BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –A sense of innovation in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) is expected to be sparked by this week’s Caribbean ICT Roadshow, running from August 24-28.
Organized by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), the roadshow started yesterday (Aug. 24) with an official opening ceremony at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort under the theme ‘Harnessing the power of innovation: the engine for ICT-enabled development’.
The four-day event is designed to build public awareness of the “transformative power” of technology.
During yesterday’s press conference, CTU Secretary General Bernadette Lewis said that the roadshow aims to get the average person to appreciate that, if applied properly and in innovative ways, ICT can transform him or her as an individual.
“ICT now touches every aspect of human endeavour, and what we have found in the Caribbean is that we are consumers of the technology. We don’t create the technology; we invest a lot in ICT. But it is our view in the CTU that we are not maximizing the full potential of the technology,” she said.
The CTU official indicated that an innovative approach to ICT could be the solution to the many challenges involved in regional development.
According to Lewis, there is a need to think creatively as it relates to ICT in the region, even if it means abandoning some of the processes that have existed for the past decades.
She stressed that the new and evolving technology must be applied to address equally evolving challenges.
This is a mandate the government of St. Kitts-Nevis has demonstrated by being the first country to host the roadshow, Lewis said.
“The government was very early and on the ball to state that they were ready and willing to host this ICT innovation roadshow. It is a statement that ICT is of importance, and it has been recognized as one of the potential drivers for transformation in St. Kitts-Nevis,” Lewis stated.
She urged the private and public sectors to give input during this week’s discussions, as the information would be used to formulate regional policies specifically tailored to each country’s needs.
“The roadshow is not a single event, it is an initiative. We are planting a seed and we want to see the people and government of St. Kitts-Nevis water it so that it would grow and bear fruit down the road. We will be looking forward to getting the recommendations from the citizens of this country, so that they can really benefit from access to the technology,” she said.
The ICT Roadshow would also feature the CTU’s 5th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in association with the Roadshow’s activities.
