Consultations on ICT4D Strategy begin in Grenada

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Stakeholders across the Region will, from Thursday 11 November, have an opportunity to discuss and refine the contents of a draft Information Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) Strategy when a Regional Consultation and Awareness Campaign is launched in St. George’s, Grenada.

The draft document, which is presented as the Digital Development Strategy (DDS), is intended to stimulate discussion amongst Government, businesses and civil society on how to create and exploit a knowledge-based economy. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current situation in the Region with respect to ICT, gives guidance on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and outlines some of the main challenges to adopting the CARIB-IS and the creation of a single CARICOM ICT space.

A CARICOM Secretariat team is spearheading the two-day round of talks in St. George’s. The team is headed by Amb Irwin LaRocque, Assistant Secretary-General Trade and Economic Integration, and includes, Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, ICT4D and Dr. Camella Rhone, Consultant, Regional ICT Strategy.

On Thursday the team will officially hand over a copy of the Draft Strategy to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who holds the portfolio for Science and Technology including Information and Communication in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet.

Over the two days, consultations will be held with senior government officials, the private sector, civil society, and ICT personnel.

The Campaign is geared at:

    Increasing the understanding of key stakeholders of the role that ICT can play in social and economic development.
    Supporting the development of social and economic strategies and action plans with ICT as catalyst for the implementation of those strategies
    Providing an understanding of the impact and potential application of technology at all levels in the society.
    Increasing visibility and awareness of the Digital Development Strategy and increasing `buy-in’.

The development of the draft strategy was a mandate issued by the CARICOM Heads of Government at their Thirtieth Meeting in Georgetown in July 2009. The Heads of Government requested the Regional ICT4D Strategy to guide activities towards the development of the Caribbean Information Society (CARIB-IS). Towards this end, and with funding from the 9th EDF, the Secretariat commissioned the services of a Consultant to develop and present the framework for a five- year Strategy.

It is anticipated that consultations will be held in all Member States by the end of January 2011