed DDN-C initiative, and the expected benefits.
The meeting is also expected to lead to identification of necessary resources such as skills, finance and
technical assistance that may be mobilized for ICT development purposes in the Caribbean. Further, an orga-
nizational framework needs to be established to promote and manage the resulting network of interest and to
ensure continuity.
The Rationale
It appears that many Caribbean oriented businesses along with entrepreneurs and professionals from the
Caribbean but now residing in North America are willing to commit time and other resources in support of ICT
development activities in the Caribbean. This represents an important resource, which properly empowered
through networking, could assist in addressing the Caribbean challenges and responding to identified needs.
It is also known that Caribbean based ICT entrepreneurs and professionals, would welcome a beneficial
integration into the network of increasingly knowledge - based North American business potential. Building a
platform for cooperation between these two groups with a common interest in the Caribbean would therefore
enable both to benefit from the digital development process taking place there.
The United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force along with the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
(UNFIP), Digital Partners Institute and Gruppo Cerfe developed a similar initiative for the African continent.
Launched on 12 July 2002, that initiative has already led to the development of (a) Afrishare - an African
database of ICT skills, (b) a social venture fund for Africa, and (c) the Digital Diaspora Network for Africa
(DDN-A) - a steering committee to manage implementation of the process.
The Process
Caribbean Governments have also taken action at the national, regional (CARICOM) and the hemi-
spheric (Summit of the Americas) levels in specifying strategies for ICT development in and between their
countries. These will therefore help to determine the policy framework within which developments will take
place. In particular it should be noted that the CARICOM Secretariat has been charged with the responsibil-
ity of proposing a comprehensive Caribbean ICT strategy at the 14th Heads of Government Summit, sched-
uled for early in 2003. The DDN-C initiative is therefore expected to feed into the CARICOM process for
determining the regional strategy.
In this respect, the conference organizers have received strong support from the Permanent
Representatives of Caribbean Countries to the United Nations and from the CARICOM Secretariat.
Throughout the planning period, the Permanent Representatives in New York served as an expanded forum in
which the ideas and plans were discussed and developed. In addition they helped to identify appropriate par-
ticipants for the conference and its likely follow up programme.
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Expected Results
The initiative will be discussed and elaborated at a meeting on Bridging The Digital Divide 24th January
2003 at the United Nations Headquarters. Modeled partly on a similar successful initiative for Africa, the
Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean is expected to begin with four (4) main commitments.
1. Network Structure
Agreement on a structure and platform for empowering the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean
to facilitate the collection and dissemination of information and to undertake mobilization of resources for
ICT development in the Caribbean.
Identifying a corporate, international and professional resource base capable of providing financial, tech-
nical, skill and other support to ICT development initiatives in the Caribbean.
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3. Steering Team
The formation of a steering team, coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat and/or the University of the
West Indies is proposed. It is envisaged that this steering team will oversee, monitor and evaluate follow-
up activities, including any new initiatives implemented from time to time.
4. Areas of Focus
Identification of thematic areas and programme directions on which the network should focus initially.
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Caribbean Strategies
The proposed Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network is consistent with the strategies being outlined at the
regional CARICOM level. In general ICT should not be considered to be an end in itself, but a catalyst for the
achievement of specified national objectives and development of other sectors. It however requires special
focus because of its cross sectoral and integrative capabilities and especially because national competitive
advantage is now being redefined in the globalizing economy. Very high asset value is now attached to the con-
cept and reality of the knowledge society, which is emerging as the driving force in development.
The ICT strategies for the Caribbean must therefore now necessarily be based on principles that derive partly from
the agreed ICT policy frameworks and from the development agendas specified at the regional and national levels.
Strategic Objectives
The CARICOM Secretariat is developing the ICT strategy for the Caribbean. They have already identi-
fied the following strategic objectives.
• Promotion of e-enabled human capital, to enhance human capacity through on-line communities and
on-line learning (e-communities)
• An enabling e-business environment for the growth of on-line business (e-business) and creation of new
business opportunities.
• Efficient functioning of governmental machinery to build civil society and democratic governance (e-
government)
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat is also formulating an ICT policy and
moving ahead with implementation at the country level.
