T&T’s Digital Transformation Minister re-elected as CTU president

Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Senator Hassel Bacchus, has been re-elected as President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).

A release from the Ministry reports that his re-election came as part of the ongoing regional meeting for Information Communications Technology (ICT) Week, currently taking place this week in St. Kitts and Nevis, from September 30 to October 5, 2024.

During his continued tenure as President of the CTU, the focus will remain on innovation, inclusivity, and cybersecurity to empower the Caribbean in an increasingly connected world, the Ministry’s statement said.

The Ministry said in addition to reaffirming his commitment to advancing telecommunications and digital transformation across the Caribbean, during his two keynote addresses, Minister Bacchus emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in the global digital landscape.

“The Caribbean cannot be a mere onlooker,” he told regional CTU stakeholders. “Rather, we must be active innovators and contributors, ensuring that our regional priorities, unique perspectives and culture are safeguarded and prioritised at a global level.”

The new CTU president also underscored the importance of establishing a regional framework for ICT and digital transformation. According to the Minister, such a development “lends itself to greater investment, economies of scale, shared expertise, shared infrastructure, and shared advocacy in regional and international forums.”

He also highlighted this country’s own digital development initiatives that align with the region’s broader digital agenda.

“In keeping with the Port of Spain Commitment signed by 11 Caribbean countries in May 2023, Trinidad and Tobago is currently finalising the development and roll-out of solutions that will form part of the regional digital ecosystem,” he reported. 

The solutions which the Minister referenced include the national e-ID, Interoperability Framework, and the establishment of a modular Tier 4 Data Centre.

“These initiatives will bolster the region’s digital infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and the delivery of public services across the Caribbean,” he said.

The Ministry’s release notes that key component aof ICT Week were the CTU Statutory Meetings, including the 51st Executive Council and the 30th General Conference of Ministers—both of which play a pivotal role in guiding the Union’s policy direction.

“These meetings facilitated discussions among ICT and digital transformation stakeholders on critical regional issues such as the upskilling of citizens, the deployment of 5G, regulatory frameworks and meaningful connectivity,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry also reports that Minister Bacchus had productive discussions with key international and regional digital transformation stakeholders, including:

  ●   Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which focused on strengthening the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the ITU. They identified key areas for future collaboration such as policy development for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and capacity building in cybersecurity.

  ●   Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and lead for Science and Technology, including ICT on matters such as optimizing regional resources to enhance the work of relevant CARICOM bodies, advancing the Single ICT Space, and harnessing digital technology for regional development

During his own address to the Conference, Prime Minister Mitchell observed that embracing technology and cultivating a strong appetite for early adoption are key to regional success.

The Grenada PM also called for the development of a regional cloud strategy to promote collaboration, share resources, and ensure business continuity.

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