Final Report of the meeting under the auspices of
[pic] [pic] 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.” |
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|Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations |
|Kofi Annan’s IT Challenge to Silicon Valley, 5 November 2002 |
Final Report
United Nations
24 January 2003
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
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.
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) ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
ii) Infrastructural Framework, Connectivity and Costs
iii) Human Capacity Development- E-education
iv) Health and Telemedicine
v) E-business Environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
vi) Enabling Efficiency and Productivity in the Tourism sector
vii) Strengthening civil society and Governance – Focus on E-government
viii) Developing Agriculture with Information
ix) Identifying resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
x) 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.
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”.
Building the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 e-learning 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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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 cost-based 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
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 e-government.
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
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 - Identifying resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network.
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.
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
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
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)
Appendix II
Roundtable Reports
Roundtable 1 - ICT Policy Framework for the Caribbean
Moderator: Peter King
Rapporteur: Selwin Hart
Background Issues & Challenges
1. 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.
2. Support is needed at the highest level in public, and private sectors.
3. A vision should be defined.
4. Leadership is needed at the national level to drive the process.
5. There has to be a balanced policy framework notwithstanding conflicting social, economic, business and political objectives.
Strategies for moving forward:
1. 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.
2. The concerns of special groups including women, the disabled and youth, should be taken into consideration in the interest of the vision.
3. 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
4. Time lines for the collaboration should be set and an action plan should be developed accordingly.
5. A team should be appointed to track implementation and apply pressure where timeframes are lagging.
6. A strong institution/leader should be appointed to drive the process.
7. The process should be supported visibly at the highest political event.
8. The process should be spoken and communicated publicly.
Time frames suggested:
1. Establish an agreed vision, specific objectives: 3 months
2. Identify a base framework policy: 4 months
3. Use this to craft a Regional ICT Policy: 4 months
4. “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
5. Provide continuing support for member states to shape regional policy to local objectives and for local value: ongoing.
Roundtable Participants
Belt, Juan: juanbe@
Britton, Jennifer jbritton@
Corbin, Carlysle: ccorbinnon@
Crogia, Nisha: nisha_un@
Dunn, Hopeton: hdunn@
Gittens, Thomas: Thomas.gittens@
Grey, Margaret: withmargaret@
Hart, Selwin: shart@.bb
Hersutanto, Begi: begi_hersutanto@
Kaneko, Kazuyo: kaneko@icnet.co.jp
King, Angela E.V.: king@
King, Peter: peterking@
Philip, Paul S.: psphilip@
Prevost, Janelle: prevostj@alum.mit.edu
Talbot, George: talbotg@
Taylor-Roberts, Norma: jamaica@un.int
White-Davis, Gerald: geraldwd@mec.cuny.edu
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.
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@
Brennen – Haylock, Sharon: brennen-haylock@
Cross, Philip: itucaribbean@
Franklin, Richardson J: j27frank@;
Gilsaint, FaGuenston: geef@
Gregoire, Crispin: dominica@
Nixon, Richard: nixpn@
Ponce-Gonzales, Antonio: antoniopg@
Rosborough, Brian: brian@;
Symes, Fred: fsymes@
Weinstocks, Ira: outhbrooklyn@
Round Table 3 - Human Capacity Development: E- Education
Moderator: Prof. Fay Durrant
Rapporteurs: Melissa Dow-Richardson & Winnie Robinson
Background Issues
1. The Caribbean must acquire knowledge of the relatively new technology of E-education.
2. 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.
3. The development of the human capacity of communities is directly impacted by Internet access in each country.
Strategies for moving forward
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. ICT education Committees should be formed in each country to provide varying perspectives.
5. Chat rooms and web pages should be developed for people to join discussions and share ideas.
6. 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
7. Training capacity should be expanded with financial and technical support from the Diaspora network.
8. 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.
9. Basic education and literacy needs among the growing number of undereducated and unemployed youth should be addressed.
10. 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.
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. 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.
2. Establishment of computer competition among CARICOM constituencies.
3. Development of an ICT web page and chat rooms to create linkages between policy and input from the community.
4. 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.
5. Model a program to address the illiteracy that inhibits economic stability and success in the islands.
6. Plan and execute on-site ICT task force training conferences, to promote E-education to the citizens, and government.
Round Table Participants
Applewaite, Lolita: lapplewhaite@uwi.chill.edu.bb
Batson, Blake: blake@
Belton, Ralph: kikonari@
Buckmire, Francis: buckmiref@
Clarke, Dwaine: Dwaine_Clarke@
Clarke, June: jclarke@
Delphesse, Hugh: dele@
Dow-Richardson, Melissa: ashmally@
Durand’s, Jean-Camille: gduranse@
Durrant, Fay: Claudette.durrant@uwimona.edu.jm
Jackson, Trevor: jacksonta@
Leach, Claude: claudeleach@
Lugisse, Arthur: tripletech@
Richards, Mulraine: zeef125@
Robinson, Winnie: geewinnie@
Thomas Cyril
Round Table 4 - Health and Telemedicine
Moderators: Jerrol Thompson and Christine Melton
Rapporteur: Melissa Kushner
Background Issues
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Compensation for Doctors is needed to create a two-way system, where it is give and take and not just volunteer based.
5. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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. Multi-stakeholder forum to develop the specifics of a telemedicine programme
2. 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.
3. Enlist medical school graduates from the various medical schools in the Caribbean to volunteer their time and expertise.
4. Use the HIV and AIDS Platform.
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@
Khan, Reza: rkahn@
Lawson, Bartholomew: blwson@
Melton, Christine: melton20@
Samuels, Ayanna T.: asamuels@mit.edu
Stanislaus, Lamuel A.: grenada@un.int
Thompson, Jerrol: mit@
Roundtable 5 - E-business environment – Enabling Effective E-commerce
Moderator: Mr. James Quashie-Idun
Rapporteur: Lotta Tahtinen
Background Issues and Considerations
1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. 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.
