UNFIP
Meeting on Bridging the Digital Divide for the
Caribbean
Launching the Digital Diaspora Network for the
Caribbean (DDN-C)
“Information technology is not a magic formula that is going to solve all our problems.
But it is a powerful force that can and must be harnessed to our global mission of peace
and development. This is a matter of both ethics and economics; over the long term, the
new economy can only be productive and sustainable if it spreads worldwide and responds
to the needs and demands of all people. I urge everyone in a position to make a difference
to add his or her energies to this effort.”
Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations
Kofi Annan’s IT Challenge to Silicon Valley, 5 November 2002
Final Report
United Nations
24 January 2003
1
Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 3
Main recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 3
Background................................................................................................................................................... 5
The Meeting ................................................................................................................................................. 7
The Morning Session .................................................................................................................................. 7
Opening Remarks .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Keynote Address ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Panel Discussion ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Q & A Session .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Luncheon Session ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Applied ICT in Education- The Edutech programme in Barbados......................................................... 13
Youth in ICT Development ........................................................................................................................... 14
Afternoon Session ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Roundtable Discussions .................................................................................................................................. 15
Closing Session ............................................................................................................................................ 17
Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 18
Meeting Agenda ..................................................................................................................... 18
Roundtable Reports ................................................................................................................................... 21
1.ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean................................................................................... 21
2.Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Cost ................................................................... 23
3.Human Capacity Development - E-education ........................................................................... 25
4.Health and Telemedicine ............................................................................................................... 27
5.E-Business Environment: Enabling effective E-commerce ..................................................... 29
6.Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector ................................................... 31
7.Strengthening Civil Society and Governance – Focus on E-government .............................. 32
8.Developing agriculture with information .................................................................................... 34
9.Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network ...................................... 36
10.ICT and Outsourcing ................................................................................................................... 38
List of Participants ..................................................................................................................................... 41
2
Executive Summary
The meeting on Bridging the Digital Divide for the Caribbean was initiated by the United
Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF) in
partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United
Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) and the United Nations Foundation
(UNF). The initiative was supported by the CARICOM Permanent Missions to the
United Nations and the CARICOM Secretariat, and facilitated by the Caribbean
American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The key achievement of the meeting was the establishment of a Digital Diaspora
Network for the Caribbean.
This meeting built on three previous Caribbean ICT Conferences on bringing ICT
systems to the Caribbean.1 In the spirit of new partnerships to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals, this initiative tapped the extensive talent and financial potential of
the Caribbean Diaspora living in North America. In addition to representatives from
United Nations organizations and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), over 140
participants attended the meeting, including the CARICOM Permanent Representatives
to the United Nations, senior officials of Government and CARICOM Secretariat and the
University of the West Indies. Close to seventy percent of the participants were
Caribbean nationals living in North America who offered their technical, entrepreneurial
and other skills to assist in closing the digital divide.
The initiative benefited from the experience of the Digital Diaspora Network for Africa,
established by the UN ICT Task Force in July 2002.
Main recommendations from the meeting
1. Establishment of the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C)
It was agreed that the Network would initially consist of the meeting participants as well
as non-attendees who had expressed support for implementing the concept. A web site
will be established as the initial contact mechanism and used in formulating an action
plan.
2. DDN-C steering committee
A Steering Committee will be formed with the task of establishing an organizational
framework to promote and manage the resulting network of interest, to ensure continuity
and to oversee and monitor follow-up activities.
1
Towards CARICOM Connectivity, Guyana, July 2002: International Forum: Latin America and the
Caribbean in the Information Society, Rio de Janeiro, September 2002; and the Caribbean ICT Roundtable,
Barbados, October 2002.
3
The Steering Committee will include individual members of the DDN-C, corporate
institutions in North America with a proven track record of investing and undertaking
work in the Caribbean, donor agencies, relevant regional institutions, representatives of
the Caribbean-based ICT community and the sponsoring UN agencies.
The Steering Committee will convene in mid-2003 to determine the work plan and
priorities.
3. Facilitating role of the United Nations
The participants requested the sponsoring UN agencies to continue to support and nurture
the initiative to ensure its effective implementation.
4. Institutional grounding
The meeting recognized the need for Caribbean institutional grounding and considered
that the CARICOM Secretariat and/or The University of the West Indies would be
appropriate institutions. Their role should quickly be defined.
5. Action Plan
An action plan will be developed based on the findings of the Roundtables after discussion
between the steering committee and the network. These findings relate to the following
themes:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Costs
Human Capacity Development- E-education
Health and Telemedicine
E-business Environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector
Strengthening civil society and Governance – Focus on E-government
Developing Agriculture with Information
Identifying resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
ICT and Outsourcing.
In addition, the network will support and build synergies with a number of already
established ICT based activities in the Caribbean.
6. Funding
The need for a financial resource base for the network is important. It is therefore
necessary to develop appropriate funding sources as an essential element in the
development of the DDN-C’s programme. New York Healthcare Plus made an
immediate initial pledge of $20,000 for the network.
4
Background
The Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean
The Diaspora Concept
It is known that significant numbers of ICT professionals and entrepreneurs now living in North
America originated from developing countries, including the Caribbean. There are two main
explanations for this. The first relates to the issue of economic opportunity and the second to
professional development.
This outcome is a consequence of the fact that a number of developing countries have not
recognized the full value of their own knowledge capability and rewarded it sufficiently.
Therefore skills naturally flowed outwards to those countries where knowledge is viewed as an
asset, and represents a greater value proposition for the professional.
In this context, much has been written about ‘the brain drain’, a paradoxical situation in which
skills and knowledge are motivated to flow from the areas of origin and of greatest need to the
areas of greatest abundance.
It has however been recognized that the highly skilled and professional migrants in particular
consider themselves to be a community overseas notwithstanding their loyalties to their adopted
countries. This community expresses itself as an informal and unstructured network, but with a
defining characteristic, which is, to support development in their home countries or region. This
is sometimes referred to as a “Diaspora network”.
In addition to the economic and professional choices of the individual, there are many
corporations that are involved in ICT activities in the Caribbean and may wish to be part of the
initiative. They could assist in identifying investment opportunities therefore contributing to job
creation and foreign exchange earning capabilities for the Caribbean countries. Indeed early
investment winnings could help countries to “leapfrog” the digital divide in attempting to
harness and manage information and knowledge for development.
Building the Network
The UN ICT Task Force, along with UNDP and UNFIP considered that these forces, particularly
those professionally and entrepreneurially associated with ICTs could be brought together into a
Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network, to bring focus and solutions to some of the challenges of
the Caribbean ICT development process. This Caribbean North American Diaspora Network will
by definition consist of policy makers, managers, entrepreneurs, researchers and other ICT
professionals representing a resource to be mobilized. It therefore allows for pooling of
experience, leveraging of resources, and co-ordinated strategies.
5
The network will also include Caribbean based counterparts, who are keen to draw on the
anticipated benefits in the interest of ICT development in the Caribbean region. It will therefore
be transnational in character and highly skills based.
Furthermore, by considering the appropriate policy context, the initiative can be directed towards
the priority areas identified by the Caribbean countries themselves, generating a synergy with the
international agendas redefining the global development process.
6
The Meeting
Morning Session
Moderator Dr. Jerrold Thompson - Minister of Telecommunications, Science, Technology
and Industry, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Dr. Jerrold Thompson noted that organizing the forum at the UN headquarters signified the
importance of the issue. He stressed that the implications of the digital divide as it exists
confirms the need for greater human resources and capital in the Caribbean in order to bridge the
gap. He expected that the United Nations through its agencies would take a lead in helping to
supply these resources. The moderator also recognized that many Caribbean professionals were
committed to the building of the network, which creates an opportunity to achieve success.
Additionally, he shared a personal conviction that the Caribbean people could mobilize the talent
and leadership to “get there” with the support of the proposed Digital Diaspora Network.
Opening Remarks
Mr. Sarbuland Khan stated that the event was not to be considered a “normal”
conference, because it was a case of the private sector working with official channels to
achieve the goals of bridging the digital divide. He considered it a unique forum where
development banks, corporations, UN agencies and representatives of the Caribbean
Digital Diaspora could meet and discuss possible ways of bridging the digital divide in
the region.
He also expressed the wish that the outcome of the meeting would be discussed at the
CARICOM Heads of Government Inter-sessional Meeting in February 2003.
Dr. Christopher Hackett confirmed UNDP’s support for the establishment of the
Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C), which he considered to be a good
example of the use of ICT for human development. He viewed this meeting as an
opportunity to make further inputs into the formation of the Caribbean ICT agenda which
was to be considered at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting scheduled for
February 2003.
Mr. Amir Dossal noted that The Secretary General considers it important to engage the
private sector in development activities of this type, recognizing the importance of
partnerships and networking strategies. An important goal of the Task Force is therefore
to provide IT solutions through the building of partnerships with the private sector. He
expects that the idea of the digital network will be further widened to allow for the
mutual sharing of the Indian model, the African model and The Caribbean model. He
therefore looked forward to the establishment of the DDN-C at this meeting.
7
Amb. June Clarke considered the meeting to be a “historic conference”. It could show
the way towards meeting goals for the advancement of ICT in the Caribbean. Amb.
Clarke indicated that the network should be seen as a North American Diaspora network
and not simply confined to those living in the United States. She looked forward to the
contributions that overseas-based nationals of the Caribbean can and are willing to make
through this initiative in which the UN is taking a leading role.
Ms. Jennifer Britton, in representing the Secretary-General of CARICOM, stated that in
July of last year (2002) the Heads of Government of CARICOM Countries decided to
focus on IT development at the highest levels. They have therefore requested the
Secretariat to present a CARICOM ICT strategy for approval at its next meeting
scheduled for February 2003. Participation in this meeting and support for the formation
of the Digital Diaspora network are indications that the Caribbean people consider this to
be a very important aspect of the region’s development.
Dr. Roy Hastick stated that the Caribbean-American Association of Commerce and
Industry (CACCI) welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with UN organizations and
others in this milestone event and expressed the desire to work with them on other
projects. He stressed that it should be recognized that ICT is not a remedy, but a powerful
tool to facilitate development. He referred to CACCI’s plans to open a Caribbean Trade
Centre, in New York City, in the near future, which he considered would enable CACCI
to assist with the proposed Diaspora network.
Keynote Address
Senator Philip Goddard – Special Envoy for Information Technology and International
Trade to the Prime Minister of Barbados
Senator Philip Goddard affirmed that the information age provided the Caribbean with
new tools to achieve critical mass and demolish the barriers of distance and the isolation
created by water. The new tools provide an opportunity to create a ‘society of
excellence’. The information age could provide an opportunity for the further
enhancement of the long cherished tradition of education that the Caribbean has always
had without risking losing people forced to migrate to metropolitan areas abroad in order
to seek success since they now could be provided with the possibility of working from
their homes.
ICT could make a difference to small remote states and help them to participate more
fully in the world’s economy. There were immediate applications that could enhance
tourism and agricultural business; the two major planks of current Caribbean economies
but the information age could also provide the Caribbean with new economic areas such
as knowledge-based services that could compete in the global arena. Increases in
productivity and efficiency would lead to economic growth and strengthen the Caribbean
economically.