Application of ICTs
To achieve the strategic objectives, implementation of the action plan will target the major sectors of the
region’s economies, along with some cross-sectoral activities where important to achieving a broader national
or regional goal. The application of ICT in the Caribbean will therefore be focused
Project Implementation
It is intended that project implementation should also be used as a learning process. This will require sys-
tematic documentation, which in turn could lead to more efficient processes in similar projects in the future,
and the development of model sharing and of training materials for use at the national and regional levels.
These may even be made available for sharing with other developing countries.
The normal project life cycle will therefore require that there is definition and analysis of the concept, doc-
umentation of the business case, specification of action plan and provision for on-going and periodic evaluation.
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Digital Bridge to the Caribbean
ICT activities in the Caribbean have been developing along a traditional continuum, focusing progres-
sively on telecommunications infrastructure, computerization, development of informatics as an economic sec-
tor, and most recently on e-business facilitation. This process may be categorized as a sector enhancement
approach. It is illustrated in figure 1.
Figure I
A typology of the ICT Development Continuum
In The CARICOM Countries
- Regulatory Frameworks
- National ICT Strategies
- Liberalization of tele-
communications sector
E-Business
Facilitation
Promoting informatics
Computerization as an economic sector
Development of
telecommunications
infrastructure
TIME
However, the dawning of the new millennium and the emergence of a globalized economic system reflect-
ed in the WTO process, brings a new sense of urgency to define and leverage national competitive advantage
for growth and development. Furthermore according to Drucker1
“Developing countries can no longer expect to base their development on their comparative labour advantage. The
competitive advantage that now counts is the application of knowledge.”2
This objective requires a new approach to setting development goals, as growth will now be conditioned,
if not determined, by global positioning of the economy. ICT therefore becomes a powerful catalyst, for com-
prehensive cross sector strategies to stimulate and facilitate a “wider economic process, and enhance global posi-
tioning.”
The sector enhancement approach outlined in Figure 1 has inevitably led to slow project-based, rather
than process driven growth of ICT in the individual CARICOM countries. Because of this not only is the
region as a whole lagging behind the leader countries e.g. USA, Canada, and Europe in ICT development, but
also there is significant disparity in the levels of “e-readiness” between the CARICOM countries themselves.
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
phone access, PC penetration and Internet access. All are necessary because the Internet currently relies on
the telecommunications network for transmission and the PC still provides the main interface to the Internet.
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Digital Bridge to the Caribbean
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Policy Forums
As indicated earlier, the eventual ICT policy of the CARICOM countries will be greatly influenced by the
agendas of the several forums to which the region is a party. Significantly, all of these recognize that ICT will
play a defining role in the development process. ICT has therefore been a subject of special focus in the inter-
national, hemispheric, regional and national development policies and agendas which impact on the
Caribbean.
(a) The Summit of the America’s process
At its Montreal meeting the development agenda was prefaced with the following statement regarding
connectivity.
“We, the democratically elected Heads of State and Government of the Americas, meeting in Quebec City3, rec-
ognize that a technological revolution is unfolding and that our region is entering a new economy, one defined by a vast-
ly enhanced capacity to access knowledge and to improve flows of information. We are convinced that the promotion of
a Connectivity Agenda for the Americas will facilitate the beneficial integration of the hemisphere into an increasingly
knowledge-based society. We share the goal of providing all citizens of the Americas with the opportunity to develop the
tools to access and share knowledge that will allow them to fully seize opportunities to strengthen democracy, create pros-
perity and realize their human potential. Connectivity will open new opportunities to our society in all areas, for which
equal access and appropriate training are necessary.”
A connectivity agenda was also outlined as follows:
1) Individually and collectively move towards expanding access to global knowledge and full integration
with the knowledge society
3) Establish conditions taking into account national legal frameworks that promote and strengthen free
and fair competition in telecommunications services
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Digital Bridge to the Caribbean
4) Seek out innovative ways of facilitating access to and usage of computers and software in our learning
environments
(b) The CARICOM Strategy
In a communiqué following the most recent meeting4 it was reaffirmed that the CARICOM Heads of
Government:
“… Recognized the potential of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for enhancing and integrat-
ing our societies in areas such as education, health, poverty- reduction, delivery of public information and governance –
objectives articulated in the CARICOM charter of civil Society. They also noted the potential (of ICTs) for transform-
ing our economic landscape, growing the CSME and advancing the regional trade agenda, by increasing competitiveness
in services and seizing opportunities offered by e-commerce. The heads are however not unmindful of increasing chal-
lenges the digital revolution has posed for smaller economies such as ours, underscoring the need for a regional approach.