2. An e-commerce bibliography or resource guide should be compiled and made available.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. The creation of databases or directories of commercial and economic information that would facilitate marketing products online and targeting marketing efforts.
6. The development and adoption of a common code of classification, similar to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
7. A research team should be included within the Steering Committee.
8. The CARICOM website should be inter-linked with national web sites as a tool to ensure broad distribution of information.
9. The United Nations Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Gates Foundation among others should be approached for funding.
Roundtable participants
Borno, Rosaline: borno@
Chaashab, Thahawam
Duggan, Evan: eduggan@cba.ua.edu
Flateau, John:
Fough, Brian: brian@
Gras, Linda:
Mohammed, Hamid:
Quashie – Idun, James:
Rambissoon, Babooram: rambie@
Richardson, Carlisle: Carlisle_r@
Stephenson, Oronde: oronde@
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. From a marketing perspective ICT offers the opportunity to be involved in the distribution of tourism (e.g. Go ) 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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. 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.
2. Identify sources of funding for the needs of the sector and for the general work of the DDN-C.
3. 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@
Gibbs, Rachel:
Harrisingh, Ruby:
Sankar, Zamal: caribdaylight@
Springer, Bevan: bevdread@
Round table 7 - Strengthening civil society and governance with focus on e-government
Moderator: Michael Lackey
Rapporteur: Yukie Hori
Background issue and challenges
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Finding the best ways to utilize available human resources especially those with appropriate skills in the Diaspora.
5. 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.
6. 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. Establishing partnership with the Diaspora could bring tremendous benefits to the CARICOM countries in obtaining necessary skills and resources.
4. 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.
Action points
1. The steering committee should function as an ICT forum to address common problems and institutional challenges of Caribbean island nations.
2. Involvement of the Digital Diaspora Network in the CARICOM agenda is extremely important. The network could provide critical knowledge, experience and resources.
3. A regional data bank of experts could be established specifying expertise and contacts. A web site could promote the use of such data bank.
4. 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.
5. Strong, united and concrete participation by the Caribbean in WSIS is needed to bring the voice of the Caribbean community.
6. 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.
7. E-government should be results oriented and citizen centered, with interactive processes promoting innovation and development.
Roundtable Participants
Bowman, Dane: dab349@
Dawkins, Wilbert: dawkins_wilbert@
Fergusson, Kenneth: kfergusson@
Gagain Jr, John: jgagain@
Jackson, Rhonda. M.: rjackson@
Jaggernauth, Rabindra: rabindra.jaggernauth@tt.
Lackey, Mike: mike_lackey@
McMillan, Augustus: lampub@
Pinto, Luis: lpinto@
Sanatan, Roderick: rsanatan@uwichill.edu.bb
Viera, Paul: pviera@
Virtue, Grace: gvirtue@
Roundtable 8 - Developing Agriculture with Information
Moderator:Ms. Florence Chenoweth
Rapporteur: Ivan Boban
Background Issues and Challenges
1. 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.
2. Infrastructure, legal and regulatory framework, skills development and human capacity are challenges along the road to development
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. Mobilize the political will and the human, technical and financial resources to achieve the twin objectives of fighting and defeating hunger and poverty.).
2. Ensure that the Digital Diaspora Network is people centered.
3. 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.
4. Develop programs to educate and filter crucial information to farmers through creation of media and communication strategies. For this, a website should be developed.
5. At a later stage, a portal should also be created where farmers could trade on e-markets and access information that they might need.
6. Benchmarking based best practices is of a great importance.
Action Points
1. 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.
2. Establish a Website and a Portal where farmers can look at various recommendations, policies, programs, opportunities for trade etc. Agriculture-trade-related links should be available on the site. This initiative should preferably connect the farmers across the region and not simply nationally.
3. A portal with a database of small businesses should be created to build a network for business opportunities.
4. 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@
Hastick Sr., Roy A.: rahastick@
Southwell, Cardinal: cardinal@
Roundtable 9 - Identifying Resources for the Caribbean Digital Diaspora Network
Moderators: Danilo Piaggesi, and Gillian Marcelle
Rapporteur: Ursula Germann
Background Issues and Challenges
1. 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.
2. The Network should consist of ICT entrepreneurs, professionals, financiers, non-profit organizations, students, the youth, religious groups, business associations, community centers, trade unions, and media who have links with Caribbean development.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 assist in developing and promoting an outreach programme/information campaign for the DDN-C.
Strategies for moving forward
1. 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.
2. Delivery of basic and high-level training and mentoring programmes.
3. Identify high-level champions to work with DDN-C to attract attention to ICT-for-development activities in the Caribbean region, and to establish public access to ICT facilities including telecentres, multimedia community centers, etc.
4. Launch a creative financial resources mobilization programme.
5. Establish a creative partnership programme among development partners.
Roundtable Participants
Barnwell, Garfield: gbarney14@
Blake, Barbara: tekskl@
Blake, Makonnen: tekskl@
Clarke, Philip: philip.h.clarke@
Cornish, Lascelles lascelles_c@
Davis, Mark R.: mrd1977@
Exeter, Faith: faith@
Fenton, Laurine: lafenton@
Hewitt, Nigel: nhewitt@
Jacob, Veronica:
Marcelle, Gillian: aisgw@worldonline.co.za
McCarthy, Georgia: geemccarthy@
McCue, Sarah: sarahmccue@
Piaggesi, Danilo: danilo@
Stewart, Kevin: kstewart@tidco.co.tt
Walker, Keith: wiiscom@
Williams, Valence: williams@
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.
