Suriname, which holds responsibility for the Industrial Policy in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, is spearheading work towards its completion to present it to a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in October 2025. The work to be carried out in time for that meeting includes deeper engagements with key stakeholders in the business community.
Already, consultations have been held with stakeholders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while others are planned for later in August.
Ambassador David Prendergast, Director, Sectoral Programmes at the CARICOM Secretariat, said that there is a strong demand for the Policy from the Region’s private sector. The Policy is grounded in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and is intended to promote the development of entities ranging from micro to large businesses.
“Essentially, [this policy] seeks to boost productivity, to create more opportunities for employment across the Region, to use our resources optimally, and to connect us into global value chains which are critical for production with the ultimate objective of improving the standard of living of our people across the Region,” Amb. Prendergast explained.
Industrial Policy development consultant to the CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Sandiford Ruel Edwards, said given the current global environment, the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy is well-positioned to make a substantive contribution to renewed economic diversification and cultivating indigenous growth and prosperity by addressing both established industrial sectors and emerging innovative fields and technologies.
“It is important to acknowledge that this industrial policy is not a universal remedy; historical global initiatives have sometimes resulted in notable failures, and there remain valid concerns regarding government intervention in market selection. This strategic framework proposes a collaborative model between regional governments and the private sector, targeting 12 industrial ecosystems alongside five cross-cutting enablers,” he said.
The 12 eco-systems at the foundation of the Policy are: Agri-Food, Fisheries and Processing; Construction; Culture and Creative Industries; Digitalisation; Education and Human Capital Development; Energy; Health and Wellbeing; Mobility and Transportation; Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises; Non-Food Manufacturing; Research, Development and Innovation; and Tourism.
The cross-cutting enablers are Financing, Competition Policy and Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property, Standards and Environmental Stewardship. ]]>
Connect with leading educators, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of education in the Caribbean and beyond, under the theme–Navigating the Digital Age: Rethinking Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
Take advantage of the limited early bird registration discount by 19 August and register at: https://conference.cxc.org
]]>“The proposed CARICOM Education Transformation Commission was also discussed. This is devised to drive a unified equity-based education reform agenda across the Region. In particular, we discussed how it can be operationalised in a manner that ensures its sustainability and does not compound the requirements of Member States.”
Dr The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP,Chair, CARICOM, Prime Minister, Jamaica
In a strong show of leaders’ commitment to education transformation, CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, announced the advancement of a bold initiative to enhance education across the Caribbean Community: the CARICOM Education Transformation Commission.
Speaking at the closing media conference of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, held from 6–8 July in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness confirmed that the Commission was a key topic of discussion among regional leaders.
He emphasised that the body is intended to drive a unified, equity-based reform agenda for education, designed to uplift learning outcomes and create consistent educational opportunities across Member States.
“In particular, we discussed how it can be operationalised in a manner that ensures its sustainability and does not compound the requirements of Member States,” stated Dr Holness.
The proposed Commission signals a renewed commitment to education as a cornerstone of regional development and social equity. The CARICOM Chair explained that leaders explored collaborative approaches that will ensure long-term success and impactful implementation without overextending national capacities.
During the Meeting’s opening ceremony on Sunday, Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP, Prime Minister of Barbados underscored that the Caribbean Educational Transformation Commission must be established as a matter of urgency, as the current educational system is not “fit for purpose” for today’s citizens.
She posited that data and evidence should inform necessary changes to give young people the best possible chance.
Helpful Links:
Keynote Address | Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP | Prime Minister of Jamaica | Chairman of CARICOM | 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government| 6 July 2025
Video | Closing Media Conference of the 49th Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government | Montego Bay, Jamaica
Co-organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), CETIC.br/NIC.br, The University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Internet Technical Community – including LACNIC, ICANN, the Internet Society, LACTLD, LAC-IX, ARIN and RedCLARA – the 2025 School focused on critical themes such as AI governance, meaningful connectivity, infrastructure resilience, policy frameworks, and financing for digital transformation.
The Opening Ceremony on 16 June featured interventions from regional leaders, each underscoring the importance of collaboration, innovation, and strategic policymaking in navigating the Caribbean’s digital future.
Mr. Demetris Herakleous, Associate Economic Affairs Officer at UN ECLAC, described the School as more than a training programme.
“It is a collective space for learning, exchange, and co-creation.” He highlighted that the Caribbean’s digital transformation must be people-centred, inclusive, and tailored to regional realities. “Digital tools can expand the rights and opportunities of all people in the region,” he affirmed, urging participants to engage fully in the week’s sessions and bring forward their lived experiences.
Mr. Bernardo Requena, CAF Director Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, called for “a bold rethinking of how the State delivers value in the digital age.” He cited inequality in connectivity, vulnerability to natural disasters, and regulatory fragmentation as challenges, but stressed that “the digital future we envision will not emerge by chance. It must be built together.”
Ms. Ana Laura Martínez, Coordinator at CETIC.br, celebrated the Caribbean’s growing engagement with digital transformation. “Apps from countries across the region have nearly doubled since last year,” she noted. She championed the importance of evidence-based policymaking and robust ICT statistics to shape inclusive digital policies, reminding attendees that “digital transformation is not only a technological process, but a socio-technical one.”
Dr. Kim Mallalieu, Chair of UWI St. Augustine Campus ICT Steering Committee, called on participants to “contemplate the possibilities for uniquely Caribbean solutions to our unique challenges.” She emphasised that digital transformation is a strategic enabler for operational efficiency and regional resilience and encouraged active engagement throughout the week to harness the Caribbean’s “prime real estate for digital innovation.”
