Caribbean nations signs agreement for digital integration

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

May 30, 2023 – Caribbean nations in keeping up with the times, are making moves to Foster sustainable digital transformation (DT) across the region as nine Caribbean ministers and two senior advisers with responsibility for DT, signed the Port of Spain Commitment on Digital Integration.

The signing took place during the Executive Sessions on Digital Leadership in the Caribbean on May 15th and 16th and is indicative of the commitment of the signees  to work towards digital advancement across the region.

During the session, senior DT policy makers from the region and distinguished thought leaders and speakers, had talks and shared information regarding their efforts for DT, their successes, challenges, and interests in leveraging technology to enhance the lives of the people, including the Diaspora.

Additionally, they agreed on actions in accordance with three essential areas of digital advancement namely, Infrastructural Ecosystem, Cybersecurity, and Digital Identity and Interoperability.

They further agreed on activities, as detailed under the Port of Spain Commitment namely:

1. 1.Consider the creation of a Regional  Government Cloud leveraging existing or.   planned government data centres across the Caribbean region.
2. Establish a Regional Data Centre to provide a more cost-effective and resilient solution for data storage and management.
3. Develop a Regional C-SIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) to coordinate collaboration among national CSIRTS.
4. Enhance Cybersecurity Education, Training, and Awareness to build capacity, to address the skills gap in the cybersecurity industry; and to promote safe online practices and educate citizens on the risks associated with cyber threats.
5. Develop a Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Regional Framework to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats, identify vulnerabilities, and implement appropriate risk mitigation measures.
6. Pursue cross-border recognition of digital IDs, addressing issues such as data protection, and privacy.
7. Establish a shared repository of digital solutions (government-owned source code) allowing governments access to solutions required for their digital transformation efforts.
8. Develop a region-wide validation of national forms of identification and credentials based on an interoperable digital identity.

The eleven countries that signed the commitment are Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis; and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Robert L. Le Hunte, Executive Director of the IDB, expressed support for the newly signed commitment.

“There are several things that we can do collaboratively and interactions like these will be instrumental in shaping a more inclusive digital transformation process.”

During Sessions hosted by the Ministry of Digital Transformation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, partnering with the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union; the Caribbean ministers and senior officials were also presented with IDB’s newest Government Digital Transformation Guide,’ which provides excellent knowledge on transformation topics such as new digital processes and services, key roles for digital government, and cybersecurity.