Competitive infrastructure includes the following:
a. Rapid and reliable telecommunications facilities
b. Redundancy and rapid maintenance response time
c. 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
2. Develop successful “go to” market strategies
3. Pursue high growth areas of offshore outsourcing
4. Develop strategies that mitigate the risks associated with
Offshore outsourcing.
5. Leverage the Caribbean region’s competitive advantages (including its proximity to the United States and Canada)
Action points
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
Roundtable Participants
Brathwaite, Ryan: ryan.brathwaite@tech-
El Hillo, Yacoub: el_hillo@
Hastick, Roy: rhastick@
Houston, Lawrence: lawhoust@
Iqbal, Khalid: skiqbal@
Majeed, Halim: ahmajeed@
Pilgrim, Carl: cpilgrim13@
Tapper, Marlene: tapperm@
Thorpe, David: dcthorpe2000@
|Appendix III |
| |
|List of Participants |
| |
|# |Sal |Last Name |First Name |Organization Name |Title |E-mail |Contact Information |Telephone |Fax |
|1 |Mr |Abdul-Akbar |Amir Abdullah |Caribbean-American Program |Director |paccape@ |1045 Ocean Av., Suite 06 |718-421-1846 |718-434-9748 |
| | | |Muhammed |for Empowerment (USA) Inc | | |Brooklyn, NY 11226 | | |
|2 |Amb |Alexander |Jean C. |Permanent Mission of Haiti |Permanent |haiti@un.int |801 2nd. Av., Suite 600 NY NY|212-370-4840 |212-661-8698 |
| | | | | |Representative | |10017 | | |
|3 |Ms |Applewaithe |Lolita |Centre for International |Director |lapplewhaite@uwi.chill.edu.bb|University of the West |246-417-4805 | |
| | | | |Services, University of the | | |Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados | | |
| | | | |West Indies | | | | | |
|4 |Mr |Bailey |Christopher |Business Council for the |Co-ordinator: |cbailey@ |801 2nd Av., 2nd Fl, NY NY |212-907-1382 |212-661-1775 |
| | | | |United Nations |Strategic | |10017 | | |
| | | | | |Partnerships and | | | | |
| | | | | |Outreach | | | | |
|5 |Mr |Batson |Blake |SkillCore Inc. |President |blake@ |56 Sparks St., Suite 510, |613-725-7605 |613-737-7919 |
| | | | | | | |Ottawa, Canada KIP5A9 | | |
|6 |Mr |Bekoe |Martin |IT Consultancy |Managing Director of|Bekoe@t-online.de |Barbarossa Weg 23, D-72770 |49-7121-579414 |49-7121-578926 |
| | | | | |IT Consultancy | |Reutlingen, Germany | | |
|7 |Mr |Belt |Juan |Inter-American Development |Senior Economist |juanbe@ |1300 New York Av., NW, |202-623-3811 |202-623-2064 |
| | | | |Bank | | |Washington DC 20577 | | |
|8 |Mr |Belton |Ralph |Friends of Grenada Inc. |Treasurer |kikonaria@ |765 Fairmont St., NW, |202-986-1435 |202-986-1435 |
| | | | | | | |Washington DC 20001 | | |
|9 |Mr |Best |Tony | | |bestra@ | | | |
|10 |Mr |Betty |Courtney |Caribtel |CEO |cbetty@ |180 Bloor St., W. Suite 600 |416-968-1181 |416-968-7619 |
| | | | | | | |Toronto, Ontario, Canada | | |
| | | | | | | |MSS2V6 | | |
|11 |Mr |Binger |Herbert |Spectrum Cable | | | | | |
|12 |Mr |Blake |Makonnen David |Ministry of Commerce and |Special Advisor |tekskl@ |P.O. Box 727, Kingston 6, |876-906-9621 | |
| | | | |Information | | |Jamaica, West Indies | | |
|13 |Mr |Boban |Ivan |UN ICT Task Force |Intern |ib298@stern.nyu.edu | | | |
|14 |Ms |Borno |Roseline |RMBorno Management LLC |Consultant |rmborno@ |1797 Lexington Avenue, Suite |212-369-9441 |212-369-1309 |
| | | | | | | |4C, NY, NY 10029 | | |
|15 |Mr |Bowman |Dane |Pace University |PhD Candidate |db349@ |2759 Bedford Av., Brooklyn, |718-859-3990 | |
| | | | | | | |NY 11210 | | |
|16 |Mr |Braithwaite |Ryan |Techwave Inc |Representative |info@tech- | |617-541-8324 | |
|17 |Ms |Brennen-Haylock |Sharon |FAO |Senior Liaison |brennen-haylock@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |212-963-6319 | |
| | | | | |Officer | |Room DC1-1128, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|18 |Ms |Britton |Jennifer |CARICOM Secretariat |Senior Project |jbritton@ |CARICOM Secretariat, Avenue |592-226-9280 | |
| | | | | |Officer: Integrated | |of the Republic, Georgetown, | | |
| | | | | |Information Systems | |Guyana | | |
|19 |Dr |Buckmire |Francis |Friends of Grenada Inc. |President |buckmiref@ |908 Northwest Drive, Silver |301-754-0765 |301-754-0765 |
| | | | | | | |Springs, Md. 20901 | | |
|20 |Mr |Butler |Winston |Cable and Wireless |Executive Vice |winston.butler@cwjm.|2-6 Carlton Crescent, |876-936-2444 | |
| | | | | |President - Strategy| |Kingston 10 Jamaica | | |
