Information and communication technologies enhance various social and economic sectors in the Caribbean by expanding and improving health care and education services available to the region's citizens. Digitizing government formalities enables cost reductions and faster handling of citizens' requests.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are a major tool for increasing the effectiveness of productive economic sectors in over 30 Caribbean markets. In addition to shortening processing times and handling citizens' documentation requests by using an eGovernment platform, ICTs are being implemented to improve the standard of living of the citizens of the Caribbean, as explained in the white paper ICTs for Development in the Caribbean published recently by 5G Americas.
Heads of Government and their representatives attending the 21st Century Government Summit endorsed and expressed their commitment to establishing 21st Century Government in their respective countries.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), hosted a Summit to present to regional Heads of Government the principles of 21st Century Government, the goal of which is to accelerate government and public service transformation and thereby strengthen economic competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
Read more: Caribbean governments commit to establishing 21st Century Governments
Official sources told Business Recorder that a reference against 13 projects executed by Pakistan Computer Bureau (PCB) and Electronic Government Directorates (EGD) is currently lying on the table of Minister of State for IT Anusha Rehman waiting for formal approval. The Minister is likely to give formal approval for sending the reference to NAB soon, after which the Bureau would thoroughly probe these cases and would fix responsibility. Sources further revealed that about 15 officials are directly involved in the process while some of them have already gone on long leave.
Read more: PK: MoIT moving reference against 13 PSDP projects
The Internet Society has released its “Removing Barriers to Connectivity in the Caribbean” report, together with recommendations for increasing Internet adoption in the region.
Reflecting the Caribbean’s diversity in size, language, political structure and economic development, the report presents a detailed look at the region’s unique set of connectivity challenges and gives guidance for overcoming these barriers. In particular, it highlights significant progress that has been made as well as the opportunity that exists for better knowledge-sharing between countries and for governments to do more to drive greater Internet use.
Read more: Caribbean well positioned to capitalize on Internet growth, says Internet Society report
The UN said the meeting will feature Italy’s Minister for Reforms and Innovation in Public Administration Luigi Nicolais; St. Lucia’s Minister of Public Service Lenard Montoute and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of Telecommunication, Science, Technology and Industry Dr. Jerrol Thompson.