The CARICOM Secretariat was mandated to present a CARICOM ICT strategy for ratification at the
next meeting scheduled for early in the year 2003 and a commitment was made to
“… further pursue meaningful participation in hemispheric and other policy-making fora on the global information
society.” Special mention was made of:
a. Full participation in the hemispheric ICT process under the OAS through the Inter-American
Telecommunications Commission (CITEL); as outlined at the Quebec meeting, detailed later in this
report
b. Participate fully in the global process working with the European Latin America& Caribbean alliance
for information Society. (IEU-LAC)
c. Cooperate with the United Nations task force for information society set up by Secretary-General Kofi
Annan.
Policy Summary
It is therefore clear that development of a Caribbean ICT policy framework is in process. The outstanding
features and overall principles may be summarized as:
• Participation in regional, hemispheric and global strategies for development of the information society.
• Implementation Process requiring:
° The support and participation of civil society i.e. The private sector, the public sector, NGOs and
the general population.
° A forum where the players can participate in formulating policies, defining priorities, strategies, and
plans of action.
° A high-level government entity empowered to coordinate the short, medium, and long-term.
• A high level national executing agency to manage the planning, executing, and financing processes.
The process should involve the entities responsible for defining economic policy and budgetary alloca-
tion at the applicable central, regional and sub-regional levels.
• A long-term commitment extending at least ten years
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Connectivity
At the national level connectivity infrastructure must be treated as a critical factor in the development of
access to ICT capability. This implies the need for investment in a national telecommunications infrastructure.
The basic capability would be based on a high-speed broadband Digital Diaspora Network, providing adequate
bandwidth, with access to the international information superhighway at affordable cost. Even with the cur-
rent levels of connectivity, cost is considered a major problem and deterrent to speedier development of the
ICT sector.
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Digital Bridge to the Caribbean
Apart from putting the connectivity infrastructure in place at the national level, individuals need to have
access capability either on a personal or community basis. This may be facilitated through the governments and
the private sector acting as propagators by bringing ICT into their standard and on-going business processes.
This would naturally have both a demonstration and a motivational effect, in encouraging personal use. Access
would then more rapidly be brought into individual homes, or at least into local centres for community use.
Skills Development
Next to providing connectivity and access, skills development must be made a critical component of the
ICT strategy. This issue is most important in areas where basic literacy is low. Even in countries with high lit-
eracy, e-literacy will be a necessary objective of skills development. However, basic literacy and e-literacy need
not be treated as separate processes.
For Example, pupils using laptops in the classroom, or a classroom with an interactive whiteboard connected to a
computer and to the Internet, can simultaneously facilitate teacher and student input, intellectual stimulation, creativi-
ty, downloading of content from the internet, and distance learning. All of the major learning processes, especially the
cognitive and affective, are therefore integrated and need only to be managed through good lesson plans. Smart
Technologies website (www.smarttech.com) among others provides guidance for teachers on how to use this
type of technology in the classroom.
If ICT can be incorporated into the education processes and classroom methodologies, especially at an
early point in the educational cycle, a smooth and effective solution would have been achieved. The Edutech
programme being implemented by the Ministry of Education in Barbados is an example of this approach.
A comprehensive ICT skills development strategy will not be confined to the classroom and will require
development of both end-user and technical skills. The end-user skills would include basic keyboarding skills,
net literacy, handling ICT, hosting information, retrieving information etc. The technical skills would revolve
around the development, management and maintenance of hardware and software systems and of course net-
working and connectivity.
Content
The next important issue and challenge in developing a comprehensive ICT policy relates to content.
Content must be understandable not only to highly trained professionals but also to the average citizen in the
community. For example, a farmer in a rural community could also benefit directly from information about market
prices for his products, best agricultural practices for the crops he produces, or the latest government assistance pro-
grammes for farmers without awaiting the uncertain visit of an extension officer. Therefore the way information is
presented through ICTs will also be an important factor.
This will have implications for the development of content in a contextual framework, including where
possible, in the local language or idiom. In addition, content need not be restricted to written-text format, as
in many communities voice data or graphics may be the most effective communication tools. Moreover, the
use of culturally relevant icons in the software and hybrid voice/text technologies would be a distinct advan-
tage. These factors will in turn have a linkage effect to the skills training programmes and also present business
and or career development opportunities for programmers and developers.
