One of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to bridge the digital divide. To achieve this, WSIS has set specific targets to improve access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), to be achieved by 2015.

Connect the World is a multi stakeholder initiative, which encompasses partners and projects globally intent on achieving the goals of WSIS through partnerships, collaboration and cooperation.

Being a leading authority on information communication in the Caribbean and globally; and leveraging our position, skills and competencies in connecting the efforts of regional stakeholders and encouraging partnership and joint working between agencies for cohesive results, CANTO is preparing to launch “Connect The Caribbean (CTC) Initiative” during the “24th Annual Trade Exhibition and Nassau Summit on Connect the Caribbean” from 6th-10th July 2008, in the Bahamas.

Connect The Caribbean, is the Caribbean’s response to the “Connect the World Initiative”. Consistent with the framework of Connect the World, the project will function as a partnership to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to bridge major gaps in ICT infrastructure development, enabling a harmonized policy framework and developing relevant and affordable services and applications. The expectation is that Investment in ICT will fuel economic growth and employment in the region and help fast-track targets to achieve broader development goals. As such, the vehicle of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy is expected to play key role.

The 1st Stakeholders meeting attracted more than 60 participants to Paramaribo Suriname

The initiative will be led by CANTO in collaboration and partnership with other key public and private stakeholders, including the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) working with the Regulatory environment, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) seeking global industry harmonization and growth, and CARICOM, working for a Single Market and Single Economy for the Region.

One critical activity is the development of a database of regional ICT projects that are currently underway or at the conceptual stage. Even though such projects would have been conceived outside of this initiative, we believe that information on such projects would assist us in doing a more accurate assessment of the gaps, in order to plan more efficiently to realize WSIS connectivity objectives. Additionally, going forward, a well structured and managed database will provide the basis for sharing knowledge and best practices on ICT projects across the region. This will be a key benefit of the CTC Initiative.

Connect The Caribbean is one of the main projects that CANTO will undertake over the next few years. The five working committees of the Board are expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the project. Consistent with the terms of reference of the working committees, they will provide technical and advisory support. The Secretariat will be responsible for the detailed research, analysis, implementation and management of all activities related to the project.

During the 1st Face to Face Stakeholders Meeting, held at the 24th AGM of CANTO, on 30-31st January in Paramaribo-Suriname, the following three focus groups contemplated the CTC Initiative along the lines of the Connect the World Project: 

Presenters at 1st Stakeholders Meeting from l-r: Jennifer Britton (CARICOM), Kim Mallalieu (UWI), Opal Lawton (Consultant in Telecommunications Policy, Costing and Pricing) and Glenda Medford (Directors CANTO Board C&W Barbados). Not pictured are presenters from: ITU, CTU, ETECSA, NORTEL, ERICSSON and Alcatel/Lucent.

1. Enabling Environment
2. Infrastructure and Readiness
3. Applications and Services

The goal is to come up with a draft framework for the Connect The Caribbean Project.

ITU COLLARATION ON THE NASSAU SUMMIT ON CONNECT THE CARIBBEAN

ITU Caribbean Area Representative – Philip Cross about the Kigali Summit on Connect Africa launched by the ITU in October 2007

CANTO and CTU will collaborate with ITU to hold the “Nassau Summit on Connect The Caribbean”, in partnership with the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Other international and regional organizations could include: CARICOM, OCCUR, UWI, ECTEL, LADB, CTO, CCAA, OAS, CITEL, AHCIET, ASETA, CIVIL SOCIETY, etc. Sponsors could include: SISCO, HUAWEI, MICROSOFT, ERICSSON, NORTEL, LUCENT/ALCATEL, CERRILLION, GLOBAL VOICE GROUP etc.

The Summit will be held in conjunction with CANTO 2008 and will be branded “24th Annual Trade Exhibition and Nassau Summit on Connect The Caribbean” from 6th-10th July 2008. The Summit agenda will be modeled after the “Kigali Summit” on Connect Africa.
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/connect/africa/2007/summit/programme.html

The 2nd Annual HR Training and Best Practices Conference will run from 10th-11th July 2008, as scheduled.

