#Bahamas, November 29, 2017 – Nassau – Information Communications Technology (ICT) is the engine that is driving global developments in the 21st Century, changing the way countries, businesses and individual citizens communicate, execute business and interact socially, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe said.
Addressing the Opening Session of the URCA/Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s (CTU) ‘ICT Week’ on Tuesday evening (November 28, 2017) at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe, who has responsibility for Information and Communications, told delegates that the region “must embrace these changing technological dynamics which are influencing the evolution of every sector of global society,” in order to keep pace.
“We must always keep in mind that our global competitiveness depends on our ability to understand and effectively respond to the changing dynamics of the 21st Century world; technology is an integral part of that response,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe told participants.
“Doing business in the world today requires Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — like most of CTU’s membership in the Caribbean – to work collaboratively through opportunities like ICT Week to explore how we can more affectively address the challenges we face in the changing global environment.
“During this session, we have an opportunity to evaluate our progress as individual nations and as a region, discuss global standards and best practices, and to help determine our level of compliance with such. We must also be open to exploring new options to empower our individual nations and the region. The single ICT space initiative, the Caribbean Spectrum Planning and Management Project, and the ICT Collaboration Forum, are examples of the kind of collaborative ICT development drive that will position our small nations to compete on the global stage,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.
Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe said the Government of The Bahamas understands the “intrinsic value of technology” and the need for regional and global collaboration.
“These changing dynamics are indeed fundamental in ensuring transparency and accountability within government, and [are] fully embraced by this new Administration, led by Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis.
“We also realize the importance of consultation and need to merge with Bahamian, regional and international expertise to build on existing foundations, while charting a course of the nation’s future. Our active and participatory membership in organizations such as the CTU demonstrates our commitment to this regional and global technological revolution that has changed, and continues to change, the way we communicate, execute business and interact socially,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.
Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe said less than three weeks ago, The Bahamas welcomed leading technology experts from around the world, including Silicon Valley, for a major Technology Expo in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
“We are optimistic that this initial attempt to expose the international ICT community to possible investment opportunities in The Bahamas, together with the introduction of the appropriate laws and policies, will facilitate the establishment of an industry that will create new opportunities for Bahamians.
“We were encouraged by the number of companies and experts that demonstrated an interest in our country through their presence at the Expo.”
Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe urged ICT policymakers and experts to commit to finding ways to more effectively utilize technology to bridge the geographical gap “that is often used as a divisive force.”
“Let us ensure that we embark on meaningful, realistic and mutually beneficial discussions on this proposed single ICT space,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.
By: Matt Maura (BIS)