8
In order for the whole society to benefit the Caribbean had to redefine literacy to mean
digital literacy. Digital literacy meant a change in mind set that valued networking,
information sharing, thinking outside the box and embraced a culture of continuous and
life long learning. As the Caribbean adjusted to this new paradigm in primary and
secondary education it also had to re-educate the whole working population. To manage
this would require unprecedented leadership and managerial skills in all sectors of the
society.
The Senator saw two prerequisites for achieving this change; the formulation of a
cohesive and all encompassing ICT strategy that was technology neutral and adaptable to
technological change and the creation of a robust cost effective method of broadband
communication within our countries, our region and connected to the rest of the world.
The Caribbean could no longer think simply about telecommunications infrastructure, but
more widely about information technology capability.
The Caribbean governments therefore had to demonstrate the courage to develop new
economies and even new societies to secure positive economic results, even if this means
facing up to obsolescence in a number of areas as the path is pursued.
Q & A Session
A lively question and answer session followed the keynote address. Questions focused
on (a) the cost of basic infrastructure to facilitate ICT development, (b) personal
communications systems which could promote greater efficiency, (c) training and elearning facilitation and (d) governmental incentives and initiatives for the ICT sector.
Panel Discussion
Moderator – Courtney Betty, CEO, Caribtel
In introducing the topic, the moderator considered that there is an obvious model for
development of ICT in the Caribbean. It consists of integrating people, technology and processes
into a network for transforming the Caribbean into a knowledge – based society, because
knowledge is the new international commodity. He affirmed that the starting point must be the
development of the communications side of the infrastructure and noted that the Caribbean has
both services and merchandise to be moved.
The moderator considered that additional fiber-optic connections to the USA for the delivery of
broadband services are one of the main requirements for “laying the tracks” or achieving this
connectivity. He also highlighted that governments have a major role to play in this process
given the cost and arrangements necessary.
9
Four panelists made presentations on the status of ICT development in the Caribbean and the
Challenges to be faced:
Panelist 1 – Mr. George Goodwin, Director-General, Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) – OECS Agenda – New Initiatives
Panelist 2 – Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, CARICOM Secretariat – The
CARICOM ICT Strategy
Panelist 3 – Mr. Roderick Sanatan, Center for International Services – University of
the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill – Critical Analysis of the ICT situation in CARICOM
Countries
Panelist 4 – Mr. Patrick Hayford, UN Secretary General’s Office – The African Digital
Diaspora Network and the Caribbean ICT Challenges
The main issues raised by the panel were:
The need for ICT Development
The panelists affirmed that there is great potential and great demand for ICT development
in the Caribbean. It was stressed that the OECS countries have started to take action
through liberalization of the telecommunications sector taking a first important step in
creating an environment for investment in higher value-added activities.
In July 2002 the OECS economic summit identified a number of new economic sectors to
be targeted for development with ICT playing a central role, operating both as a sector in
its own right and as a catalyst for others.
The panelists also agreed on the importance of expanding the geographic, social and
financial space of these small islands and provide easier access to appropriate
international markets.
Processes
The panel discussion outlined the main elements of the CARICOM ICT strategy.
The CARICOM secretariat has identified four processes which are central to the
CARICOM ICT strategy: (a) liberalization (b) penetration (c) the region ringed by fiber
systems and (d) sectoral applications. At the country level, Haiti in particular is seen as
an area of special opportunity.
Following the Quebec City Summit of 2001 some progress has been made in
implementing a connectivity strategy. A plan has been drafted, defining the vision, the
overall principles, major objectives, and action agenda. The important resource elements
are: infrastructure, research and development, human resources and an inventory of
national efforts.
10
CARICOM will also monitor the development of national ICT plans of action, and
recommends that a single high level entity should be identified to execute the plan in
each country.
Research and Development Challenges
It was highlighted that ICT offers great promise for development as “a replacement for
real world processes” and must be viewed as an enabler rather than a panacea. The major
challenges are connectivity, access, defining the policy environment and the securing of
investment in the sector. Certain objectives should be identified as priorities, including
competitiveness, diffusion of technology, boosting of external trade and development of
domestic systems.
It was also stresses that new research will redefine our understanding of the current status
of ICT in the Caribbean and identify further opportunity areas. For example wireless
technology in general appears to be gaining significant momentum and may even be a
preferred alternative to traditional wire line technology.
E-Commerce Capability
It was stated that E-commerce development is provided for in Protocol Three of the
CARICOM single Market and economy (CSME). However the enabling legislation,
which needs to be enacted at the individual national level, is slow in being established.
This has a cost in the form of the outflow of foreign exchange. It was stressed that the
businesses must build websites and the banking sector must negotiate settlement
arrangements with correspondent international banks and agree on administrative
authorities if e-commerce is to take off. This will allow for better capacity building and
reaching critical mass.
The Digital Divide
It was stressed that the digital divide exists not only between developed and developing
countries, but also within individual countries. Bridging the digital divide at each level
will give the Caribbean new opportunities. The significant issues in that context are
building the information society, reinforcement against vulnerability, building social
cohesion and strengthening Diaspora linkages.
It was affirmed that the establishment of the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
exemplifies a commitment to the building of networks for exploiting the benefits of ICT
for strategic human development in the areas of greatest need i.e. the Developing
Countries.
It was affirmed that it would be both cost effective and cost efficient for the Digital
Diaspora Network for the Caribbean to build synergies and share best practices with the
already existing Digital Diaspora Network for Africa.
11
The Caribbean Countries have much to share with Africa especially with respect to
processes, strategies and ideas in a two-way flow. Africa is making small but significant
steps, several of their engineers are doing significant work and professionals in the
Diaspora are well enough connected to assist in making a difference in ICT approaches to
the Caribbean.
Q & A Session (Panelists and Participants)
Questions and discussion focused on the following areas:
Q. What are the main lessons learned from the African experience which would be
applicable to the Caribbean Network
A. The three lessons which stand out from the African experience are strong leadership,
provision of attractive incentives and development of awareness among the population.
Q. Has any systematic research been conducted about the impact of ICT on the development
of Caribbean Trade?
A. No clear measures or standards for isolating ICT impact have been defined, but there is
no doubt that strong growth will result from systematic application ICT to business as
demonstrated by the experiences of the Developed Countries.
Q. What help will be provided by the UN agencies in the immediate aftermath of the
meeting to ensure that the momentum is retained and that the work will go forward?
A. The UN agencies will, among other things, provide a database of best practices, research
findings and some resources for the operation of the network.
Q. E-business solutions will be an important objective in the ICT development process in the
Caribbean. Apart from appropriate technology and affordability the business sector must
be convinced of the benefits. How can information be disseminated to ensure education
about the benefits?
A. Caribbean Export, a Caribbean regional Trade development agency already has a
platform for providing information to on a regular basis to the private sector. Other
regional agencies such as CARICOM (governmental) or the Caribbean Association of
Industry and Commerce – CAIC - (private sector) may also become involved in
disseminating information. It must also be borne in mind that along with widespread
education of the benefits there must also be the resource to build the systems, undertake
software development and provide process management.
Q. There can be no success unless the lower levels of the community are also on board.
Who will be responsible for promotion of digital literacy for all including the poor and
the disabled?
A. It is recognized that the digital divide also exists within countries. There are several
mechanisms for stimulating widespread e-literacy. For example:
- Governments should incorporate more ICTs into their operations thus allowing
people to learn by experiencing it in their daily lives.
12
-
-
-
Non-governmental Organizations can be encouraged to incorporate ICT training
into their community level activities thus giving “formal” exposure to persons at
the community level.
Schools which are equipped with ICT could be required to make the facilities
available after school hours to the communities in which they are located.
Finally community computer centres would also ensure that the tools for learning
are available.
Luncheon Session
Moderator Ambassador Bartholomew Lawson expressed the view that ICTs have brought
significant benefits to all sectors of human activity where they have been employed. It will
therefore be of great value if the DDN-C can be established and empowered to focus on all the
strategic sectors in Caribbean development. In medicine it has led not only to more flexibility in
diagnoses but also brought dramatic cost reductions in the USA. The Caribbean can therefore
benefit from systematic application of ICT to medicine. Furthermore the Caribbean, by starting
from the beginning, can enjoy the advantage of avoiding the mistakes others had made.
On behalf of New York Health Care Plus, Ambassador Lawson immediately pledged to
contribute $20,000 to the Caribbean effort.
Applied ICT in Education – The Edutech programme in Barbados
Ms. Lolita Applewaite – Centre for International Services, University of the West Indies
(UWI), Cave Hill campus.
Ms. Applewaite illustrated the salient features of the Barbados Edutech programme,
which may be viewed as a case study of the application of ICTs to the educational sector.
Edutech is an education sector enhancement programme funded jointly by the Barbados
Government, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB).
Costing over US $200 million, the Programme encompasses the entire national school
system both public and private and all primary and secondary schools and it is expected
to transform classroom culture, for both teachers and students. Beyond the classroom it is
also being used for education administration throughout the system. Additionally,
Edutech encourages personal exploration and development by those using the system.
This programme represents the transformation of the education philosophy through
integration of available technology to enhance effectiveness in literacy, numeracy and
technology. Furthermore while the old system prepared persons for administrative type
jobs in the workplace of an employer, with this programme individuals will be
encouraged to become entrepreneurs, developers and investors.
13
The systematically planned programme is being implemented in a phased manner with
fifteen additional schools in each phase. All stakeholders, administrators, teachers,
parents and the general community were consulted; each component was allocated to a
specific accountable person; and necessary civil works on the buildings along with
teacher training preceded implementation in each school. Evaluation mechanisms are also
in place.
As schools are brought into the programme, each student is given a laptop to complete
the home and classroom assignments, while computers are installed in the classrooms at a
ratio of five (pupils) to one (computer) in primary schools and three to one in secondary
schools. The programme has been in operation in the schools for two years and the
experience is providing useful feedback for the future development of the programme.
Youth in ICT Development
Makonnen Blake - Youth technology consultant to the Minister of Commerce and
Technology – Jamaica.
Because of his computer technology skills, Mr. Blake was invited at the age of thirteen to
be youth technology advisor to the technology Minister in Jamaica. One of the projects
emerging from this was the establishment of a school providing training for youth –
Techschool.
Mr. Blake stressed that while adults are the ICT users of today, it is the youth who will
inherit the system and they must therefore be given an opportunity to help fashion it. The
youth is not inhibited by fear of making mistakes, or by politics, and social issues as the
adults are and can therefore be more adventurous and creative eventually leading to
breakthroughs. He therefore advised that opportunity should be provided within the
Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C) for youth to make a contribution.
He proposed the development of a digital peace corps that could be achieved through
linking two other initiatives, Think Quest and the Junior Summit, which aim to use ICTs
to link youths across the globe.
Afternoon Session
Moderator Dr. Gillian Marcelle, UN ICT Task Force Member
The first part of the afternoon session consisted of ten roundtable discussions organized on a
thematic basis. These were designed to promote detailed analyses of topics of interest and to
identify critical success factors for implementation. Roundtable moderators later made
summary presentations on the discussions in their group. The detailed written reports are
attached as Appendix II.
14
Ambassador Peter King - ICT policy framework for the Caribbean.
