#Bahamas, November 29, 2017 – Nassau – During ICT Week’s 20th Meeting of the General Conference of Ministers of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), and 35th Meeting of the Executive Council at Atlantis on Tuesday morning, November 28, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Peter Turnquest welcomed the delegates and affirmed the CARICOM mandate of February of this year for organizations like the Caribbean Telecommunications Union to look more comprehensively on how the region could effectively embrace Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a foundation for national development and regional interaction.
Expressing support for the embrace of technology to fuel national and regional development, Mr. Turnquest explained that the government as a relatively new administration, committed to transparency and seeing a need for a different approach to economic expansion — “understood the rapidly evolving global environment, influenced and driven in large measure by the technological revolution that is impacting every aspect of national, regional and global development.” He said: “We knew that the different approach to national development, and a more significant regional and global participation required a commitment to embrace technology as fundamental to this new approach.”
As such, said the Deputy Prime Minister, “The Government of The Bahamas is convinced that embracing ICTs and making them the foundation of every project and initiative we undertake as a nation, will serve as the catalyst for our economic resurgence and social development, creating a self-sustaining machine for future growth.
“This commitment to embracing ICTs is evident in the ongoing transformation of the Public Service. We are strengthening the ICT structure and capacity within the public service to further expand the use of technology to provide improved levels of customer service efficiency, transparency and accountability. We are employing technology to establish the new digital workflow that will redefine the way the Government does business with the public.
“We are undergoing major technological advancements in the Ministry of Finance and its agencies, including Bahamas Customs and the Department of Inland Revenue. We are currently rolling out a new electronic Vehicle and Driver’s licensing process. We are working to ensure that, despite the challenges and obstacles, we can systematically employ technology throughout the public service and through policy, inspire and encourage the private sector to continue its evolution as well.”
Mr. Turnquest said that the Government of The Bahamas is committed to economic expansion through ICTs and has designated the island of Grand Bahama, “the centre for technology investment and development,” and, therefore, “we envisage the creation of diverse investment and career opportunities through the effective utilization of ICTs.”
DPM Turnquest pointed out: “This commitment is reinforced by the recent passage of the Commercial Enterprise Legislation that is designed to attract a broad range of new business opportunities for The Bahamas, embracing Information Communication Technologies as the foundation of this new business development and economic expansion thrust.”
The aforementioned initiatives, together with the commitment to technological transformation, highlights, he said, “The Bahamas’ endorsement of the CTU’s Single ICT space. We believe that the creation of such a platform could have far reaching positive implications for regional development through trade and cooperation.”
Mr. Turnquest continued, “We also endorse the Caribbean Spectrum Planning and Management Project, the ICT Collaboration Forum, and its many other collaborative ICT development initiatives that augur well for national and regional growth and development.
“Ministers, we must see our roles as pivotal to the creation of the new technologically integrated Caribbean Region that provides the strength for small states to effectively compete in the new global environment.
“Finally, we would like to thank the CTU and all of you Ministers for joining us here in The Bahamas for this week of meetings, workshops and seminars. We do hope that the deliberations are productive and meaningful to all member states. Please do not leave without embracing the opportunity to sample our culture. Get a taste of the Bahamian islands and be sure to return for both business and pleasure. Thank you.”
Photo Captions:
Header: The Hon. Peter Turnquest, Deputy Prime & Minister of Finance, gives welcome remarks at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s 35th Executive Council and 20th General Conference of Ministers during ICT Week at Atlantis Paradise Island. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
Insert: Deputy Prime & Minister of Finance, the Hon. Peter Turnquest takes a moment with Bernadette Lewis, CTU Secretary General during the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s 35th Executive Council and 20th General Conference of Ministers, Atlantis Paradise Island. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)