Above: Minister Bacchus talking at CTU week 2024. Photograph courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
In a big transfer for the area's digital future, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Digital Transformation, Senator the Honorable Hassel Bacchus, has been re-elected as President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). This got here as a part of the continued regional gathering for the Data and Communication Know-how (ICT) Week held in St. Kitts and Nevis from 30 September to five October 2024.
A key part of ICT Week was the statutory conferences of the CTU, together with the 51st Government Council and the 30th Normal Convention of Ministers, each of which play a key position in guiding the political route of the Union. These conferences facilitated discussions between ICT and digital transformation stakeholders on important regional points comparable to bettering citizen abilities, 5G deployment, regulatory frameworks and significant connectivity.
Minister Bacchus, in his capability as Chair, delivered two keynote speeches, reaffirming his dedication to advancing telecommunications and digital transformation within the Caribbean. He emphasised the significance of regional collaboration within the international digital panorama, stating: “The Caribbean can’t be a mere bystander. Fairly, we should be energetic innovators and contributors, making certain that our regional priorities, distinctive views and tradition are protected and prioritized globally.”
He additionally mentioned that establishing a regional framework for ICT and digital transformation lends itself to better funding, economies of scale, shared experience, shared infrastructure and shared advocacy in regional and worldwide boards.
“Consistent with the Port of Spain Dedication signed by 11 Caribbean nations in Might 2023, Trinidad and Tobago is at present finalizing the event and rollout of options that can be a part of the regional digital ecosystem,” he mentioned, referring to nationwide effectivity. -ID, the interoperability framework and the institution of a Tier four modular knowledge middle. These initiatives, he mentioned, will strengthen the area's digital infrastructure, bettering connectivity and public service supply within the Caribbean.