Resource Allocation
The deep linkages and interrelationships between ICT and all sectors of the economy have been estab-
lished; consequently an effective ICT programme should be developed within a strategic planning framework.
Governments therefore will need not only to spell out the vision, but also to break that vision down into man-
ageable components with specific targets and time frames for each. This in turn would lead to rational resource
allocation in a logical developmental framework.
Each country’s sustainable development needs should determine the national strategy in each case.
Furthermore at the national level, Governments need to demonstrate the political will to incorporate more
ICT into the operational and other aspects of governance (e-government), and to allocate appropriate
resources for achieving this objective.
In addition to governments’ resource allocation strategy and deployment of ICT, the business sector,
NGO’s and international organizations will be required to contribute resources. This in turn is likely to lead to
new business opportunities to be explored by the private sector participants.
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Digital Bridge to the Caribbean
References
1. ICT for Development, Poverty Reduction, Disaster Recovery, and Initiatives to Enhance Human Development by
Denis Gilhooly Senior Adviser to the Administrator, Director ICT for Development, UNDP.
2. Digital Bridge to Africa:Tthe launch of the Digital Diaspora Network – Africa (DDN-A) a final report on the
meeting held under the auspices of the Un ICT Task Force - Prepared by Digital Partners with consultant
Jennifer Sly (UNICTTF 111/2002/14)
3. Bridging The Digital Divide – A New Challenge for the African Diaspora in Europe presented at first meeting of
the Digital Diaspora Network for Africa – Europe, Brussels, September 27th 2002 – CERFE
4. Summit of the Americas, 2001, http://www.americascanada.org/eventsummit
5. The Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) http://www.icamericas.net
6. UNDP - Sustainable Development Networking Programme (www.sdnp.undp.org)
7. World Bank’s Global Development Network (www.gdnet.org)
8. The Global Knowledge Partnership (www.globalknowledge.org).
9. World Bank’s Global Information and Communication Technologies Department of the IFC. (GITC)
(http://info.worldbank.org/ict/policy.)
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Appendices
Table 1
Teledensity in CARICOM Countries
(Wire-line Service)
Table 2
ICT Access – Internet Users & Number of PC’s
(As estimated by the ITU - see http://itu.int/itu-d/ict/statistics)
Year 2001
Internet Number of PC’s
Country Users Per per 100
10,000 Inhabitants
inhabitants
Antigua & Barbuda 652.03 NA
Bahamas 549.45 NA
Barbados 553.99 9.23
Belize 737.70 13.52
Dominica 777.37 7.50
Grenada 520.00 13.00
Guyana 1,091.95 2.64
Haiti 36.38 NA
Jamaica 384.91 5.0
Montserrat NA
St. Kitts / Nevis 516 17.45
St Vincent & Grenadines 308 11.61
St. Lucia NA
Suriname 330 4.55
Trinidad & Tobago 923.08 6.92
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Table 3
Telephone & Internet Accounts
In CARICOM Countries - Household Penetration
Fixed Number of
Country Lines Number Internet
2001 Of ISP’s Subscribers
Antigua & Barbuda 37,300 2
Bahamas 123,300
Barbados 123,800 6 27,600
Belize 35,200 1 6,000
Dominica 23,300 2 3,500
Grenada 32,800 1 3,200
Guyana 79,900 5 3,000
Jamaica 562,827 40 70,000
Montserrat 1 N.A
St Vincent & Grenadines 24,900 1 2,700
St. Kitts / Nevis 21,900 2 3,200
St. Lucia 1 4.500
Suriname 3 5,800
Trinidad & Tobago 311,800 6 60,000
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
The Meeting
“Meeting on Bridging the Digital Divide for the Caribbean”
Summary
The meeting on Bridging the Digital Divide for the Caribbean was initiated by the United Nations
Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (United Nations ICT TF) in partnership with the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
(UNFIP) and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), while also supported by the CARICOM Permanent
Missions to the United Nations, the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. The key achievement of the meeting was the establishment of a Digital Diaspora Network for
the Caribbean.