The roundtable stressed the need for the early adoption of appropriate processes and
technology. There should be dual focus on ICT, both as an industry sector and as a
catalyst for others. First there should be vision and leadership using strategies such as
partnerships, to ensure a comprehensive programme with global direction, national focus
and neutral technology. Development sectors should be prioritized and marketing
programmes should be developed for the Caribbean, with the UWI as a catalyst or ICT
hub for the programme. Certain time frames were suggested for the various components
of this proposal.
Mr. Richardson Franklin - Infrastructural Framework, connectivity and costs
The roundtable highlighted the need for governments to focus on ensuring that dominant
carriers have the ability to provide the access, capacity and connectivity required by new
entrants.
It was also stressed that affordable, efficient and reliable high-speed data communications
is vital to the development of ICT in the region. A database of infrastructure development
should be maintained, which would guide investment. Governments should also consider
offering certain incentives to new operators who will make investments into the rural and
less developed areas of their respective economies. Proper cost models, which are costbased should be utilized to develop cost-based tariffs and interconnection costs.
Ms. Fay Durrant – Human capacity development – e-education
The roundtable stressed the importance of training people in the Caribbean on how to
benefit from ICT by learning IT related skills, such as using software, developing
programmes and building hardware.
It was also stated that some focus should be place on special groups such as small
children, unemployed youths and senior citizens. Other recommendations included a
website for on-line participation, “Computer-fever awards”, and an e-group chat line. The
University of the West Indies and other institutions could be focal points for such
activities.
Dr. Jerrold Thompson - Health and telemedicine.
The roundtable highlighted the shortage of medical expertise in the Caribbean and the
enormous possibilities that exist in the region for Virtual hospitals, old age homes and
Tele-radiology linking patients and under qualified doctors to high tech interventions.
A needs assessment and a formal system with a critical focus were considered crucial for
the identification of the areas where telemedicine can be both a cost and time effective
remedy to shortcomings in the medical system. The set up of a multi-stakeholder forum
was proposed to develop the specifics of a telemedicine programme
15
Mr. James Quashie Idun - E-business environment - enabling effective e-commerce.
The roundtable stressed the importance of E-commerce policy and the legislative and
regulatory frameworks for the creation of an enabling environment for e-commerce.
Some countries in the Caribbean have adopted e-commerce legislation on but more work
needed to be done, especially in the creation of a regional e-commerce policy, which is in
process.
Education, capacity-building and awareness-raising about ICT is needed especially on the
grass-roots level and focused on business and commercial education e.g. on how to set up
a company, have access to finance, and managing taxation.
First steps could include the development of an electronic business directory, marketing
cultural products, securing intellectual property rights and enforcement of contractual
rights. A regional web-site was also suggested to be interlinked with the international
market place. A steering team from the private sector with inputs from government,
academic and research bodies should undertake this programme.
Mr. Allen Chastenet - Enabling efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism Sector.
The roundtable highlighted the various opportunities that ICT can offer in the tourism
sector. From a marketing perspective, ICT gives hotels and other tourism related
businesses the opportunity to be involved in the distribution of tourism providing full
services.
Technology can also be used to improve the processes in official tourism related
functions such as immigration, customs, and obtaining licenses e.g. driver’s licenses and
marriage licenses.
ICT can facilitate the planning of multi-destination travel in the Caribbean that could be
accomplished by allowing immigration and customs documents to be applied for online.
One of the main recommendations of the roundtable was the creation of an ICT education
programme targeted at the needs of the tourism sector that could be achieved through
seminars for hoteliers, security, finance, investment, customs and immigration officials.
Mr. Michael Lackey - Strengthening civil society and governance – focus on egovernment.
The roundtable pointed out that human resources are primary to make technology work in
the Caribbean, representing both the object and the solution for development. It was
stressed the need to strengthen the relationships between government and civil society at
the national level to bring together a consolidated voice in the policy making process.
Education was considered a key to promote the use of ICT for development, particularly
the education of younger generations.
It was highlighted that E-government should be results oriented and citizen centered, with
interactive processes promoting innovation and development
16
One of the main recommendations of the roundtable was the establishment of a regional
data bank of experts specifying expertise and contacts.
Ms. Florence Chenoweth - Developing agriculture with information.
The roundtable stressed that the application of ICT to agriculture is one of the ways to
break the poverty trap and reduce foreign exchange loss through imports of food which
can be produced locally. Resources, including institutional capacity building, are required
to promote effective information exchange. Information content and presentation are also
critical in this sector. Web cameras can be used for remote crop monitoring. The IICA
linkage should be strengthened further.
Mr. Danilo Piaggesi
Network.
- Identifying resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora
The roundtable stressed that financial resources are an obvious need, therefore the
network should reach out to all groups with the capability to make contributions. There
should be a resource person allocated specifically to the task of identifying key projects,
sources of equipment and building an information database on ICT projects in the
Caribbean. Other important resources are opportunities to tender and twinning
possibilities for execution of projects. The UWI and CARICOM should play a crucial
role with immediate actions focusing on providing basic training, identifying high level
champions, securing finances, and developing creative partnerships.
Mr. Khalid Iqbal - ICT and outsourcing.
An important way to develop immediate opportunities for entrepreneurship in ICT would
be through outsourcing of non-strategic activities by governments and corporations.
These can be developed as realistic and measurable projects to be carried out by
Caribbean nationals. It is also desirable to network with major outsourcers in the USA
etc. An important requirement would be to secure ISO certification.
Closing Session
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by the representatives of the sponsoring
agencies and partners. They acknowledged that it was historical and demonstrated the
UN’s determination to be directly involved in vital activities for human development.
They expressed thanks to all for participating, those who had agreed to be part of the
steering team, and those who had been involved in planning for the meeting and
launching of the network.
17
Appendix I
Meeting Agenda
8:30 – 9:00
Registration
9:00 - 9:30
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Moderator, Minister of Telecommunications, Science, Technology
and Industry, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Opening Remarks
Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Director, Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, UN ICT
Task Force
Mr. Christopher Hackett, Chief of Caribbean Division, United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director, UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP)
Ambassador June Clarke – Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN
Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, Integrated Information Systems, CARICOM
Secretariat
Dr. Roy Hastick, Chairman, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(CACCI)
9:30 - 9:45
Plenary Keynote Address
“Bridging the Digital Divide in the Caribbean”
Senator Philip Goddard – Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on ICT, Barbados
9:45- 10:00
Q&A Session
10:00 - 11:30
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Courtney Betty, CEO, Caribtel
The Caricom ICT Strategy
Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, Integrated Information Systems, CARICOM
Secretariat
OECS Agenda “New Initiatives”
Mr. George Goodwin, Director-General, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS
Critical Analysis of the ICT situation in the CARICOM countries
Mr. Roderick Sanatan, Centre for International Services – University of the West Indies, Cave
Hill
The African Digital Diaspora Network & The Caribbean ICT Challenges
Mr. Patrick Hayford, Director - African Affairs, Office of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations
11:30 – 12:00 Q&A Session
12:00 – 1:30
Lunch
18
Welcome:
Ambassador Bartholomew Lawson,
Ambassador-at-Large for Grenada
Applied ICT in Education – The Edutech
Programme in Barbados
Ms. Lolita Applewaite, Centre for International Services, University of the West Indies
Remarks: Mr. MaKonnen David Blake
Youth Technology Consultant to the Minister of Commerce and Technology, Jamaica
1:30 – 3:30
Roundtable Discussions:
Roundtable 1 – ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
Moderator: Ambassador Peter King, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce, Science &
Technology, Jamaica, and Chairman of the Trade Board
Roundtable 2 – Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity & Costs
Moderator: Mr. Philip Cross, Director, ITU Caribbean Office
Roundtable 3 – Human Capacity Development – E-education
Moderator: Prof. Fay Durrant,
Head of Information and Communication Technologies,
University of the West Indies -Mona
Roundtable 4 – Health & Telemedicine
Co-Moderators:
Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Minister of Telecommunications, Science,
Technology and Industry, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Dr. R. Christine Melton, Aravind Eye Care Hospital
Roundtable 5 – E-business environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
Moderator: Mr. James Quashie Idun, Legal Consultant
Roundtable 6 – Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector
Moderator: Mr. Allen Chastenet, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Air Jamiaca
Roundtable 7 – Strengthening Civil Society and Governance – Focus on E-government
Moderator: Mr. Michael Lackey, CEO, AIT Global
Roundtable 8 – Developing Agriculture with Information
Moderator: Ms. Florence Chenoweth, Director, Food and Agriculture Organization, Liaison
Office to the United Nations
19
Roundtable 9 – Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
Moderator: Mr. Danilo Piaggesi, Chief, ICT for Development Division, Inter-American
Development Bank, IDB
Roundtable 10 – ICT & Outsourcing
Co-Moderators: Mr. Khalid Iqbal, Principal SKI Group
Mr. Carl Pilgrim, St. Lucia National Development Corporation
3:30 – 5:00
Closing Session
Moderator: Dr. Gillian Marcelle, Member, UN ICT Task Force
Presentation of Roundtable Reports –
Recommendations and Decisions:
Closing Plenary
Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Director, Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, UN ICT
Task Force
Mr. Christopher Hackett, Chief of Caribbean Division, United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director, UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP)
Ambassador June Clarke – Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN
Ms. Jennifer Britton, Senior Project Officer, Integrated Information Systems, CARICOM
Secretariat
Dr. Roy Hastick, Chairman, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(CACCI)
20
Appendix II
Roundtable Reports
Roundtable 1 - ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
Moderator: Peter King
Rapporteur: Selwin Hart
Background Issues & Challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A clear understanding of the issues and urgency can be assisted by benchmarking
and comparison. There is a need to base understanding on accurate data e.g. UN
studies, World Bank Surveys, IADB, National and Regional Indices, etc.
Support is needed at the highest level in public, and private sectors.
A vision should be defined.
Leadership is needed at the national level to drive the process.
There has to be a balanced policy framework notwithstanding conflicting social,
economic, business and political objectives.
Strategies for moving forward:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Partnerships should be developed in order to craft a vision with international,
regional & local players (government, private sector; NGOs) which fits with
global directions but retains national objectives and is technology neutral.
The concerns of special groups including women, the disabled and youth, should
be taken into consideration in the interest of the vision.
Framework policies (best practices), which are already in place, should be used as
a basis for crafting a regional ICT policy.
Legislation
 Liberalization
 E-Government
 Institution building
 Utility Regulator
 Spectrum Management
 Telecom Advisory Council
Time lines for the collaboration should be set and an action plan should be
developed accordingly.
A team should be appointed to track implementation and apply pressure where
timeframes are lagging.
A strong institution/leader should be appointed to drive the process.
The process should be supported visibly at the highest political event.
The process should be spoken and communicated publicly.
21
Time frames suggested:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Establish an agreed vision, specific objectives: 3 months
Identify a base framework policy: 4 months
Use this to craft a Regional ICT Policy: 4 months
“3” to have subsets:
a. Identify working team: 1 month
b. Communicate the process: ongoing
c. Developing first draft: 2 months
d. Communicate through the CARICOM machinery and get sign off at
the highest level: 6 months
Provide continuing support for member states to shape regional policy to local
objectives and for local value: ongoing.