| | | | | |and Information | | | | |
|21 |Mr |Carbonne |Anthony |Bingham Dana LLP |Partner |ajcarbone@ |399 Park Av., NY, NY, 10022 |212-702-3600 |212-207-1730 |
|22 |Mr |Chastenet |Allen |Air Jamaica |VP, Marketing and |achastenet@ |8300 N.W. 33rd. St., Suite |305-670-3222 |305-669-6631 |
| | | | | |Sales |copy to |440, Miami, Fl., 33122 | | |
| | | | | | |asinclair@ | | | |
|23 |Ms |Chatani |Nisha | | |nishalina@ | | | |
|24 |Ms |Chenoweth |Florence |FAO |Director - Liaison |chenoweth@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |212-963-6319 | |
| | | | | |Office | |Room DC1-1128, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|25 |Mr |Clarke |Dwaine |Massechusettes Institute of |Student |declarke@mit.edu | | | |
| | | | |Technology | | | | | |
|26 |Amb |Clarke |June Yvonne |Permanent Mission of Barbados|Permanent |jclarke@ |800 2nd. Av., 2 Fl., NY, NY, |212-949-0853 |212-808-4975 |
| | | | | |Representative | |10017 | | |
|27 |Min |Corbin |Carlysle |Government of the Virgin |Minister of State |ccorbinmin@worldnet. |Government House, 21 Kongens |340-693-4356 |340-693-4351 |
| | | | |Islands |for External Affairs| |Gade, St. Thomas, Virgin | | |
| | | | | | | |Islands 00802 | | |
|28 |Mr |Cornish |Lascelles | | | | | | |
|29 |Ms |Cousins |Katherine |Dalberg Development LLC - |Consultant |katherine.cousins@ |FF-604 NY,NY |212-906-5283 | |
| | | | |UNDP | | | | | |
|30 |Mr |Cross |Phillip |International |Director |itucaribbean@caribsurfcom |Bridgetown, Barbados |246-431-0343/4 |246-437-7403 |
| | | | |Telecommunications Union: | | | | | |
| | | | |Regional Office for the | | | | | |
| | | | |Caribbean | | | | | |
|31 |Mr |Daniel |Lennox |Permanent Mission of St. |Deputy Permanent |svgun@ or stvg@un.int |800 2nd Av., 9th Fl., NY, NY |212-599-0950-0955 |212-599-1020 |
| | | | |Vincent & the Granadines |Representative | |10017 | | |
|32 |Mr |Davis |Mark |West-Oak High School District|Teacher |mrd1977@ |3134 West Oak Hwy., |864-723-4138 | |
| | | | |of Oconee Co., SC, USA | | |Westminster SC 29693 | | |
|33 |Mr |Dawkins |Wilbert |Booz Allen Hamilton |Senior Associate |dawkins_wilbert@ |8283 Greensboro Dr., McLean |703-917-2273 |703-902-3420 |
| | | | | | | |VA 22102 | | |
|34 |Mr |Delpesche |Hugh |ICT Expert |Senior Mechanical |dele@ |105-63 Flatlands 2, Brooklyn,|718-968-2744 |718-968-2744 |
| | | | | |Engineer | |NY 11236 | | |
|35 |Mr |Dossal |Amir |UNFIP |Executive Director |dossal@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |212-963-6121 |212-963-1486 |
| | | | | | | |Room DC1-1330, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|36 |Ms |Dow-Richardson |Melissa |UNFIP |Business Associate |ashmally@ |131-59 233rd St., Laurelton, |646-320-6879 | |
| | | | | |Intern | |Ny, 11422 | | |
|37 |Dr |Duggan |Evan |University of Alabama |Assistant Professor |eduggan@cba.ua.edu |College of Business |205-348-7688 | |
| | | | | | | |Administration, 367 Aalston | | |
| | | | | | | |Hall, Tuscaloosa, Al 35487 | | |
|38 |Ms |Duncan-Milner |Mary |Jamaica Trade Commission |Director of Trade |jamprony@ |767 3rd. Av., NY, NY, 10017 |212-308-5056 |212-308-5230 |
|39 |Dr |Dunn |Hopeton |Jamaica Telecommunications |Chairman |hdunn@ |12 Broadway Road, Manor Park,|876-969-7691 | |
| | | | |Advisory Council | | |Kingston 8, Jamaica | | |
|40 |Mr |Durandisse |Jean C. Greg |Haitian Enlightenment & |Executive Director |gduranse@ |1329 Flatbush Av., Brooklyn, |718-940-9990 | |
| | | | |Literacy Project | | |NY, 11226 | | |
|41 |Prof |Durrant |Fay |University of the West Indies|Head: Department of |fdurrant@ |University of the West |876-927-2944 |876-970-4903 |
| | | | | |Library and | |Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, | | |
| | | | | |Information Sutdies | |Jamaica | | |
|42 |Mr |Eason |David H. |The Lewis Group |CEO |d.eason@ |100 Metropark South, Suite |732-888-1650 | |
| | | | | | | |340, Laurence Harbor, NJ | | |
| | | | | | | |08879 | | |
|43 |Mr |Edghill |Anthony David |Permanent Mission of Trinidad|Counsellor |dedghill@ |820 2nd. Av., 5th Fl., NY, |212-697-7620, 7621, |212-682-3580 |
| | | | |and Tobago | | |NY, 10017 |7622, 7623 | |
|44 |Mr |El Hillo |Yacoub |UNFIP |Partnership Officer |elhillo@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |917-367-2180 |212-963-1486 |
