Caribbean News
One Digital Caribbean, should be the goal of CARICOM says Estonia President
#Basseterre, February 28, 2019 – St. Kitts and Nevis – The Caribbean Single Market Economy (CARICOM) can leap frog over regional counterparts with one strategic move and it would mean a bold step – together – into the digital age.
For nearly 45-years, CARICOM has been working toward greater synergy for its members states and associate member countries when it comes to trade, freedom of movement and employment opportunities; and this week, a European outsider gave CARICOM yet another compelling reason to amalgamate.
Smarter countries; and the President of Estonia was not talking about text book education but rather her focus at the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting held in St. Kitts and Nevis was getting to the place of far more e-savvy governments.
“Do it together! Have a single digital strong identity which you will commonly guarantee. It does not matter what technology you use as long as it is secure, you can give digital signatures and you can time stamp your signature.”
President Kersti Kaljulaid, was a refreshing presenter for the regional heads of government and explained that whether it is block Chain technology or the environmentally-friendly KSI (Keyless Signature Infrastructure).
“I know your common strategy right now is more related to creating digital infrastructure and communications so that the information flow does not have to travel long distance and could remain in the region, and this is a very valued objective you have but I hope you would arrive at one point to the conclusion that creating a single digital CARICOM identity would be extremely beneficial to the region.”
Imagine gaining a digital identity which helps with government or national applications, medical emergencies, improves security and confidentiality.
“In our system, if somebody goes into the system, they have to identify with this same single digital identity and when I see my file, somebody has been in there I can ask why there were… the system will send me a note to say somebody was looking at your data. This a data protection layer which is far superior than anything you can have on paper.”
Madame President exampled Estonia’s system of e-governance, its relationship with the private sector in leading aspects of their innovative society, the benefits of harmonizing data bases to reduce repeatedly re-entering personal information or the need to memorise dozens of passwords and the extreme ease of e-voting.
Estonia is recognised as the most advanced digital society in the world.
#magneticmedianews
#onedigitalcaribbean
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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