Roundtable Participants
Belt, Juan: juanbe@iadb.org
Britton, Jennifer jbritton@caricom.org
Corbin, Carlysle: ccorbinnon@att.net
Crogia, Nisha: nisha_un@yahoo.com
Dunn, Hopeton: hdunn@cwjamaica.com
Gittens, Thomas: Thomas.gittens@undp.org
Grey, Margaret: withmargaret@aol.com
Hart, Selwin: shart@foreign.gov.bb
Hersutanto, Begi: begi_hersutanto@hotmail.com
Kaneko, Kazuyo: kaneko@icnet.co.jp
King, Angela E.V.: king@un.org
King, Peter: peterking@cwjamaica.com
Philip, Paul S.: psphilip@yahoo.com
Prevost, Janelle: prevostj@alum.mit.edu
Talbot, George: talbotg@un.org
Taylor-Roberts, Norma: jamaica@un.int
White-Davis, Gerald: geraldwd@mec.cuny.edu
22
Roundtable 2 -Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Costs
Moderator: Philip Cross
Rapporteur: Richardson Franklin
Background Issues & Challenges
1.
Liberalization: Governments must embark on the liberalization of the
telecommunications sector which will foster competition, reduce costs and
introduce new service offerings. Governments must establish clear policy,
legislation and regulations, in a transparent manner.
2.
Regulatory Bodies: It is recommended that regulatory bodies be established and
strengthened so that they are technically and legally competent, financially secure
and possess the authority to fully enforce the Telecommunications act of each
respective country.
3.
Licenses: Licenses should be transparent and contain provisions for quality of
service, build out requirements and reporting requirements with specific
timeframes for providing information requested by the regulator. Additionally,
special considerations should be given for qualified local entities that wish to
partner with foreign or other Caribbean investors/operators.
4.
Interconnection Regulation: All countries should have a model Reference
Interconnection Offer. Interconnection should be mandatory, with multiple points
of Interconnect. Interconnection regulation should provide for penalties, such as
liquidated and consequential damages and specific timeframes for the completing
interconnection agreements. Interconnection must have provisions for the
regulator to intervene where negotiations have stalled within a predetermined
period of time.
Strategies for moving forward:
1.
Infrastructure: Governments must ensure that dominant carriers have the ability
to provide the required access, capacity and connectivity required by new
entrants. Where there is a need for scarce resources (spectrum, numbers and
rights of way as noted in the WTO’s Basic Agreement), countries must ensure
that such resources are allocated in a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent
manner.
Affordable, efficient and reliable high-speed data communications is vital to the
development of ICT in the region. Redundancy should be built into the networks.
Because the Caribbean is in a hurricane zone operators should be required to
utilize underground ducting and increased wind ratings for towers to ensure
continuity of services during natural emergencies.
23
A database of infrastructure development should be maintained, which would
guide investment. Governments should also consider offering certain incentives to
new operators who will make investments into the rural and less developed areas
of their respective economies.
2.
Costs: Proper cost models, should be utilized to develop cost-based tariffs and
interconnection expenses. Pricing in the region should mirror acceptable
international trends.
3.
E-room: It is recommended that an e-room be established to serve as a follow up
to the conference.
It is also recommended that the members of the Caribbean Diaspora contribute and
follow critical events such as the World Summit on the Information Society.
Roundtable Participants
Bekoe, Martin: martin.bekoe@t-online.de;
Betty, Courtney: cbetty@caribtel.com
Brennen – Haylock, Sharon: brennen-haylock@un.org
Cross, Philip: itucaribbean@caribsurf.com
Franklin, Richardson J: j27frank@aol.com;
Gilsaint, FaGuenston: geef@netzero.net
Gregoire, Crispin: dominica@onecommonwealth.org
Nixon, Richard: nixpn@nortelnetworks.com
Ponce-Gonzales, Antonio: antoniopg@unops.org
Rosborough, Brian: brian@digitalnation.org;
Symes, Fred: fsymes@globalsuntelecom.com
Weinstocks, Ira: outhbrooklyn@bocnet.org
24
Round Table 3 - Human Capacity Development: E- Education
Moderator: Prof. Fay Durrant
Rapporteurs: Melissa Dow-Richardson & Winnie Robinson
Background Issues
1.
2.
3.
The Caribbean must acquire knowledge of the relatively new technology of Eeducation.
It is necessary to outline strategy and initiatives that will apply to the “Digital
Divide” as it impacts the academic and economic development of the peoples of
the Caribbean and the role of the DDN-C.
The development of the human capacity of communities is directly impacted by
Internet access in each country.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
People in the Caribbean should be trained on how to benefit from ICT by learning
IT related skills, such as using software, developing programmes and building
hardware.
Newspapers and websites should be used as tools of communication and
networking and the public should be made more aware of the need to become IT
conscious. A publicity model should be established to promote the project to the
local user and sponsor organizations.
People within the region should be trained to restore and upgrade used corporate
computers for use in communities, which cannot bear the full costs of computers
along with local production, maintenance and upgrading of hardware.
ICT education Committees should be formed in each country to provide varying
perspectives.
Chat rooms and web pages should be developed for people to join discussions and
share ideas.
Linkages between the University of the West Indies and Caribbean student
populated universities in the United States such as Medgar Evers College, MIT
and Howard University should be set up
Training capacity should be expanded with financial and technical support from
the Diaspora network.
E-education models evidenced by online ventures such as Tech School (Jamaica)
and the venture involving school children sponsored by UWI/Barbados should be
adopted.
Basic education and literacy needs among the growing number of undereducated
and unemployed youth should be addressed.
The senior population should be exposed and educated to IT issues, hardware and
software in order to engage the participation in the wealth of knowledge and
process possessed by the Elders of our Diaspora.
25
11.
Basic and advanced IT training should be offered in order to multi-task target
populations to optimize IT proficiencies within the community; highlighting the
experiences and concerns of the indigenous citizen.
Action Points
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Establish working groups to organize strategies and develop e-fever. As we create
“E-Fever” we must remember that the medium is not the message; it is the
relevance of the application that is paramount.
Establishment of computer competition among CARICOM constituencies.
Development of an ICT web page and chat rooms to create linkages between
policy and input from the community.
Maintain a broad area of focus to address the needs of basic classical academics,
the academic and proprietary needs of the unemployed youth and the engagement
of seniors in IT e-education.
Model a program to address the illiteracy that inhibits economic stability and
success in the islands.
Plan and execute on-site ICT task force training conferences, to promote Eeducation to the citizens, and government.
Round Table Participants
Applewaite, Lolita: lapplewhaite@uwi.chill.edu.bb
Batson, Blake: blake@skillcore.com
Belton, Ralph: kikonari@aol.com
Buckmire, Francis: buckmiref@aol.com
Clarke, Dwaine: Dwaine_Clarke@schoolmail.com
Clarke, June: jclarke@barbados.org
Delphesse, Hugh: dele@tbol.net
Dow-Richardson, Melissa: ashmally@yahoo.com
Durand’s, Jean-Camille: gduranse@yahoo.com
Durrant, Fay: Claudette.durrant@uwimona.edu.jm
Jackson, Trevor: jacksonta@attbi.com
Leach, Claude: claudeleach@aol.com
Lugisse, Arthur: tripletech@yahoo.com
Richards, Mulraine: zeef125@aol.com
Robinson, Winnie: geewinnie@yahoo.com
Thomas Cyril
26
Round Table 4 - Health and Telemedicine
Moderators: Jerrol Thompson and Christine Melton
Rapporteur: Melissa Kushner
Background Issues
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5.
6.
There is a shortage of medical expertise in Caribbean, therefore enormous
possibilities are for Virtual hospitals, old age homes and Tele-radiology; linking
patients and under qualified doctors to high tech interventions.
Assessment and formal systems with a critical focus are needed; identifying the
areas where telemedicine can be both a cost and time effective remedy to
shortcomings in the medical system. For example HIV, diabetes, cardiology,
physical therapy and speech therapy.
Technological and Medical Infrastructure are necessary for the maintenance of a
good health system. E.g. Laboratories, economical and methodological drug
distribution (group purchasing of medicine) and pharmacy benefit management.
Compensation for Doctors is needed to create a two-way system, where it is give
and take and not just volunteer based.
Unifying the different international medical standards is important for enabling
and facilitating actions, for example, an American doctor can legally offer
medical advice to patients being treated abroad.
Liability issues should be taken into consideration, for example do doctors simply
gather data on the best course of action regarding the care of their patients or are
the diagnoses and treatments specified via computer.
Support from governments is essential. Useful examples and information sources
include: Eye care in India (Christine Melton’s project Aravan); Cornell’s ocular
oncology telemedicine system; the expertise and experience of the group
members in experimenting with the building and managing of telemedicine
systems; Community Development Corporations; NASA (who has spearheaded
much research in telemedicine); United States Department of Defense.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
Multi-stakeholder forum to develop the specifics of a telemedicine programme
Network with individuals in Diaspora to get:
a.
A strong base for funding,
b.
Infrastructure building tactics,
c.
A web of qualified and specialized doctors to volunteer their time to the
Cause.
Enlist medical school graduates from the various medical schools in the
Caribbean to volunteer their time and expertise.
Use the HIV and AIDS Platform.
27
5.
Begin establishing technological infrastructure now starting with temporary yet
immediate solutions to the lack of specialized medical care for the most desperate
cases.
Roundtable Participants
Binger, Herbert
Francis, Roderick A.: rod.francis@verizon.net
Khan, Reza: rkahn@sandaleo.com
Lawson, Bartholomew: blwson@careplus.net
Melton, Christine: melton20@aol.com
Samuels, Ayanna T.: asamuels@mit.edu
Stanislaus, Lamuel A.: grenada@un.int
Thompson, Jerrol: mit@vincysurf.com
28
Roundtable 5 - E-business environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
Moderator: Mr. James Quashie-Idun
Rapporteur: Lotta Tahtinen
Background Issues and Considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Digital networks offer a wide variety of opportunities in various areas including
information dissemination, distance-learning, financial services, remittances,
statistical support and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
E-commerce policy and the legislative and regulatory frameworks are crucial
parts of an enabling environment for e-commerce. Some countries in the
Caribbean have adopted e-commerce legislation, however more work is needed in
that domain, especially in the creation of a regional e-commerce policy (which is
in process).
The architecture of ICT infrastructure and its suitability for business applications
must be carefully monitored. Upgrading and expansion should be programmed on
a process rather than on a periodic basis.
The Internet can be a powerful marketing tool including the arts and culture of
Caribbean countries. However with this tool protection of intellectual property
rights should be safeguarded.
Education, capacity-building and awareness-raising about ICT is needed
especially on the grass-roots level and focused on business and commercial
education e.g. how to set up a company, have access to finance, and managing
taxation.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The diverse factors that prevent individuals from using ICT should be examined
to develop a program to counteract this. This includes issues such as trust,
security, and privacy, which are all inhibitors to e-commerce.
An e-commerce bibliography or resource guide should be compiled and made
available.
Caribbean countries should actively participate in relevant discussions on
international trade such as tariffs, open access to markets and e-commerce in the
WTO, UNCTAD, WIPO and ACP.