| | | | | | | |Room DC1-1330, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|45 |Mr |Elliston |Isaac J |Empire State Development |Economic Development|ielliston@empire.state.ny.us |633 Third Av., 33rd Fl., NY, |212-803-2317 |212-803-2459 |
| | | | |Corporation |Program Specialist | |NY, 10017 | | |
|46 |Ms |Elsayed |Nema |UN ICT Task Force |Intern |nema@isc- | | | |
|47 |Ms |Exeter |Faith |Caribtel |Representative |faith@ |180 Bloor St., W. Suite 600 |416-968-1181 |416-968-7619 |
| | | | | | | |Toronto, Ontario, Canada | | |
| | | | | | | |MSS2V6 | | |
|48 |Ms |Fenton |Laurine A. |Verizon Communications |Manager |la.fenton@ |JAF. PO Box 817, NYC |212-429-5507 | |
| | | | | | | |10116-0817 | | |
|49 |Mr |Ferguson |Kenneth |Permanent Mission of the |Systems Developer |kthomas@ |231 East 46th St., NY, NY |212-421-6925 |212-759-2135 |
| | | | |Bahamas | | |10017 | | |
|50 |Amb |Ferrari |Margaret Hughes |Permanent Mission of St. |Permanent |svgun@ or stvg@un.int |800 2nd Av., 9th Fl., NY, NY |212-599-0950-0955 |212-599-1020 |
| | | | |Vincent and Grenadines |Representative | |10017 | | |
|51 |Mr |Forman |Anthony |Representative of Congressman| | | | | |
| | | | |Ed Towns | | | | | |
|52 |Ms |Foubister-Chung |Marcia |Empire State Development |Asst. |mchung@empire.state.ny.us |Brooklyn Community Network, |718-636-9715 |718-636-0557 |
| | | | |Corporation |Director/Office | |Office 625 Atlantic Av., | | |
| | | | | |Manager | |Brooklyn 10017 | | |
|53 |Mr |Fough |Brian |The Kerry Company |Representative |brian@ |8715 First Av., Apt. 519C., |301-523-0839 | |
| | | | | | | |Silver Springs, MD 20910 | | |
|54 |Mr |Franklin |Richardson |Booz Allen Hamilton |Senior Associate |franklin_richardson@ |8283 Greensboro Dr., McLean |703-917-2275 |703-917-2379 |
| | | | | | |or rj27frank@ |VA 22102 | | |
|55 |Ms |Germann |Ursula |UN ICT Task Force |Programme Officer |germann@ |I UN Plaza, Room DC 1 - 1410 |212-963-4285 | |
| | | | | | | |NY, NY 10017 | | |
|56 |Ms |Giacomelli |Daniela |UN ICT Task Force |Programme Officer |giacomellid@ |1 UN Plaza Room DC1-1460, |917-367-2432 | 212-963-2812 |
| | | | | | | |NY,NY 10017 | | |
|57 |Ms |Gibbs |Rachelle | | | | | | |
|58 |Mr |Gilsanit |Fagvenston | | | | | | |
|59 |Sen |Goddard |Philip |Barbados: The Prime |Special Envoy to the|pgoddard@.bb|Brickhouse, Bay St. , St. |246-434-0730 | |
| | | | |Minister's Office |Prime Minister | |Micheals, Barbados | | |
|60 |Ms |Gogia |Nisha |UN ICT Task Force |Intern |nisha-un@ | | | |
|61 |Mr |Goodwin |George |Organsation of Eastern |Director-General |ggoodwin@ |Morne Fortune P.O. Box 179, |758-452-2537 |758-453-1628 |
| | | | |Caribbean States | | |Castries, St. Lucia | | |
|62 |Ms |Greg –McTaggart |Margaret K | | | | | | |
|63 |Amb |Gregoire |Crispin |Permanent Mission of Dominica|Permanent |domun@ |800 2nd. Av., Suite 400 H, |212-949-0853 |212-808-4975 |
| | | | | |Representative | |NY, NY, 10017 | | |
|64 |Mr |Griffith |Rean |Columbia University |Student |rg2023@columbia.edu |362 Riverside Dr., Apt. 6C2 |212-853-8287 | |
| | | | | | | |NY, NY 10025 | | |
|65 |Mr |Hackett |Christopher |UNDP |Chief of Caribbean |christopher.hackett@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |212-906-5410 | |
| | | | | |Division | |Room DC1-2278, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|66 |Ms |Hahn |Natalie |UNFIP |Senior Private |hahnn@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |917-367-2094 |212-963-1486 |
| | | | | |Sector Advisor | |Room DC1-1330, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|67 |Mr |Hairston |Gary |Citicorp Investment |Financial Executive |gary.l.hairston@ |160 Parkside Av.,1st. Fl., |718-243-2375 |718-243-2373 |
| | | | |Services/Citibank | | |Brooklyn NY 11226 | | |
|68 |Mr |Harrington |Neil | | | | | | |
|69 |Ms |Harrisingh |Ruby |Caribbean-American Program |Member |paccape@ |1045 Ocean Av., Suite 06, |718-421-1846 |718-434-9748 |
| | | | |for Empowerment (USA) Inc | | |Brooklyn, NY 11226 | | |
|70 |Mr |Hart |Selwin |Permanent Mission of Barbados| |barbados@un.int |800 2nd. Av., 2 Fl., NY, NY, |212-867-8431-5 |212-986-1030 |
| | | | | | | |10017 | | |
|71 |Dr |Hastick |Roy |Caribbean American Chamber of|President |rahastick@ |Brooklyn Navy Yard, 63 |718-834-4544 |718-834-9774 |
| | | | |Commerce | | |Flushing Av., Building 5, | | |
| | | | | | | |Mezzanine A., Brooklyn, NY | | |
| | | | | | | |11205-1054 | | |