This meeting built on three previous Caribbean ICT Conferences on bringing ICT systems to the
Caribbean.7 In the spirit of new partnerships to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, this initiative
tapped the extensive talent and financial potential of the Caribbean Diaspora living in North America. In
addition to representatives from United Nations organizations and the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB), over 140 participants attended the meeting, including the CARICOM Permanent Representatives to
the United Nations, senior officials of Government and CARICOM Secretariat and the University of the West
Indies. Close to seventy percent of the participants were Caribbean nationals living in North America who
offered their technical, entrepreneurial and other skills to assist in closing the digital divide.
The daylong meeting included a morning session, moderated by Dr. Jerrold Thompson, Minister of
Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with a keynote
address given by Senator Philip Goddard, the Special Envoy for Information Technology and International
Trade to the Prime Minister of Barbados. Other speakers included Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Dr. Christopher
Hackett, Mr. Amir Dossal, Amb. June Clarke, Ms. Jennifer Britton, and Dr. Roy Hastick.
This session was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Courtney Betty, CEO of Caribtel. Panelists
made presentations on the status of ICT development in the Caribbean and the challenges to be faced, and
included Mr. George Goodwin, Ms. Jennifer Britton, Mr. Roderick Sanatan, and Mr. Patrick Hayford.
Moderated by Amb. Bartholomew Lawson, the luncheon session’s discussion revolved around the issues of
Applied ICT in Education, presented by Ms. Lolita Applewaite, and Youth in ICT Development, which was
presented by Makonnen Blake.
In the afternoon, participants broke into ten roundtables, providing an opportunity for lively interactive
discussions on a variety of issues. The discussions where summarized later by the Roundtable moderators and
are included in the following sections. The meeting was concluded with closing remarks given by the repre-
sentatives of the sponsoring agencies and partners, acknowledging the this determined historical path of United
Nations involvement in vital activities for human development.
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Main Recommendations
The outcome of the meeting can be summarized into the following list of main recommendations:
1. Establishment of the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C)
It was agreed that the Network would initially consist of the meeting participants as well as non-attendees
who had expressed support for implementing the concept. A web site will be established as the initial con-
tact mechanism and used in formulating an action plan.
2. DDN-C steering committee
A Steering Committee will be formed with the task of establishing an organizational framework to pro-
mote and manage the resulting network of interest, to ensure continuity and to oversee and monitor fol-
low-up activities.
The Steering Committee will include individual members of the DDN-C, corporate institutions in North
America with a proven track record of investing and undertaking work in the Caribbean, donor agencies,
relevant regional institutions, representatives of the Caribbean-based ICT community and the sponsoring
United Nations agencies.
The Steering Committee will convene in mid-2003 to determine the work plan and priorities.
3. Facilitating role of the United Nations
The participants requested the sponsoring United Nations agencies to continue to support and nurture the
initiative to ensure its effective implementation.
4. Institutional grounding
The meeting recognized the need for Caribbean institutional grounding and considered that the CARI-
COM Secretariat and/or The University of the West Indies would be appropriate institutions. Their role
should quickly be defined.
5. Action Plan
An action plan will be developed based on the findings of the Roundtables after discussion between the
steering committee and the network. These findings relate to the following themes:
(i) ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
(ii) Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Costs
(iii) Human Capacity Development- E-education
(iv) Health and Telemedicine
(v) E-business Environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
(vi) Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector
(vii) Strengthening civil society and Governance – Focus on E-government
(viii) Developing Agriculture with Information
(ix) Identifying resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
(x) ICT and Outsourcing.
In addition, the network will support and build synergies with a number of already established ICT based
activities in the Caribbean.
6. Funding
The need for a financial resource base for the network is important. It is therefore necessary to develop
appropriate funding sources as an essential element in the development of the DDN-C’s programme. New
York Healthcare Plus made an immediate initial pledge of $20,000 for the network.
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Roundtable Reports
Roundtable 1 - ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
Moderator: Mr. Peter King, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce, Science & Technology, Jamaica, and
Chairman of the Trade Board
Rapporteur: Mr. Selwin Hart, Permanent Mission of Barbados to the United Nations
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It is also recommended that the members of the Caribbean Diaspora contribute and follow critical events
such as the World Summit on the Information Society.
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Background Issues
1. The Caribbean must acquire knowledge of the relatively new technology of E-education.
2. It is necessary to outline strategy and initiatives that will apply to the “Digital Divide” as it impacts the
academic and economic development of the peoples of the Caribbean and the role of the DDN-C.
3. The development of the human capacity of communities is directly impacted by Internet access in each
country.