An inventory and sharing of best practices and lessons learned is needed in order
to avoid previous mistakes in e-commerce such as inappropriate methods of
attracting customers, inability to meet demands and mismanagement of supply
chains.
The creation of databases or directories of commercial and economic information
that would facilitate marketing products online and targeting marketing efforts.
The development and adoption of a common code of classification, similar to the
North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
A research team should be included within the Steering Committee.
29
8.
9.
The CARICOM website should be inter-linked with national web sites as a tool to
ensure broad distribution of information.
The United Nations Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Gates Foundation
among others should be approached for funding.
Roundtable participants
Borno, Rosaline: borno@rmborno.com
Chaashab, Thahawam
Duggan, Evan: eduggan@cba.ua.edu
Flateau, John:
Fough, Brian: brian@fough3.com
Gras, Linda:
Mohammed, Hamid:
Quashie – Idun, James:
Rambissoon, Babooram: rambie@dti.net
Richardson, Carlisle: Carlisle_r@yahoo.com
Stephenson, Oronde: oronde@quadaroyal.com
30
Roundtable 6 – Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector
Moderator: Mr. Allen Chastanet
Rapporteur Bevan Springer
Background Issues and Challenges
“The most critical industry in the Caribbean is the most poorly managed.”
Senator Philip Goddard
1.
2.
3.
4.
From a marketing perspective ICT offers the opportunity to be involved in the
distribution of tourism (e.g. Go Caribbean.com) offering full services to hotels
and other tourism related businesses. However, this site has been under-utilized
because entrepreneurs are not well educated in technology. ICT education is
therefore needed in the tourism sector.
Technology can be used to improve the processes in official tourism related
functions such as immigration, customs, and obtaining licenses (e.g. driver’s
licenses and marriage licenses).
ICT can facilitate the planning of multi-destination travel in the Caribbean. This
could be accomplished by allowing immigration and customs documents to be
applied for online, in addition to allowing a visitor to visit several islands on a
single trip to the Caribbean.
Improving technology services for hotel guests e.g. in-room email and Internet
access. This includes offering lower cost services than currently exists.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
An ICT education programme targeted at the needs of the tourism sector. This
could be achieved through seminars for hoteliers, security, finance, investment,
customs and immigration officials.
Identify sources of funding for the needs of the sector and for the general work of
the DDN-C.
Process re-engineering in tourism support activities especially those provided via
the public sector. Current best practices from selected countries may be used as a
guide.
Roundtable Participants:
Abdul-Akbar, Amir Abdullah M.:
Chastenet, Allen: achastenet@airjamaica.com
Gibbs, Rachel:
Harrisingh, Ruby:
Sankar, Zamal: caribdaylight@aol.com
Springer, Bevan: bevdread@msn.com
31
Round table 7 - Strengthening civil society and governance with focus on egovernment
Moderator: Michael Lackey
Rapporteur: Yukie Hori
Background issue and challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Providing access so that all members of society are able to enjoy the benefit of
ICT. ICT should therefore be mainstreamed into all development processes,
particularly those for achieving economic growth, poverty eradication and
millennium development goals.
The dilemma in allocating limited resources to ICT investment while basic needs
are still to be fulfilled. Governments must therefore be open for partnerships with
civil society, private sector and funding agencies.
Limited ICT infrastructure is also a critical concern. However, the momentum of
introducing ICT should be captured even if infrastructure is not fully there. New
ICT does not necessarily require the traditional means of communication such as
telecommunication cable. Therefore, developing countries could leapfrog with
the advanced ICT.
Finding the best ways to utilize available human resources especially those with
appropriate skills in the Diaspora.
The digital divide exists not only between developed and developing countries but
also between rural and urban areas within one country. Equitable and sustainable
development is therefore vital for ensuring equal access to ICT.
E-government as a process cannot be achieved only by project implementations
but must be accompanied by awareness and education. Some countries do already
have experienced successful initiatives of their country’s e-governance process
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
Strengthening the relationships between government and civil society at the
national level (private sector and NGOs) to bring together a consolidated voice in
the policy making process as exemplified in the United Nations Global Compact.
Strengthening of partnership between islands at the regional level may secure one
solid front and the necessary economies of scale for attracting significant
international private sector investment. In this regard CARICOM could play a
crucial role.
Establishing partnership with the Diaspora could bring tremendous benefits to the
CARICOM countries in obtaining necessary skills and resources.
Securing financial and technical support at the international level. Civil society
can contribute to the international level policy making if they are enabled them to
participate in national policy making meetings.
32
Action points
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The steering committee should function as an ICT forum to address common
problems and institutional challenges of Caribbean island nations.
Involvement of the Digital Diaspora Network in the CARICOM agenda is
extremely important. The network could provide critical knowledge, experience
and resources.
A regional data bank of experts could be established specifying expertise and
contacts. A web site could promote the use of such data bank.
Education is a key to promote the ICT use for development. Skills and
knowledge are needed at all levels but the education of younger generations is
particularly important.
Strong, united and concrete participation by the Caribbean in WSIS is needed to
bring the voice of the Caribbean community.
The outcome of this meeting should be brought to the preparatory meeting of the
follow-up conference of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development
of Small Island Developing States, which will be held next month.
E-government should be results oriented and citizen centered, with interactive
processes promoting innovation and development.
Roundtable Participants
Bowman, Dane: dab349@earthlink.net
Dawkins, Wilbert: dawkins_wilbert@bah.com
Fergusson, Kenneth: kfergusson@bahamasny.com
Gagain Jr, John: jgagain@unadr.org
Jackson, Rhonda. M.: rjackson@bahamasny.com
Jaggernauth, Rabindra: rabindra.jaggernauth@tt.ey.com
Lackey, Mike: mike_lackey@aitglobal.com
McMillan, Augustus: lampub@usa.com
Pinto, Luis: lpinto@csis.org
Sanatan, Roderick: rsanatan@uwichill.edu.bb
Viera, Paul: pviera@khrc.org
Virtue, Grace: gvirtue@uas.net
33
Roundtable 8 - Developing Agriculture with Information
Moderator:Ms. Florence Chenoweth
Rapporteur: Ivan Boban
Background Issues and Challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The United Nations Millennium Declaration reaffirmed the target established at
the World Food Summit, a target that aims to halve, by 2015, the number of
people who suffer from hunger. FAO UN estimates that there are 60 million
households in developing countries that fall under this category.
Infrastructure, legal and regulatory framework, skills development and human
capacity are challenges along the road to development
Even the most skilled farmers do not use ICT to exchange information.
Technology might be there but will the farmers access it? Therefore how can
important information about crop growing, fertilizers, and weather be filtered to
farmers and how can farmers be educated to use information and technology for
their own benefit? Even when farmers have access to communication it is not
used for agricultural business purposes.
With the current infrastructure, farmers in developing countries simply cannot
compete with the cost-effective agricultural industry model of the west because of
economies of scale, quantity and quality, and timely marketing. Many hotels in
Caribbean are importing agricultural products rather than buying them from local
farmers.
In summary the main background challenges to ICT development in the
agricultural sector are poverty, health, the Information gap, education,
globalization and modern political economy.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Mobilize the political will and the human, technical and financial resources to
achieve the twin objectives of fighting and defeating hunger and poverty.).
Ensure that the Digital Diaspora Network is people centered.
Further on, it was suggested that was that one of the best ways to fight poverty
was by improving and developing the agricultural sector of the economy.
Developing agriculture with information technology is not a magic formula that is
going to solve all problems, but it is definitely a great leap forward.
Develop programs to educate and filter crucial information to farmers through
creation of media and communication strategies. For this, a website should be
developed.
At a later stage, a portal should also be created where farmers could trade on emarkets and access information that they might need.
Benchmarking based best practices is of a great importance.
34
Action Points
1.
2.
3.
4.
Media and Communication Strategy should be shaped to create awareness. To
make this effective, an ongoing relationship with the farmers needs to be
developed and maintained.
Establish a Website and a Portal where farmers can look at various
recommendations, policies, programs, opportunities for trade etc. Agriculturetrade-related links should be available on the site. This initiative should preferably
connect the farmers across the region and not simply nationally.
A portal with a database of small businesses should be created to build a network
for business opportunities.
Promote development of an e-market to permit conduct of businesses by farmers
and fishermen. Government should be a facilitator in these processes.
Roundtable Participants
Chenoweth, Florence: chenoweth@un.org
Hastick Sr., Roy A.: rahastick@msn.com
Southwell, Cardinal: cardinal@epochsolutions.com
35
Roundtable 9 - Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora
Network
Moderators: Danilo Piaggesi, and Gillian Marcelle
Rapporteur: Ursula Germann
Background Issues and Challenges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Efforts should be taken to mobilize as wide a resource base as possible. The range
of resources for the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean should include
human talent and energy, financial resources and material (in-kind) resources. The
importance of using the Network to identify and recruit a pool of human resources
was stressed. The group took note of the proposal presented by CARINFO to
assist with the development of an electronic database of ICT professionals,
entrepreneurs, community leaders, etc.
The Network should consist of ICT entrepreneurs, professionals, financiers, nonprofit organizations, students, the youth, religious groups, business associations,
community centers, trade unions, and media who have links with Caribbean
development.
The participants noted that a number of inputs were needed to establish a
successful Network: i.e., equipment, entrepreneurship skills as well as technical,
educational and networking opportunities.
An inventory of projects could be established for the region. This would create
opportunities for Caribbean experts – in the region as well as in the Diaspora –
and permit a matching of projects and transfer of knowledge. Development
partners should be aware that it was important to have Caribbean nationals
participate in technical assistance programmes and projects. The funding source
for projects should be as broad as possible, including national governments,
regional organizations, venture capital firms, and philanthropic networks.
This group developed a specific proposal. Which was to set guidelines for tender
processes and technical assistance programmes in the Caribbean ICT sector to
encourage and facilitate the use of Caribbean expertise, both Diaspora
professionals and local professionals. Further it was proposed to include capacity
development and mentoring guidelines in any ICT programmes to ensure that
Caribbean nationals acquire increasing levels of skills and competence in the
field.
The roundtable supported the establishment of a steering committee and
recommended expansion of its composition. The steering committee should
include representatives of national governments, corporate entities, as well as
individual members of the DDN-C. It was stressed that the DDN-C should seek
participation from members of the artistic and business community as well as
youth representatives on the steering committee. Project management capability
must also be available.
E-rooms could be set up as a multi-media messaging tool as a means of
facilitating on-going communication among members of the DDN-C. Also, the
DDN-C, with the help of the steering committee, should ensure media coverage in
advancing ICT-for-development activities. The entertainment community could
36
assist in developing and promoting an outreach programme/information campaign
for the DDN-C.
Strategies for moving forward
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Implement a media awareness campaign on ICT-for-development, which could be
linked to the forthcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in
Geneva in December 2003.
Delivery of basic and high-level training and mentoring programmes.
Identify high-level champions to work with DDN-C to attract attention to ICTfor-development activities in the Caribbean region, and to establish public access
to ICT facilities including telecentres, multimedia community centers, etc.
Launch a creative financial resources mobilization programme.
Establish a creative partnership programme among development partners.