|72 |Mr |Hayford |Patrick |Executive of the |Director for African|hayford@ |United Nations Room S-3855-A,|212-963-3461 |212-963-8845 |
| | | | |Secretary-General of the |Affairs | |NY, NY 10017 | | |
| | | | |United Nations | | | | | |
|73 |Ms |Hersutanto |Begi |UN ICT Task Force |Intern |begi_hersutanto@ | | | |
|74 |Mr |Hewitt |Nigel |ICT Expert |Entrepreneur |nigelhewitt@ |118 Hancock St., Brooklyn NY,|718-399-6462 | |
| | | | | | | |11216 | | |
|75 |Dr |Hickson |Robert | |Principal | |105-48 Flatlands 9 St, |718-209-8885 | |
| | | | | | | |Brooklyn, NY, 11236 | | |
|76 |Ms |Hori |Yukie |DESA |Economic Affairs |hori@ |1 UN Plaza, Room DC 1-1406 |212-963-2825 | |
| | | | | |Officer | |NY, NY 10017 | | |
|77 |Mr |Hylton |Christian |NY Council | | | | | |
|78 |Mr |Iqbal |Khalid | |Consultant |skiqbal@ |The SKI Group 300 Riverside | | |
| | | | | | | |Dr., Suite 14-E., NYC 10025 | | |
|79 |Amb |Jackson |Rhoda |Permanent Mission of the |Deputy Permanent |mission@ |231 East 46th St., NY, NY |212-421-6925 |212-759-2135 |
| | | | |Bahamas |Representative | |10017 | | |
|80 |Mr |Jackson |Trevor |The Hartford Technology |IT |trevor.jackson@ |70 Kane St., B2, West |860-843-5053 |860-84+L1433-9023 |
| | | | |Services Company |Consultant/Applicati| |Hartford, CT 06119 | | |
| | | | | |on Developer | | | | |
|81 |Ms |Jacob |Veronica |CACCI | | | | | |
|82 |Mr |Jaggernath |Rabindra |Ernst and Young Caribbean |Partner - Management|rabindra.jaggernauth@tt.eyi.c|53-55 Abercomby St., Port of |868-628-1105 |868-622-0918 |
| | | | | |Advisory Services |om |Spain | | |
|83 |Ms |Jules |Michelle |Rockefeller Philantropy |Program Associate |mjules@ |437 Madison Av., NY, NY 10022|212-812-4324 |212-812-4335 |
| | | | |Advisors | | | | | |
|84 |Ms |Kaneko |Kazuyo |Japan International |JICA Consultant |kaneko@icnet.co.ip |1776 Eye St., NW, Suite No. |301-881-0571 | |
| | | | |Cooperation Agency | | |895, Washington DC 20006 | | |
|85 |Mr |Khan |Reza |Sandaleo |Senior Vice |rkhan@ | |917-446-3535 | |
| | | | | |President | | | | |
|86 |Mr |Khan |Sarbuland |UN ICT TF/ ECOSOC Division |Director |khan2@ |United Nations 1 UN Plaza |212-963-4628 | |
| | | | | | | |Room DC1-1428, NY,NY 10017 | | |
|87 |Amb |King |Peter |Government of Jamaica |Chairman of the |peterking@ |11 A Waterloo Road, Kingston |876-960-1430/960-843|876-926-5695 |
| | | | | |Board of Trade | |10, Jamaica, West Indies |2 | |
|88 |Mr |Kottulinsky |Franz |UNFIP |Business Associate/ |kottulinsky@ |United Nations, 1 UN Plaza |917-549-1367 |212-963-1486 |
| | | | | |Intern | |Room DC1-1330, NY, NY 10017 | | |
|89 |Mr |Labonte |Rony |Caribbean Tourism |Information |rlabonte@ or |80 Broad St., 32 nd Fl. |212-635-9530 |212-635-9511 |
| | | | |Organisation |Management |rony@diaspora.us | | | |
| | | | | |Specialist | | | | |
|90 |Mr |Lackey |Micheal |AIT Global Inc. |President |mike_lackey@ |9 Byrd Court, Kings Park, NY |631-269-6713 | |
| | | | | | | |11754 | | |
|91 |Amb |Lawson |Bartholomew |Care Plus Health Plan |Ambassador at Large |blwson@ |360 W 31St., 5th Floor, NY, |212-563-5570 |212-963-2812 |
| | | | | |for | |NY, 10001 | | |
| | | | | |Grenada/President | | | | |
| | | | | |for Care Plus Health| | | | |
| | | | | |Plan | | | | |
|92 |Mr |Leach |Claude |St. Vincent and the |Advisor/Consultant |claudeleach@ |18 Maple St., Brooklyn NY |718-282-5635 | |
| | | | |Grenadines Development | | |11225 | | |
| | | | |Corporation | | | | | |
|93 |Amb |Limon |Ewald |Permanent Mission of Suriname|Ambassador |suriname@un.int |866 United Nations Plaza, |212-826-0660-3 |212-980-7029 |
| | | | | | | |Suite 320, NY, NY, 10017-1822| | |
|94 |Mr |Locke |Hugh |Locke Associates Inc. |President |hlocke@ | |917-859-2035 |914-944-3535 |
|95 |Mr. |Lugisse |Arthur |Triple Tech International |Managing Director |tripletech8@ |89 Welfare Road, Simpson Bay |011-599-552-6115 |011-599-544-5437 |
| | | | | | | |Corner, St. Maarten, | | |
| | | | | | | |Netherlands Antilles | | |
|96 |Mr |Majeed |Halim |CACCI |Consultant |ahmajeed@ |104-74 127th St., South | | |
| | | | | | | |Richmond Hills, Queens NY, | | |
| | | | | | | |11419 | | |
|97 |Ms |Makonnen |Barbara |Tech School Jamaica |Principal |tekskl@ |P.O. Box 727, Kingston 6, |876-906-9621 | |
| | | | | | | |Jamaica, West Indies | | |
|98 |Dr |Marcelle |Gillian |UN ICT Task Force |Member |aisgwg@worldonline.co.za |PO Box 2032 Parklands 2121 |2711-447-7538 |2711-447-7538 |