Action Points
1. Establish working groups to organize strategies and develop e-fever. As we create “E-Fever” we must
remember that the medium is not the message; it is the relevance of the application that is paramount.
2. Establishment of computer competition among CARICOM constituencies.
3. Development of an ICT web page and chat rooms to create linkages between policy and input from the
community.
4. Maintain a broad area of focus to address the needs of basic classical academics, the academic and pro-
prietary needs of the unemployed youth and the engagement of seniors in IT e-education.
5. Model a program to address the illiteracy that inhibits economic stability and success in the islands.
6. Plan and execute on-site ICT task force training conferences, to promote E-education to the citizens,
and government.
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Background Issues
1. There is a shortage of medical expertise in Caribbean, therefore enormous possibilities are for Virtual
hospitals, old age homes and Tele-radiology; linking patients and under qualified doctors to high tech
interventions.
2. Assessment and formal systems with a critical focus are needed; identifying the areas where telemedi-
cine can be both a cost and time effective remedy to shortcomings in the medical system. For example
HIV, diabetes, cardiology, physical therapy and speech therapy.
3. Technological and Medical Infrastructure are necessary for the maintenance of a good health system.
E.g. Laboratories, economical and methodological drug distribution (group purchasing of medicine)
and pharmacy benefit management.
4. Compensation for Doctors is needed to create a two-way system, where it is give and take and not just
volunteer based.
5. Unifying the different international medical standards is important for enabling and facilitating actions,
for example, an American doctor can legally offer medical advice to patients being treated abroad.
5. Liability issues should be taken into consideration, for example do doctors simply gather data on the
best course of action regarding the care of their patients or are the diagnoses and treatments specified
via computer.
6. Support from governments is essential. Useful examples and information sources include: Eye care in
India (Christine Melton’s project Aravan); Cornell’s ocular oncology telemedicine system; the expert-
ise and experience of the group members in experimenting with the building and managing of telemed-
icine systems; Community Development Corporations; NASA (who has spearheaded much research
in telemedicine); United States Department of Defense.
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Roundtable 6 –
Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism Sector
Moderator: Mr. Allen Chastanet, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Air Jamiaca
Rapporteur: Mr. Evan Reiss, UNFIP
1. From a marketing perspective ICT offers the opportunity to be involved in the distribution of tourism
(e.g. http://Go Caribbean.com) offering full services to hotels and other tourism related businesses.
However, this site has been under-utilized because entrepreneurs are not well educated in technology.
ICT education is therefore needed in the tourism sector.
2. Technology can be used to improve the processes in official tourism related functions such as immigra-
tion, customs, and obtaining licenses (e.g. driver’s licenses and marriage licenses).
3. ICT can facilitate the planning of multi-destination travel in the Caribbean. This could be accom-
plished by allowing immigration and customs documents to be applied for online, in addition to allow-
ing a visitor to visit several islands on a single trip to the Caribbean.
4. Improving technology services for hotel guests e.g. in-room email and Internet access. This includes
offering lower cost services than currently exists.
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1. Providing access so that all members of society are able to enjoy the benefit of ICT. ICT should there-
fore be mainstreamed into all development processes, particularly those for achieving economic growth,
poverty eradication and millennium development goals.
2. The dilemma in allocating limited resources to ICT investment while basic needs are still to be fulfilled.
Governments must therefore be open for partnerships with civil society, private sector and funding
agencies.
3. Limited ICT infrastructure is also a critical concern. However, the momentum of introducing ICT
should be captured even if infrastructure is not fully there. New ICT does not necessarily require the
traditional means of communication such as telecommunication cable. Therefore, developing coun-
tries could leapfrog with the advanced ICT.
4. Finding the best ways to utilize available human resources especially those with appropriate skills in the
Diaspora.
5. The digital divide exists not only between developed and developing countries but also between rural
and urban areas within one country. Equitable and sustainable development is therefore vital for ensur-
ing equal access to ICT.
6. E-government as a process cannot be achieved only by project implementations but must be accompa-
nied by awareness and education. Some countries do already have experienced successful initiatives of
their country’s e-governance process
Action points
1. The steering committee should function as an ICT forum to address common problems and institu-
tional challenges of Caribbean island nations.
2. Involvement of the Digital Diaspora Network in the CARICOM agenda is extremely important. The
network could provide critical knowledge, experience and resources.