Roundtable Participants
Barnwell, Garfield: gbarney14@hotmail.com
Blake, Barbara: tekskl@hotmail.com
Blake, Makonnen: tekskl@hotmail.com
Clarke, Philip: philip.h.clarke@verizon.com
Cornish, Lascelles lascelles_c@yahoo.com
Davis, Mark R.: mrd1977@hotmail.com
Exeter, Faith: faith@esunsolutions.com
Fenton, Laurine: lafenton@verizon.net
Hewitt, Nigel: nhewitt@yahoo.com
Jacob, Veronica:
Marcelle, Gillian: aisgw@worldonline.co.za
McCarthy, Georgia: geemccarthy@aol.com
McCue, Sarah: sarahmccue@undp.org
Piaggesi, Danilo: danilo@iadb.org
Stewart, Kevin: kstewart@tidco.co.tt
Walker, Keith: wiiscom@caribsurf.com
Williams, Valence: williams@maximgrp.com
37
Roundtable 10 - ICT and Outsourcing
Moderators: Khalid Iqbal and Carl Pilgrim
Rapporteur: Yacoub El Hillo
Background Issues and Challenges
In the last 20 years, the Caribbean Governments placed a great degree of emphasis on the
information services industry as part of a strategy to diversify their economies from agricultural
to more service based economies. The early components of this strategy were the attraction of
back office operations from major US corporations by offering incentives to encourage
companies to establish data processing operations. The creation of hundreds of jobs resulted
from such activity.
The segments of the back- office operations for which Caribbean countries felt they had
comparative advantages were as follows:





Information processing which included data entry, capture and repair, electronic
publishing, medical and insurance claims processing and credit card transaction
processing.
Calls centres for international corporations especially in-bound activity comprising
customer service, order taking, reservations, and technical support centres (i.e. help desk
for ICT companies) along with outbound activities such as sales, debt account
management, market research etc.
Business process outsourcing such as account receivable and accounts payable
Web development and design.
Applications development.
The industry has created over 11,000 agent jobs in over 50 call centres in the region. IT
outsourcing will continue to dominate the offshore outsourcing space with IT maintenance and
back office operations accounting for 70 percent of the market. Vertical expertise is expected to
become a competitive differentiator in the offshore outsourcing segment.
As more companies in the United States and Europe continue to recognize the need to reduce
costs and diversify operations globally, the Caribbean is expected to become a location of choice
for offshore back office operations and IT-Enabled services because its proximity to the United
States and basic skills. A recent study by TMC Research on Customer Interest for Contact Centre
Offshore Outsourcing, ranked the Caribbean as the third most desirable location. To capitalize on
this potential the Caribbean must offer among other things a sound ICT capability featuring cost
savings in telecoms, labour and real estate or office space. In addition it must offer a skilled and
motivated workforce comprising of skilled workers, training centres, positive “can do” attitudes,
and low turnover rates. Another important aspect is quality assurance - which includes ISO
certification standards and international benchmarks.
38
Competitive infrastructure includes the following:
a.
b.
c.
Rapid and reliable telecommunications facilities
Redundancy and rapid maintenance response time
High bandwidth capacity
Strategies for moving forward
1.
Develop a Mission Statement that will position the Caribbean as the Near-Shore
location for outsourcing services offering clients financial benefits, customer
satisfaction and process improvement
Develop successful “go to” market strategies
Pursue high growth areas of offshore outsourcing
Develop strategies that mitigate the risks associated with
Offshore outsourcing.
Leverage the Caribbean region’s competitive advantages (including its proximity
to the United States and Canada)
2.
3.
4.
5.
Action points
1.
2.
3.
4.
Build a database with information on the Caribbean Digital Diaspora in North
America as phase one; Europe (as phase two) and other regions of the world (as
phase three). Action by the Steering Committee is expected by April 2003 for phase
one.
When outsourcing is inevitable, Governments should have training and knowledge
transfer components “built-in” contracts with foreign companies and experts.
Action by Steering Committee in collaboration with CARICOM and Governments
in the Region is expected by June 2003.
ICT Companies and vendors in the region should be encouraged to have
international quality management standard certification such as ISO 9000 and SMM
in order to satisfy international best practices and benchmarks.
The formation of an organizing committee to help develop a Caribbean Center for
ICT Outsourcing (based in NY) as part of the Digital Network whose responsibility
will be to identify Corporations and other interests seeking to use the Caribbean as
location for Outsourcing activities. Action by ICT Outsourcing Steering Committee
to be completed (by March 2003).
39
Roundtable Participants
Brathwaite, Ryan: ryan.brathwaite@tech-wave.net
El Hillo, Yacoub: el_hillo@un.org
Hastick, Roy: rhastick@msn.com
Houston, Lawrence: lawhoust@juno.com
Iqbal, Khalid: skiqbal@xaphire.com
Majeed, Halim: ahmajeed@aol.com
Pilgrim, Carl: cpilgrim13@aol.com
Tapper, Marlene: tapperm@yahoo.com
Thorpe, David: dcthorpe2000@yahoo.com
40
Appendix III
List of Participants
#
Sal
Last Name
First Name
1
Mr
Organization Name Title
Caribbean-American
Program for
Amir Abdullah Empowerment (USA)
Abdul-Akbar Muhammed Inc
Director
2
Amb
Alexander
3
Ms
Applewaithe Lolita
4
Mr
Bailey
Christopher
Permanent Mission of Permanent
Haiti
Representative
Centre for
International
Services, University
of the West Indies
Director
Co-ordinator:
Strategic
Business Council for Partnerships
the United Nations
and Outreach
5
Mr
Batson
Blake
SkillCore Inc.
6
Mr
Bekoe
Martin
IT Consultancy
President
Managing
Director of IT
Consultancy
7
Mr
Belt
Juan
Inter-American
Development Bank
Senior
Economist
8
9
Mr
Mr
Belton
Best
Jean C.
Ralph
Tony
Friends of Grenada
Inc.
Treasurer
E-mail
Contact Information Telephone
Fax
paccape@aol.com
1045 Ocean Av.,
Suite 06 Brooklyn, NY
11226
718-421-1846 718-434-9748
haiti@un.int
801 2nd. Av., Suite
600 NY NY 10017
212-370-4840 212-661-8698
University of the West
lapplewhaite@uwi.chi Indies, Cave Hill,
ll.edu.bb
Barbados
246-417-4805
801 2nd Av., 2nd Fl,
cbailey@unausa.org NY NY 10017
56 Sparks St., Suite
510, Ottawa, Canada
blake@skillcore.com KIP5A9
Barbarossa Weg 23,
D-72770 Reutlingen,
Bekoe@t-online.de Germany
1300 New York Av.,
NW, Washington DC
juanbe@iadb.org
20577
kikonaria@aol.com
bestra@aol.com
212-907-1382 212-661-1775
613-725-7605 613-737-7919
49-7121579414
49-7121578926
202-623-3811 202-623-2064
765 Fairmont St.,
NW, Washington DC
20001
202-986-1435 202-986-1435
41
10
11
Mr
Mr
Betty
Binger
Courtney
Herbert
Caribtel
Spectrum Cable
CEO
180 Bloor St., W.
Suite 600 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
cbetty@caribtel.com MSS2V6
416-968-1181 416-968-7619
12
13
Mr
Mr
Blake
Boban
Makonnen
David
Ivan
14
Ms
Borno
Roseline
P.O. Box 727,
Ministry of Commerce
Kingston 6, Jamaica,
and Information
Special Advisor tekskl@hotmail.com West Indies
876-906-9621
UN ICT Task Force Intern
ib298@stern.nyu.edu
1797 Lexington
RMBorno
rmborno@rmborno.co Avenue, Suite 4C,
Management LLC
Consultant
m
NY, NY 10029
212-369-9441 212-369-1309
15
16
Mr
Mr
Bowman
Braithwaite
Dane
Ryan
Pace University
Techwave Inc
Ms
BrennenHaylock
PhD Candidate db349@aol.com
Representative info@tech-wave.net
2759 Bedford Av.,
Brooklyn, NY 11210
718-859-3990
617-541-8324
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11128, NY, NY 10017 212-963-6319
18
Ms
Britton
Jennifer
Senior Liaison brennenFAO
Officer
haylock@un.org
Senior Project
Officer:
Integrated
Information
CARICOM Secretariat Systems
jbritton@caricom.org
19
Dr
Buckmire
Francis
Friends of Grenada
Inc.
20
Mr
Butler
Winston
Cable and Wireless
President
buckmiref@aol.com
Executive Vice
President Strategy and
winston.butler@cwjm. 2-6 Carlton Crescent,
Information
cwplc.com
Kingston 10 Jamaica 876-936-2444
21
Mr
Carbonne
Anthony
Bingham Dana LLP
Partner
17
22
23
Mr
Ms
Chastenet
Chatani
Sharon
Allen
Nisha
Air Jamaica
CARICOM
Secretariat, Avenue
of the Republic,
Georgetown, Guyana 592-226-9280
908 Northwest Drive,
Silver Springs, Md.
20901
301-754-0765 301-754-0765
ajcarbone@bingham. 399 Park Av., NY,
com
NY, 10022
212-702-3600 212-207-1730
achastenet@airjamai
ca.com copy to
8300 N.W. 33rd. St.,
VP, Marketing asinclair@airjamaica. Suite 440, Miami, Fl.,
and Sales
com
33122
305-670-3222 305-669-6631
nishalina@aol.com
42
chenoweth@un.org
Student
declarke@mit.edu
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11128, NY, NY 10017 212-963-6319
24
Ms
Chenoweth
Florence
25
Mr
Clarke
Dwaine
26
Amb
Clarke
27
28
Min
Mr
Corbin
Cornish
Permanent Mission of Permanent
800 2nd. Av., 2 Fl.,
June Yvonne Barbados
Representative jclarke@barbados.org NY, NY, 10017
212-949-0853 212-808-4975
Government House,
Minister of
21 Kongens Gade, St.
Government of the
State for
ccorbinmin@worldnet Thomas, Virgin
Carlysle
Virgin Islands
External Affairs .att.net
Islands 00802
340-693-4356 340-693-4351
Lascelles
29
Ms
Cousins
Katherine
30
Mr
Cross
Phillip
31
Mr
Daniel
Lennox
32
Mr
Davis
Mark
33
Mr
Dawkins
Wilbert
34
Mr
Delpesche
Hugh
FAO
Massechusettes
Institute of
Technology
Director Liaison Office
Dalberg Development
LLC - UNDP
Consultant
International
Telecommunications
Union: Regional
Office for the
Caribbean
Director
Permanent Mission of Deputy
St. Vincent & the
Permanent
Granadines
Representative
West-Oak High
School District of
Oconee Co., SC,
USA
Teacher
katherine.cousins@u
ndp.org
FF-604 NY,NY
Senior
Booz Allen Hamilton Associate
Senior
Mechanical
ICT Expert
Engineer
dawkins_wilbert@bah 8283 Greensboro Dr.,
.com
McLean VA 22102
703-917-2273 703-902-3420
35
Mr
Dossal
Amir
UNFIP
36
Ms
DowRichardson
Melissa
UNFIP
Executive
Director
Business
Associate
Intern
212-906-5283
itucaribbean@caribsu
rfcom
Bridgetown, Barbados 246-431-0343/4 246-437-7403
svgun@aol.com or
stvg@un.int
800 2nd Av., 9th Fl., 212-599-0950NY, NY 10017
0955
212-599-1020
3134 West Oak Hwy.,
mrd1977@hotmail.co Westminster SC
m
29693
864-723-4138
dele@tbol.net
105-63 Flatlands 2,
Brooklyn, NY 11236
dossal@un.org
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11330, NY, NY 10017 212-963-6121 212-963-1486
718-968-2744 718-968-2744
ashmally@yahoo.co 131-59 233rd St.,
m
Laurelton, Ny, 11422 646-320-6879
43
37
Dr
Duggan
Evan
Assistant
University of Alabama Professor
College of Business
Administration, 367
eduggan@cba.ua.ed Aalston Hall,
u
Tuscaloosa, Al 35487 205-348-7688
38
Ms
DuncanMilner
Mary
Jamaica Trade
Commission
jamprony@investjam 767 3rd. Av., NY, NY,
aica.com
10017
212-308-5056 212-308-5230
Hopeton
Jamaica
Telecommunications
Advisory Council
Chairman
39
Dr
Dunn
40
Mr
Durandisse
41
42
43
44
Prof
Mr
Mr
Mr
Durrant
Director of
Trade
Haitian Enlightenment Executive
Jean C. Greg & Literacy Project
Director
Head:
Department of
Library and
University of the West Information
Fay
Indies
Sutdies
Eason
David H.
