(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) As the Caribbean continues to position itself to fully exploit the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the Regional ICT Steering Committee will convene for the third time. The meeting will take place 3-4 March, 2009 and will be held in Grenada for the first time. Grenada has responsibility under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Quasi Cabinet for Science and Technology (including Information and Communication Technology).

The Steering Committee’s work at this meeting will focus on refining the draft Regional Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) Action Plan and Strategy, and also the draft work plan of the Steering Committee 2009-2012.

In seeking to refine the ICT4D Action Plan and Strategy, members of the Steering Committee will receive reports arising from its sub-committees meetings. These subcommittees met in the latter part of 2008 and reviewed the drafts which are due to be presented at the next Meeting of ICT Ministers of CARICOM proposed for May 2009.

The work of the Regional ICT Steering Committee is an integral part of a project to aid the development of the Caribbean Information Society (CARIB-IS) which is being supported in part by the European Union.

The CARIB-IS project supports the development of a network, information society indicators, information-sharing, and innovation. It involves key Information Society (IS) stakeholders including ICT/IS personnel, ICT and telecommunications regulators and operators, private sector and civil society.

The Regional ICT Steering Committee serves as an advisory and support body to the CARICOM Secretariat identifying issues relevant to ICT4D and the Information Society and providing technical advice. It comprises representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat, CARIFORUM Member States, CARICOM Associate Members, French Departments of the Americas (DOMS), Caribbean Regional Organisations, the private sector and civil society.