| | | | | | | |Gauteng, Johannesburg, South | | |
| | | | | | | |Africa | | |
|99 |Ms |Matsuura |Rika |UN Foundation |Business Associate |rmatsuura@ |801 2nd. Av., NY, NY 10017 |212-697-3315 | |
| | | | | |Intern | | | | |
|100 |Ms |McCarthy |Georgia | |Attorney |geemccarthy@ |936 East 79th St., Brooklyn, |718-444-4249 |212-676-9413 |
| | | | | | | |NY 11236-3808 | | |
|101 |Ms |McCue |Sarah |UNDP |Manager |sarah.mccue@ |1 UN Plaza, DC 1, 206 NY, NY |202-906-5078 |212-906-5078 |
| | | | | | | |10017 | | |
|102 |Mr |McMillan |Augustus |New York City Housing |Associate Analyst |lampub@ |187-27 Dunkirk Dr., St. |212-365-504 | |
| | | | |Authority | | |Albans, NY 11412 | | |
|103 |Dr |Melton |Christine |Friends of Arivand |Optamologist |melton20@ |247 3rd Av., Suite 202, NY, |212-475-3791 | |
| | | | | | | |NY 10010 | | |
|104 |Amb |Mohammed |Hamid |Office of the Permanent |Permanent | |97-40 62nd Dr., #15, Royal | |718-896-1179 |
| | | | |Observer for the Caribbean |Representative | |Park, NY, 111374 | | |
| | | | |Community to the United | | | | | |
| | | | |Nations | | | | | |
|105 |Mr |Nixon |Richard |Nortel Networks |Director of Sales |rnixon@ | |954-858-7290 |954-851-8578 |
|106 |Dr |Nurse |Lawson | |Consultant |drnurse@ |Ashdeane Village, Black Rock,|246-425-8361 |246-231-8570 © |
| | | | | | | |St. Michael, Barbados | | |
|107 |Mr |Perreira |Kynaston |Kynaston & Associates |Chairman/CEO |kalkynaston@ |42-55 Colden St., flushing NY|718-321-1723 |718-889-7996 |
| | | | | | | |11355 | | |
|108 |Mr |Piaggesi |Danilo |Inter-American Development |Chief ICT for |danilop@ |1350 New York Av., NW, stop |202-623-2128 |202-312-4041 |
| | | | |Bank |Development Division| |B-0900, Washington DC, 20577 | | |
|109 |Mr |Picinich |Kenneth |Merit Systems Inc. |President |kpicinich@ |855 S. Federal Highway, Suite|561-750-3611 ext. |561-417-2779 |
| | | | | | | |113, Boca Raton, Fl 33432 |205 | |
|110 |Mr |Pilgrim |Carl |St. Lucia National |International |cpilgrim13@ |800 2nd Av., Suite 901, NY, |212-697-9360-9361 |212-697-4993 |
| | | | |Development Corporation |Marketing Officer | |NY 10017 | | |
|111 |Mr |Pilgrim |Ras | | | | | | |
|112 |Mr |Pinto |Luis |Center for Strategic and |Program Co-ordinator|lpinto@ |1800 K St., NW Washington DC |202-775-3150 |202-466-4739 |
| | | | |International Studies |- Americas Program | |20006 | | |
|113 |Ms |Prevost |Janelle |Oracle Corporation |Senior Applications |prevostj@mit.edu |35 Plymouth St., #2, |617-501-8314 | |
| | | | | |Engineer | |Cambridge MA 02141 | | |
|114 |Mr |Quashie-Idun |James | |Legal Consultant |james.quashie-idun@bluewin.ch|10 Rue Des Bugnons, 1217 |1-0227-828-306 | |
| | | | | | | |Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland | | |
|115 |Mr |Rambissoon |Babooram |Care Entrée |Representative |rambie@ |Care Entrée, 8 Midland Av., |914-328-6358 | |
| | | | | | | |White Plains, NY, 10606 | | |
|116 |Mr |Reiss |Evan |UN Foundation |Business Associate |ereiss@ |801 2nd. Av., NY, NY 10017 |212-697-3315 | |
| | | | | |Intern | | | | |
|117 |Ms |Rhone |Camella |Ministry of Commerce, Science|Director-General |rhonec@ |36 Trafalgar Road, Kingston |876-754-6355 |876-754-5501-4 |
| | | | |and Technology Jamaica | | |10, Jamaica | | |
|118 |Mr |Richards |Mulraine |St. Vincent and the |Committee Member |zeef125@ |333 East 92 St., Apt. 4N, |718-495-9273 | |
| | | | |Grenadines Humanitarian | | |Brooklyn, NY, 11212 | | |
| | | | |Organisation | | | | | |
|119 |Mr |Richardson |Carlisle |Permanent Mission of St. |Counsellor |carlisle_r@ |414 E 75th St., 5th Fl, New |212-535-1234 |212-535-6845 |
| | | | |Kitts | | |York, NY, 10021 | | |
|120 |Ms |Roberts |Arlene |Organisation of the Sons and |Attorney |arleneroberts@ |355 Clinton Av., Suite 3C, |718-783-8554 | |
| | | | |Daughters of Jamaica | | |Brooklyn NY 11238 | | |
|121 |Ms |Robinson |Winnifred |Caribbean Life |Contributing Writer |geewinnie@ | |917-676-2261 | |
|122 |Mr |Rosborough |Brian |Digital Nations Trust |President |barconcord@ |199 Nashawtuc Rd., Concord MA|978-369-8930 |978-369-3430 |
| | | | | | | |01742 | | |
|123 |Mr |Rosenbaum |Marcos | | | | | | |
|124 |Ms |Samuels |Ayanna |MIT Space System Lab in the |MS Student |asamuels@mit.edu |70 Pacific St., Cambridge MA |617-452-4252 |617-258-5940 |
| | | | |Aerospace Department | | |021139 | | |