The Lewis Group
Edghill
Anthony
David
Permanent Mission of
Trinidad and Tobago Counsellor
El Hillo
Yacoub
UNFIP
CEO
Partnership
Officer
Economic
Development
Program
Specialist
Intern
12 Broadway Road,
hdunn@cwjamaica.co Manor Park, Kingston
m
8, Jamaica
876-969-7691
gduranse@yahoo.co 1329 Flatbush Av.,
m
Brooklyn, NY, 11226 718-940-9990
University of the West
fdurrant@hotmail.co Indies, Mona,
m
Kingston 7, Jamaica 876-927-2944 876-970-4903
100 Metropark South,
d.eason@lewisgrp.co Suite 340, Laurence
m
Harbor, NJ 08879
732-888-1650
212-697-7620,
820 2nd. Av., 5th Fl., 7621, 7622,
dedghill@trinbago.org NY, NY, 10017
7623
212-682-3580
elhillo@un.org
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11330, NY, NY 10017 917-367-2180 212-963-1486
45
46
Mr
Ms
Elliston
Elsayed
Isaac J
Nema
Empire State
Development
Corporation
UN ICT Task Force
47
Ms
Exeter
Faith
Caribtel
ielliston@empire.stat 633 Third Av., 33rd
e.ny.us
Fl., NY, NY, 10017
nema@isc-icc.org
180 Bloor St., W.
Suite 600 Toronto,
faith@esunsolutions.c Ontario, Canada
Representative om
MSS2V6
48
Ms
Fenton
Laurine A.
Verizon
Communications
Manager
JAF. PO Box 817,
la.fenton@verizon.net NYC 10116-0817
212-803-2317 212-803-2459
416-968-1181 416-968-7619
212-429-5507
44
49
Mr
Ferguson
Kenneth
50
Amb
Ferrari
Margaret
Hughes
51
Mr
Forman
Anthony
Permanent Mission of Systems
the Bahamas
Developer
Permanent Mission of
St. Vincent and
Permanent
Grenadines
Representative
Representative of
Congressman Ed
Towns
Empire State
Development
Corporation
52
Ms
FoubisterChung
Marcia
53
Mr
Fough
Brian
54
Mr
Franklin
Richardson
55
Ms
Germann
Ursula
56
57
58
Ms
Ms
Mr
Giacomelli
Gibbs
Gilsanit
Daniela
Rachelle
Fagvenston
59
60
Sen
Ms
Goddard
Gogia
Philip
Nisha
61
Mr
Goodwin
George
62
Ms
Greg –
McTaggart
Margaret K
63
Amb
Gregoire
Crispin
kthomas@bahamasn 231 East 46th St.,
y.com
NY, NY 10017
svgun@aol.com or
stvg@un.int
212-421-6925 212-759-2135
800 2nd Av., 9th Fl., 212-599-0950NY, NY 10017
0955
212-599-1020
Brooklyn Community
Asst.
Network, Office 625
Director/Office mchung@empire.stat Atlantic Av., Brooklyn
Manager
e.ny.us
10017
718-636-9715 718-636-0557
8715 First Av., Apt.
519C., Silver Springs,
The Kerry Company Representative brian@fough3.com MD 20910
301-523-0839
franklin_richardson@
Senior
bah.com or
8283 Greensboro Dr.,
Booz Allen Hamilton Associate
rj27frank@aol.com
McLean VA 22102
703-917-2275 703-917-2379
I UN Plaza, Room DC
Programme
1 - 1410 NY, NY
UN ICT Task Force Officer
germann@un.org
10017
212-963-4285
1 UN Plaza Room
DC1-1460, NY,NY
10017
UN ICT Task Force
Programme
Officer
Barbados: The Prime
Minister's Office
UN ICT Task Force
Organsation of
Eastern Caribbean
States
Special Envoy
Brickhouse, Bay St. ,
to the Prime
pgoddard@barbadosl St. Micheals,
Minister
inks.gov.bb
Barbados
246-434-0730
Intern
nisha-un@yahoo.com
Morne Fortune P.O.
DirectorBox 179, Castries, St.
General
ggoodwin@oecs.org Lucia
758-452-2537 758-453-1628
giacomellid@un.org
800 2nd. Av., Suite
Permanent Mission of Permanent
domun@onecommon 400 H, NY, NY,
Dominica
Representative wealth.org
10017
212-963917-367-2432 2812
212-949-0853 212-808-4975
45
64
65
Mr
Mr
Griffith
Hackett
Rean
Christopher
66
Ms
Hahn
Natalie
67
68
Mr
Mr
Hairston
Harrington
Gary
Neil
69
70
71
Ms
Mr
Dr
Harrisingh
Hart
Hastick
Columbia University
Student
362 Riverside Dr.,
rg2023@columbia.ed Apt. 6C2 NY, NY
u
10025
UNDP
Chief of
Caribbean
Division
United Nations, 1 UN
christopher.hackett@ Plaza Room DC1undp.org
2278, NY, NY 10017 212-906-5410
UNFIP
Senior Private
Sector Advisor hahnn@un.org
Citicorp Investment
Services/Citibank
Financial
Executive
Ruby
Caribbean-American
Program for
Empowerment (USA)
Inc
Member
Selwin
Permanent Mission of
Barbados
Roy
Caribbean American
Chamber of
Commerce
President
212-853-8287
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11330, NY, NY 10017 917-367-2094 212-963-1486
160 Parkside Av.,1st.
gary.l.hairston@citico Fl., Brooklyn NY
rp.com
11226
718-243-2375 718-243-2373
paccape@aol.com
1045 Ocean Av.,
Suite 06, Brooklyn,
NY 11226
718-421-1846 718-434-9748
800 2nd. Av., 2 Fl.,
barbados@un.int
NY, NY, 10017
212-867-8431-5 212-986-1030
Brooklyn Navy Yard,
63 Flushing Av.,
Building 5, Mezzanine
A., Brooklyn, NY
rahastick@msn.com 11205-1054
718-834-4544 718-834-9774
72
Mr
Hayford
Patrick
73
Ms
Hersutanto
Begi
Executive of the
United Nations Room
Secretary-General of Director for
S-3855-A, NY, NY
the United Nations
African Affairs hayford@un.org
10017
212-963-3461 212-963-8845
begi_hersutanto@hot
UN ICT Task Force Intern
mail.com
74
Mr
Hewitt
Nigel
ICT Expert
75
Dr
Hickson
Robert
76
77
Ms
Mr
Hori
Hylton
Yukie
Christian
Entrepreneur
nigelhewitt@yahoo.co 118 Hancock St.,
m
Brooklyn NY, 11216
Principal
DESA
NY Council
Economic
Affairs Officer
hori@un.org
718-399-6462
105-48 Flatlands 9 St,
Brooklyn, NY, 11236 718-209-8885
1 UN Plaza, Room
DC 1-1406 NY, NY
10017
212-963-2825
46
78
Mr
Iqbal
Khalid
79
Amb
Jackson
Rhoda
The SKI Group 300
Riverside Dr., Suite
skiqbal@xaphire.com 14-E., NYC 10025
80
81
Mr
Ms
Jackson
Jacob
Trevor
Veronica
82
Mr
Jaggernath
Rabindra
83
Ms
Jules
Michelle
84
Ms
Kaneko
Kazuyo
85
Mr
Khan
Reza
Consultant
Deputy
Permanent Mission of Permanent
mission@bahamasny 231 East 46th St.,
the Bahamas
Representative .com
NY, NY 10017
212-421-6925
IT
The Hartford
Consultant/Appl
Technology Services ication
trevor.jackson@htsco 70 Kane St., B2, West
Company
Developer
.com
Hartford, CT 06119 860-843-5053
CACCI
Partner Management
Ernst and Young
Advisory
rabindra.jaggernauth 53-55 Abercomby St.,
Caribbean
Services
@tt.eyi.com
Port of Spain
868-628-1105
Rockefeller
Program
437 Madison Av., NY,
Philantropy Advisors Associate
mjules@rockpa.org NY 10022
212-812-4324
1776 Eye St., NW,
Suite No. 895,
Japan International JICA
Washington DC
Cooperation Agency Consultant
kaneko@icnet.co.ip 20006
301-881-0571
Senior Vice
Sandaleo
President
rkhan@sandaleo.com
917-446-3535
Sarbuland
UN ICT TF/ ECOSOC
Division
Director
Peter
Government of
Jamaica
11 A Waterloo Road,
Chairman of the peterking@cwjamaica Kingston 10, Jamaica, 876-960Board of Trade .com
West Indies
1430/960-8432 876-926-5695
Franz
UNFIP
Business
Associate/
Intern
kottulinsky@un.org
Information
Management
Specialist
rlabonte@caribtouris
m.com or
80 Broad St., 32 nd
rony@diaspora.us
Fl.
212-635-9530 212-635-9511
President
mike_lackey@aitglob 9 Byrd Court, Kings
al.com
Park, NY 11754
631-269-6713
86
87
88
Mr
Amb
Mr
Khan
King
Kottulinsky
89
Mr
Labonte
Rony
Caribbean Tourism
Organisation
90
Mr
Lackey
Micheal
AIT Global Inc.
khan2@un.org
212-759-2135
86084+L14339023
868-622-0918
212-812-4335
United Nations 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11428, NY,NY 10017 212-963-4628
United Nations, 1 UN
Plaza Room DC11330, NY, NY 10017 917-549-1367 212-963-1486
47
91
Amb
Lawson
92
Mr
Leach
Ambassador at
Large for
Grenada/Presid
ent for Care
Plus Health
Bartholomew Care Plus Health Plan Plan
blwson@careplus.net
St. Vincent and the
Grenadines
Development
Advisor/Consult claudeleach@aol.co
Claude
Corporation
ant
m
93
Amb
Limon
Ewald
Permanent Mission of
Suriname
Ambassador
94
Mr
Locke
Hugh
Locke Associates Inc. President
95
Mr.
