Keynote
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)'s ICT Week 2024
[As prepared for delivery]
Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG JP, Governor General of Saint Kitts and Nevis,
The Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Acting Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis,
Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, and Chair of CARICOM (Caribbean Community),
Honourable Konris Maynard,
Members of Cabinet,
Honourable Hassel Bacchus, President of CTU (Caribbean Telecommunications Union),
Excellencies, Secretary Generals, Ladies and Gentlemen,
"Digital technologies are dramatically transforming our world."
That's the opening line of the Global Digital Compact, adopted last week at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
I was there − and you could truly feel the weight of the moment.
It was fitting that the Republic of Palau became ITU's 194th Member State in the midst of this moment — a significant step in advancing digital transformation for island nations.
Today, I want to share three key insights from the discussions I had with government and business leaders in New York — conversations that struck directly at the heart of the challenges and opportunities facing the Caribbean and all Small Island Developing States.
They show just how critical the Compact's commitments are for the future of the region — and ITU is already hard at work delivering on them.
Building resilience
The first takeaway is about building resilience.
Here in the Caribbean, resilience can a be a matter of life or death.
Hurricane Beryl is a tragic reminder of this hard truth.
How many more lives must be lost before early warning systems protect everyone?
We believe the Early Warnings for All initiative can be a game-changer.
So, we need together to ensure that everyone in the region gets the alert they need before disaster strikes.
Early warnings are just one part of the solution.
Let's also reaffirm our commitment to sustainable digital transformation.
Earlier today, we launched a new report with WBA (World Benchmarking Alliance) highlighting the growing carbon footprint of the digital technology sector, calling on digital companies to lead by example — which is the core tenet of our Green Digital Action initiative.
This year at COP29, during our first-ever Digitalization Day on November 16, we'll see just how powerful this movement can be.
Because here's the thing:
What impacts one of us, affects all of us.
Island nations often rely on single submarine cable connections, making them vulnerable to disruptions.
We can't afford to leave international Internet traffic to chance.
That's why ITU is partnering with ICPC (International Cable Protection Committee) to establish an advisory group for Submarine Cable Resilience.
Let's make sure the Caribbean plays a vital role in shaping the right conditions for investing in resilient digital infrastructure.
From subsea cables to satellites, let's work together to secure reliable connectivity for Caribbean economies and communities everywhere.
That includes strengthening cyber resilience.
At a time when our recent Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 shows that Small Island Developing States continue to face resource and capacity constraints.
And let's remember: resilience doesn't stop at infrastructure.
True resilience is about people,
ITU looks forward to supporting next year's Global Sustainable Island Summit in St. Kitts and Nevis. To ensure that every person in the region, every voice (young, old, man, woman) is included in our digital future.
Driving inclusion
The second insight focuses on driving inclusion.
Because how can we talk about an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, and secure digital future for all when 2.6 billion people are still offline around the world?
Last year, Internet use grew to 75 per cent of the population in the Caribbean.
But there's still need for progress, from mobile broadband penetration rates, to closing the urban-rural divide, to making access affordable.
A critical area for improvement is strong, unified digital policies.
That's why ITU is committed to supporting CTU's efforts to advance a harmonized ICT (information and communication technology) regulatory framework in support of the CARICOM Single ICT Space.
And we can do this by backing our words with actions — bold, collective actions.
From our Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, which has mobilized over USD 50 billion for universal meaningful connectivity and digital transformation in the hardest-to-reach communities.
To our Giga, the ITU-UNICEF initiative to connect every school to the Internet.
These actions create impact.
Let me tell you about Joan, a teacher from Dominica.
When she took the world stage at the UN Summit of the Future SDG Digital event last week, she talked with passion about what happened when her school got connected to the internet and how her students became more involved, more curious, and achieved more than they ever imagined.
And now, ITU, UNICEF (the United Nations agency for children), and OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) are expanding Giga throughout the Eastern Caribbean to connect more schools across the entire region.
Fostering innovation
The third priority is fostering innovation for sustainable development.
Innovation is the glue that holds everything together — pushing us faster and further than we've ever been.
That's why AI dominated discussions in New York − and why it holds a central place in the Global Digital Compact.
The question before us today is:
Will this technology help island nations in the Caribbean leapfrog into the future, or will it deepen existing inequalities?
For me, the answer lies in our ability to achieve universal meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.
It also means building the AI standards and skills that give every community (big or small) a fair shot at a better future.
Standards build trust, safety, and a level playing field for innovation.
In two weeks, we will launch the first International AI Standards Summit at our World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi.
I expect the voice of the Caribbean to stand out, and to be heard in all its diversity.
We also need to invest in local skills and empower local talent, to address the unique challenges faced by countries across the region
That's the objective behind our brand-new AI Skills Coalition which will create a trusted platform for AI skills, knowledge, and expertise.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I met with the Caribbean ICT Youth Network over breakfast this morning, very early this morning.
These brilliant young men and women are part of the first generation to come of age in an era of unimaginable digital opportunities.
I asked them how they felt digital technologies could tackle the challenges of Caribbean.
And what kind of digital future they wanted.
Their optimism was contagious.
When they look at their island nations, they see unity in diversity.
When they think of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), they see the chance to heal our planet and lift up communities.
So, yes, digital technologies are dramatically transforming our world.
But we're ready… to direct them for good!
ITU is ready to roll up its sleeves and continue to work with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and all our partners in the region to build resilience, to drive inclusion, and to foster innovation.
Now and for generations to come.
As Mia Motley said at the close of our Summit of the Future action day: "I want us to leave here with a pep in our step and with a commitment to the principles that can truly bring harmony and a shared mission to save planet and people."