|125 |Mr |Sanatan |Roderick |Centre for International | |rsanatan2002@ |University of the West |227-343-3003 | |
| | | | |Services | | |Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados | | |
|126 |Mr |Sankar |Zamal |Caribbean Daylight Newspaper |CEO |caribdaylight@ |267 East 9th st., Brooklyn, |718-854-9525 | |
| | | | | | | |NY, 11218 | | |
|127 |Amb |Sealy |Philip | Permanent Mission of |Ambassador |psealy@ |820 2nd. Av., 5th Fl., NY, |212-697-7620, 7621, |212-682-3580 |
| | | | |Trinidad and Tobago | | |NY, 10017 |7622, 7623 | |
|128 |Mr |Southwell |Cardinal |Epoch Solutions |Vice President |cardinal@ |147 Bogart St., Teaneck, NJ, |201-833-2809 | |
| | | | | | | |07666 | | |
|129 |Amb |Stanislaus |Lamuel A. |Permanent Mission of Grenada |Ambassador |grenada@un.int |800 2nd. Av., Suite 400 K, |212-599-0301 |212-599-1540 |
| | | | | | | |NY, NY, 10017 | | |
|130 |Mr |Stephenson |Oronde |Qadar Royal Enterprises LLC |Founder |oronde@ |11 Bragg St., East Hartford |877-212-6546 |866-413-5440 |
| | | | | | | |CT 06108 | | |
|131 |Mr |Stewart |Kevin F.G. |TIDCO |Team |kstewart@tidco.co.tt |10-14 Phillips St., Port of |868-625-3981 extn32 |868-625-3977 |
| | | | | |Leader-Wallerfield | |Spain, Trinidad, West Indies | | |
| | | | | |Business Park | | | | |
|132 |Mr |Symes |Fred |Global Sun Telecom |President |fsymes@ | |845-362-1991 | |
|133 |Ms |Tahtinen |Lotta |DESA |Programme Officer |tahtinen@ |I UN Plaza, Room DC 1 - 1432 |917-367-2212 | |
| | | | | | | |NY, NY 10017 | | |
|134 |Mr |Talbot |George |Permanent Mission of Guyana |Charge D' Affaires |guyun@un.int |866 United Nations Plaza, |212-527-3232-3 |212-935-7548 |
| | | | | | | |Suite 555, NY, NY, 10017 | | |
|135 |Ms |Taylor-Roberts |Norma |Permanent Mission of Jamaica |Deputy Permanent |jamaica@un.int |767 3 rd. Av., 9th Fl., NY, |212-935-7509 |212-935-7607 |
| | | | | |Representative | |NY 10017 | | |
|136 |Ms |Theodore |Zilpha |Permanent Mission of Dominica|Consul-General |domun@ |800 2nd. Av., Suite 400 H, |212-949-0853 |212-661-0979 |
| | | | | |(Ag.)/Attache | |NY, NY, 10017 | | |
|137 |Mr |Thomas |Cyril | | | | | | |
|138 |Mr |Thomas |Percival Theodore |Wallerson International |Caribbean Projects |thomo700@ |1085 Willmohr St., Suite 1 R |718-941-8974 |718-566-1451 |
| | | | |Consultants Inc. |Coordinator | |Brooklyn, NY, 11212 | | |
|139 |Dr |Thompson |Jerrol |Ministry of |Minister |svgforeign@ or |Government Complex, |809-456-1223 |809-457-2880 |
| | | | |Telecommunications, Science, | |industry@ |Kingstown, St. Vincent and | | |
| | | | |Technology and Industry for | | |the Grenadines, West Indies | | |
| | | | |St. Vincent and the | | | | | |
| | | | |Grenadines | | | | | |
|140 |Mr |Thorpe |David |Conquest Systems Inc. |Design Engineer/Sr. |dcthorpe2000@ |9 Cheverly Circle, Cheverly |301-773-7888 | |
| | | | | |Developer | |MD, 20785 | | |
|141 |Amb |Tobing-Klein |Imma E. Loemban |Permanent Mission of Suriname|Former Permanent | | | | |
| | | | | |Representative | | | | |
|142 |Mr |Vieira |Paul |IDL Communications |Chief Operating |pvieira@ |2045 Schnectady Av., Brooklyn|908-953-6168 |908-953-5686 |
| | | | | |Officer | |NY11234 | | |
|143 |Ms |Virtue |Grace |Howard University |Senior Writer, |gvirtue@ |2314 Glenmont Circle, #208, |202-238-2335 |202-986-0409 |
| | | | | |Executive | |Silver Springs, MD 20902 | | |
| | | | | |Communications | | | | |
| | | | | |Manager | | | | |
|144 |Mr |Walker |Keith |WIISCOM Technologies, Inc. |Chairman/Founder |trivento@ |Lot 8, Yorkshire Development,|246-420-1396 |702-543-4950 |
| | | | | | | |Christ Church, Barbados | | |
|145 |Dr |Warde |Cardinal |Massechusettes Institute of |Professor of |warde@mit.edu |Room 13-3102, Massachusetts |617-253-6858 |617-253-0222 |
| | | | |Technology |Electrical | |Institute of Technology, | | |
| | | | | |Engineering | |Cambridge MA 02139 | | |
|146 |Mr |Weinstock |Ira | | | | | | |
|147 |Mr |White-Davis |Gerald |International Consortium of |President |geraldwd@mec.cuny.edu |4433 Carpenter Avenue, Suite |718-324-3053 | |
| | | | |Caribbean Professionals | | |#3, Bronx NY. 10470 | | |
|148 |Mr |Williams |Valence |Maxim Group |Vice President |vwilliams@ |405 Lexington Av., 2nd Fl., |212-895-3578 |212-895-3555 |
| | | | | | | |NY, NY 10174 | | |
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[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.
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