Lugisse
Arthur
Triple Tech
International
Managing
Director
96
Mr
Majeed
Halim
CACCI
97
Ms
Makonnen
Barbara
Tech School Jamaica Principal
98
Dr
Marcelle
Gillian
UN ICT Task Force
99
Ms
Matsuura
Rika
UN Foundation
100
Ms
McCarthy
Georgia
101
Ms
McCue
Sarah
UNDP
Consultant
Member
Business
Associate
Intern
suriname@un.int
hlocke@lockeassocia
tes.com
360 W 31St., 5th
Floor, NY, NY, 10001 212-563-5570 212-963-2812
18 Maple St.,
Brooklyn NY 11225
718-282-5635
866 United Nations
Plaza, Suite 320, NY,
NY, 10017-1822
212-826-0660-3 212-980-7029
917-859-2035 914-944-3535
89 Welfare Road,
Simpson Bay Corner,
tripletech8@yahoo.co St. Maarten,
011-599-552- 011-599-544m
Netherlands Antilles 6115
5437
104-74 127th St.,
South Richmond Hills,
ahmajeed@aol.com Queens NY, 11419
P.O. Box 727,
Kingston 6, Jamaica,
tekskl@hotmail.com West Indies
876-906-9621
PO Box 2032
Parklands 2121
Gauteng,
aisgwg@worldonline. Johannesburg, South
2711-447co.za
Africa
2711-447-7538 7538
Attorney
rmatsuura@unfounda 801 2nd. Av., NY, NY
tion.org
10017
212-697-3315
936 East 79th St.,
geemccarthy@aol.co Brooklyn, NY 11236m
3808
718-444-4249 212-676-9413
Manager
sarah.mccue@undp.o 1 UN Plaza, DC 1,
rg
206 NY, NY 10017
202-906-5078 212-906-5078
48
New York City
Housing Authority
Associate
Analyst
Mr
McMillan
Augustus
103
Dr
Melton
Christine
104
Amb
Mohammed
Hamid
105
Mr
Nixon
Richard
106
Dr
Nurse
Lawson
247 3rd Av., Suite
Friends of Arivand
Optamologist melton20@aol.com 202, NY, NY 10010 212-475-3791
Office of the
Permanent Observer
for the Caribbean
97-40 62nd Dr., #15,
Community to the
Permanent
Royal Park, NY,
United Nations
Representative
111374
718-896-1179
Director of
rnixon@nortelnetwork
Nortel Networks
Sales
s.com
954-858-7290 954-851-8578
Ashdeane Village,
drnurse@caribsurf.co Black Rock, St.
246-231-8570
Consultant
m
Michael, Barbados
246-425-8361 ©
107
Mr
Perreira
Kynaston
Kynaston &
Associates
108
Mr
Piaggesi
Danilo
Inter-American
Development Bank
109
Mr
Picinich
Kenneth
110
111
Mr
Mr
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
Carl
Ras
Merit Systems Inc.
St. Lucia National
Development
Corporation
112
Mr
Pinto
Luis
Center for Strategic
and International
Studies
113
Ms
Prevost
Janelle
Oracle Corporation
114
Mr
Quashie-Idun James
lampub@usa.com
187-27 Dunkirk Dr.,
St. Albans, NY 11412 212-365-504
102
42-55 Colden St.,
Chairman/CEO kalkynaston@aol.com flushing NY 11355
1350 New York Av.,
Chief ICT for
NW, stop B-0900,
Development
Washington DC,
Division
danilop@iadb.org
20577
President
International
Marketing
Officer
718-321-1723 718-889-7996
202-623-2128 202-312-4041
855 S. Federal
kpicinich@meritusa.n Highway, Suite 113, 561-750-3611
et
Boca Raton, Fl 33432 ext. 205
561-417-2779
800 2nd Av., Suite
cpilgrim13@aol.com 901, NY, NY 10017
Program Coordinator Americas
Program
Senior
Applications
Engineer
lpinto@csis.org
Legal
Consultant
james.quashieidun@bluewin.ch
prevostj@mit.edu
1800 K St., NW
Washington DC
20006
212-697-93609361
212-697-4993
202-775-3150 202-466-4739
35 Plymouth St., #2,
Cambridge MA 02141 617-501-8314
10 Rue Des Bugnons,
1217 Meyrin, Geneva,
Switzerland
1-0227-828-306
49
115
Mr
Rambissoon Babooram
Care Entrée
116
Mr
Reiss
Evan
117
Ms
Rhone
Camella
UN Foundation
Ministry of
Commerce, Science
and Technology
Jamaica
St. Vincent and the
Grenadines
Humanitarian
Organisation
118
Mr
Richards
Mulraine
119
Mr
Richardson
Carlisle
120
Ms
Roberts
Arlene
121
Ms
Robinson
Winnifred
122
123
Mr
Mr
Rosborough Brian
Rosenbaum Marcos
Care Entrée, 8
Midland Av., White
Plains, NY, 10606
Representative rambie@dti.net
914-328-6358
Business
Associate
ereiss@unfoundation. 801 2nd. Av., NY, NY
Intern
org
10017
212-697-3315
DirectorGeneral
Committee
Member
rhonec@cwjamaica.c 36 Trafalgar Road,
876-754om
Kingston 10, Jamaica 876-754-6355 5501-4
zeef125@aol.com
333 East 92 St., Apt.
4N, Brooklyn, NY,
11212
718-495-9273
Permanent Mission of
St. Kitts
Counsellor
Organisation of the
Sons and Daughters
of Jamaica
Attorney
Contributing
Caribbean Life
Writer
carlisle_r@yahoo.co 414 E 75th St., 5th Fl,
m
New York, NY, 10021 212-535-1234 212-535-6845
355 Clinton Av., Suite
arleneroberts@hotma 3C, Brooklyn NY
il.com
11238
718-783-8554
geewinnie@yahoo.co
m
917-676-2261
Digital Nations Trust President
199 Nashawtuc Rd.,
barconcord@aol.com Concord MA 01742 978-369-8930 978-369-3430
124
Ms
Samuels
Ayanna
MIT Space System
Lab in the Aerospace
Department
MS Student
125
Mr
Sanatan
Roderick
Centre for
International Services
126
Mr
Sankar
Zamal
Caribbean Daylight
Newspaper
127
Amb
Sealy
Philip
Permanent Mission
of Trinidad and
Tobago
128
Mr
Southwell
Cardinal
Epoch Solutions
70 Pacific St.,
Cambridge MA
asamuels@mit.edu 021139
617-452-4252 617-258-5940
University of the West
rsanatan2002@yaho Indies, Cave Hill,
o.com
Barbados
227-343-3003
CEO
caribdaylight@aol.co 267 East 9th st.,
m
Brooklyn, NY, 11218 718-854-9525
Ambassador
212-697-7620,
820 2nd. Av., 5th Fl., 7621, 7622,
psealy@trinbago.org NY, NY, 10017
7623
212-682-3580
cardinal@epochsoluti 147 Bogart St.,
Vice President ons.com
Teaneck, NJ, 07666 201-833-2809
50
129
Amb
Stanislaus
Lamuel A.
130
Mr
Stephenson Oronde
131
Mr
Stewart
Kevin F.G.
132
Mr
Symes
Fred
133
Ms
Tahtinen
Lotta
134
Mr
Talbot
George
135
Ms
TaylorRoberts
Norma
136
137
Ms
Mr
Theodore
Thomas
Zilpha
Cyril
Thomas
Percival
Theodore
Permanent Mission of
Grenada
Ambassador
grenada@un.int
Qadar Royal
Enterprises LLC
oronde@qadarroyal.c 11 Bragg St., East
om
Hartford CT 06108
139
Dr
Thompson
Jerrol
140
Mr
Thorpe
David
Conquest Systems
Inc.
Amb
Imma E.
Tobing-Klein Loemban
141
Mr
877-212-6546 866-413-5440
Team Leader10-14 Phillips St.,
Wallerfield
Port of Spain,
868-625-3981
TIDCO
Business Park kstewart@tidco.co.tt Trinidad, West Indies extn32
868-625-3977
fsymes@globalsuntel
Global Sun Telecom President
ecom.com
845-362-1991
I UN Plaza, Room DC
Programme
1 - 1432 NY, NY
DESA
Officer
tahtinen@un.org
10017
917-367-2212
866 United Nations
Permanent Mission of Charge D'
Plaza, Suite 555, NY,
Guyana
Affaires
guyun@un.int
NY, 10017
212-527-3232-3 212-935-7548
Deputy
Permanent Mission of Permanent
767 3 rd. Av., 9th Fl.,
Jamaica
Representative jamaica@un.int
NY, NY 10017
212-935-7509 212-935-7607
800 2nd. Av., Suite
Permanent Mission of Consul-General domun@onecommon 400 H, NY, NY,
Dominica
(Ag.)/Attache wealth.org
10017
212-949-0853 212-661-0979
Wallerson
International
Consultants Inc.
Ministry of
Telecommunications,
Science, Technology
and Industry for St.
Vincent and the
Grenadines
138
Founder
800 2nd. Av., Suite
400 K, NY, NY, 10017 212-599-0301 212-599-1540
Caribbean
Projects
Coordinator
Minister
Design
Engineer/Sr.
Developer
1085 Willmohr St.,
thomo700@hotmail.c Suite 1 R Brooklyn,
om
NY, 11212
718-941-8974 718-566-1451
Government
svgforeign@caribsurf. Complex, Kingstown,
com or
St. Vincent and the
industry@vincisurf.or Grenadines, West
g
Indies
809-456-1223 809-457-2880
dcthorpe2000@yaho 9 Cheverly Circle,
o.com
Cheverly MD, 20785 301-773-7888
Former
Permanent Mission of Permanent
Suriname
Representative
51
142
143
144
145
146
Mr
Ms
Mr
Dr
Mr
Vieira
Virtue
Walker
Warde
Weinstock
Paul
Chief Operating
IDL Communications Officer
pvieira@khrc.org
Grace
Howard University
Keith
WIISCOM
Technologies, Inc.
Cardinal
Ira
Massechusettes
Institute of
Technology
147
Mr
White-Davis Gerald
International
Consortium of
Caribbean
Professionals
148
Mr
Williams
Maxim Group
Valence
Senior Writer,
Executive
Communication
s Manager
gvirtue@usa.net
2045 Schnectady Av.,
Brooklyn NY11234
908-953-6168 908-953-5686
2314 Glenmont
Circle, #208, Silver
Springs, MD 20902
202-238-2335 202-986-0409
Lot 8, Yorkshire
Chairman/Foun
Development, Christ
der
trivento@earthlink.net Church, Barbados
246-420-1396 702-543-4950
Room 13-3102,
Massachusetts
Professor of
Institute of
Electrical
Technology,
Engineering
warde@mit.edu
Cambridge MA 02139 617-253-6858 617-253-0222
4433 Carpenter
geraldwd@mec.cuny.ed Avenue, Suite #3,
u
President
Bronx NY. 10470
405 Lexington Av.,
vwilliams@maximgrp. 2nd Fl., NY, NY
Vice President com
10174
718-324-3053
212-895-3578 212-895-3555
52