The goal of the Nassau Summit would be to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to bridge major gaps in ICT infrastructure development, enabling a harmonized policy framework and developing relevant and affordable services and applications. The expectation is that Investment in ICT will fuel economic growth and employment in the region and help fast-track targets to achieve broader development goals. As such, the vehicle of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy is expected to play a key role.  

PRINCIPLES WHICH UNDERPIN CARIBBEAN CONNECTIVITY 

• For the purposes of the Connect the Caribbean Initiative, the Caribbean is defined as the broadest set of constituencies who consider themselves to be part of the Caribbean, to include e.g. Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, Suriname as well as the Diaspora.
• We recognize the region as one which shares a common heritage and identity and is characterized by related culture.
• We must establish a shared vision for Caribbean development and the advancement of the region’s people as the key principle which underlies the Connect the Caribbean Initiative
• A Connected Caribbean is one in which its People, Institutions and Systems are connected
• To achieve a Connected Caribbean we need to strengthen
  • psychological ties (local content, cultural)
  • economic ties (trade, industry, commerce)
  • knowledge sharing (education, experience, research, expert networking)
•  A Connected Caribbean implies application of ICT to:
  • pervasive broadband internet connectivity
  • affordable and ubiquitous computer access
  • telecommunications
  • national archives (regional )
  • regional security
  • social services delivery
• There is an accompanying set of enablers that are required for the target outcomes of CTC to be achieved. These include:
  • Supporting Legislation
  • Harmonization in legislation, regulations, policy and standards
  • Merchant Accounts for Online Financial Transactions
  • Intra-regional Movement of Goods
  • Intra-regional Movement of People
  • Sensitization and Awareness
  • Labour Force Movement
  • Gravitas for CCI – clout to achieve swift action
  • Commitment of the Stakeholders
  • Government Support
  • Digital Record Keeping
  • Regionalization of Critical/Core Service Delivery Applications
  • Programmed Leadership Sensitization an Education initiatives
  • Programmed Stakeholder Sensitization an Education initiatives
  • Lobbying Mechanism
  • Family Strengthening Through Civil organizations and NGOs
  • Strengthening Political Will
  • Investment in Appropriate Technology
  • National E-strategies

REGISTRATION AS A CTC PARTNER

• Registration as a CTC partner is via the CTC Portal
• Registrations will be accepted once applicants adhere to the general principles of the Initiative and that submissions are made according to a standard template, which will include:
  

  o	Identification of CTC outcomes to which institutional / project objectives will contribute
  o	Definition of the partner institutions’ scope of work and terms of reference as relate to its operation in the regional ICT space

  
  

Partners will be expected to post information on all projects that fall under the scope of CTC.  

Benefits

1. Access to Advisory Services from our network of domain experts
2. Access to Funding through partner donor institutions
3. Project Implement strengthening and expansion tools
4. Participation in wider Caribbean initiative
5. Opportunity to contribute to establishment of regional best practices
6. Opportunity to identify and utilize support resources
7. Wider profile for institution and initiative through the Connect The Caribbean programme

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COLLABORATION, EXAMINE THE DOCUMENTS BELOW AND CONTACT: THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF CANTO, Ms. Regenie Fräser, Tel: 622 7448/4781/0929; Mobiles: 735-0440; 355-2505; E-mail: rfraser@canto.org.

1. 1st STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AGENDA 30TH -31ST JANUARY IN PARAMARIBO, SURINAME
2. 1ST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING PRESENTATIONS
3. 1ST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING REPORT
4. PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME 24TH ANNUAL TRADE EXHIBITION AND NASSAU SUMMIT ON CONNECT THE CARIBBEAN, HOSTED BY BTC, 6TH – 10TH JULY 2008, ATLANTIS HOTEL, NASSAU – BAHAMAS