3. A regional data bank of experts could be established specifying expertise and contacts. A web site could
promote the use of such data bank.
4. Education is a key to promote the ICT use for development. Skills and knowledge are needed at all
levels but the education of younger generations is particularly important.
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5. Strong, united and concrete participation by the Caribbean in WSIS is needed to bring the voice of
the Caribbean community.
6. The outcome of this meeting should be brought to the preparatory meeting of the follow-up conference
of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, which will be
held next month.
7. E-government should be results oriented and citizen centered, with interactive processes promoting
innovation and development.
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Action Points
1. Media and Communication Strategy should be shaped to create awareness. To make this effective, an
ongoing relationship with the farmers needs to be developed and maintained.
2. Establish a Website and a Portal where farmers can look at various recommendations, policies, pro-
grams, opportunities for trade etc. Agriculture-trade-related links should be available on the site. This
initiative should preferably connect the farmers across the region and not simply nationally.
3. A portal with a database of small businesses should be created to build a network for business opportu-
nities.
4. Promote development of an e-market to permit conduct of businesses by farmers and fishermen.
Government should be a facilitator in these processes.
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Roundtable 9 -
Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
Moderators: Mr. Danilo Piaggesi, Chief, Information and Communication Technology for Development
Division, Inter-American Development Bank, IDB and Ms. Gillian Marcelle, Member, United
Nations ICT Task Force
Rapporteur: Ms. Ursula Germann, United Nations ICT Task Force Secretariat
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Action points
1. Build a database with information on the Caribbean Digital Diaspora in North America as phase one;
Europe (as phase two) and other regions of the world (as phase three). Action by the Steering
Committee is expected by April 2003 for phase one.
2. When outsourcing is inevitable, Governments should have training and knowledge transfer compo-
nents “built-in” contracts with foreign companies and experts. Action by Steering Committee in col-
laboration with CARICOM and Governments in the Region is expected by June 2003.
3. ICT Companies and vendors in the region should be encouraged to have international quality man-
agement standard certification such as ISO 9000 and SMM in order to satisfy international best prac-
tices and benchmarks.
4. The formation of an organizing committee to help develop a Caribbean Center for ICT Outsourcing
(based in NY) as part of the Digital Network whose responsibility will be to identify Corporations and
other interests seeking to use the Caribbean as location for Outsourcing activities. Action by ICT
Outsourcing Steering Committee to be completed (by March 2003).
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United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
Appendices
Meeting Agenda
Opening Remarks
Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Director, Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, United
Nations ICT Task Force
Mr. Christopher Hackett, Chief of Caribbean Division, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)
Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director, United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
(UNFIP)
Ambassador June Clarke – Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations
Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, Integrated Information Systems, CARICOM
Secretariat
Dr. Roy Hastick, Chairman, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CACCI)
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Closing Plenary
Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Director, Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination,
United Nations ICT Task Force
Mr. Christopher Hackett, Chief of Caribbean Division, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)
Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director, United Nations Fund for International Partnerships
(UNFIP)
Ambassador June Clarke – Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations
Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, Integrated Information Systems, CARICOM
Secretariat
Dr. Roy Hastick, Chairman, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CACCI)
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List of Participants
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Footnotes
1
Drucker (1994)
2
See ICT for Development, Poverty Reduction, Disaster Recovery and Initiatives to enhance Human Development
by Denis Gilhooly Senior Adviser to the Administrator, Director, ICT for Development UNDP – present-
ed at the Jamaica Conference 29 May 2002.
3
The 2001 Summit of the Americas held in Quebec, Canada 2001
4
The 23rd meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government held in Georgetown, Guyana July 2002. At this
meeting a document was presented by the Secretariat outlining strategy for development of a CARICOM
ICT policy.
5
The 2003 conference is presently proposed for December 2003, in Geneva, and expected to be at the level
of Heads of State and Government. The process leading up to the summit will include four regional
preparatory conferences. The regional preparatory conference for the Caribbean is scheduled for the end of
January 2003 in the Dominican Republic.
6
CITEL has already started working with the CARICOM Secretariat on devising a regional connectivity
strategy.
7
Towards CARICOM Connectivity, Guyana, July 2002: International Forum: Latin America and the
Caribbean in the Information Society, Rio de Janeiro, September 2002; and the Caribbean ICT
Roundtable, Barbados, October 2002.
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