Mr. Cory Belfon, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, delivered an address on behalf of Minister Dominic Smith. He underscored the School’s significance as a forum for “capacity building, knowledge exchange, challenging perspectives, and pursuing collaborative solutions.” He highlighted artificial intelligence and regional cooperation as critical focus areas, noting that “the Caribbean’s digital transformation is not something to be outsourced or left to chance.”
The five-day programme featured a rigorous agenda of lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and case studies. Thematic sessions explored a range of topics, including the role and future of the Internet; ethical and regulatory frameworks for AI; regional cybersecurity; and digital public infrastructure and legal enablers, such as data protection and e-signatures.
Participants from ministries of digital transformation, planning, finance, trade, and legal affairs across the region, along with regulators, chambers of commerce, and international organisations, shared insights and best practices, contributing to a rich peer-learning environment.
During the closing ceremony on 20 June, Dr. Mallalieu reaffirmed UWI’s long-term commitment to capacity-building, research, and regional development, highlighting the university’s legacy of producing thought leaders in telecommunications and digital policy. She acknowledged the tireless efforts of the organising partners and thanked participants for their dynamic contributions throughout the programme.
Certificates of participation were awarded to individuals who completed at least two-thirds of the sessions.
The 2025 edition of SoDTIC reaffirmed the region’s dedication to shaping a digital transformation agenda that is equitable, resilient, and tailored to Caribbean realities. As echoed throughout the event, the digital future must be one that is built collaboratively; informed by evidence; and rooted in regional cooperation.
]]>The Incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, made the point in a video message ahead of the Forty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which he will host in Montego Bay, 6-8 July. The theme of the Meeting is ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future.’
Referencing the Regional Digital Development Strategy, Prime Minister Holness said the Community will prioritise digital literacy, cyber security, and innovative solutions that can streamline governance, improve healthcare, and expand educational opportunities.
“We will work to ensure that AI and other emerging technologies are harnessed in ways that align with our values, promoting inclusion, fairness, and data privacy. This is not just about keeping pace with global trends, but moreso about empowering our people to compete and thrive in the digital age,” he said.
]]>Please read the Secretary-General’s message below:
This is the tenth year that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Region are joining in the observance of Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day. For 2025, the CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership celebrates International Girls in ICT Day, under the theme “Girls in ICT: Building CARICOM”.
This theme underscores the importance of inclusion, participation, and leadership of our women and girls to shaping a resilient, innovative and competitive future. We celebrate the progress made in education, digital transformation and digital literacy, as a growing number of women and girls have forged new pathways as innovators of digital technology in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts (STEM/STEAM) in our Community.
We need to take advantage of widening opportunities to encourage more girls to engage in STEM and related career fields, and to ensure all our population is equally able to access jobs in automation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
CARICOM has prioritised digital skills development as part of the Regional Digital Resilience Strategic Framework. To ensure that digital transformation is inclusive, equitable and a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, requires continued collaboration between Governments, the private sector and civil society, to allow for pathways that ensure that future generations of girls participate in ICT, and have opportunities to assume leadership positions and contribute to a resilient, innovative and competitive future.
Let us reinforce our commitment to a future where technology is a catalyst for equality, opportunity, and empowerment for all.
Happy International Girls in ICT Day 2025!
]]>To celebrate the day, the CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership will host an inspiring webinar and a speaker series, designed to spotlight the voices and stories of girls in technology.
Participants in the webinar will explore how AI is transforming all aspects of life; the support drone technology provides to environmental management; and how robotics is changing the way business and industries operate. The speaker series will follow a day in the lives of an e-commerce agri-entrepreneur, education technology futurist, innovative brand and design strategist, and a statistician and technology researcher.
There will also be a panel discussion on the role of AI in shaping the future classroom.
Please join us on our social media platforms for the events which begin at 10 am AST.
You can register via the following link: https://rsc-student.web.app/#/sign-in
For additional details, please see: https://caricom.org/girlsinict/
“We were able to also take a report from the concerned parents with respect to CXC, and we’ve asked for them to meet with CXC to remove any misunderstanding and to improve the response to their concerns. In addition to that, the Community took a decision that the time has come for the establishment of a CARICOM Educational Transformation Commission.”
CARICOM leaders have decided to establish an Educational Transformation Commission. CARICOM Chair and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley made the announcement at the culmination of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados during the closing media conference.
In 2024, a representative for the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados and the Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress advocated for the need to analyse Barbadian pupils’ performance in light of a CXC report, which revealed a concerning fall in regional Mathematics proficiency.
Speaking to the media, the Chair highlighted the leaders’ decisive action. “We were able to take a report from the concerned parents with respect to CXC, and we’ve asked for them to meet with CXC to remove any misunderstanding…to improve the response to their concerns. In addition to that, the Community took a decision that the time had come now for the establishment of a CARICOM Educational Transformation Commission,” explained the Chair.
“We all accept that our educational systems are not fit for purpose.”
The Chair emphasised that leaders agreed the current systems were not aligned with the Region’s education goals. “They were designed for a colonial period with a hierarchical structure that only saw a few of our people. If we are to be able to ensure that we produce citizens fit for the time with the appropriate social and emotional learning targets, it is now,” asserted the Barbados Prime Minister.
The terms of reference and the composition of the Commission will be completed soon.
View the Chair’s comments below:
At their meeting in July last year under the chairmanship of the Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Science and Technology in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, the Heads of Government approved the Strategic Framework for Regional Digital Resilience 2025-2030.
Listen, as Ms. Jennifer Britton, Deputy Programme Manager, Information and Communication Technology for Development contextualises the Region’s digital status, provides insight into the vision of the Commission, and connects digital development to regional integration and development:
Dr. Barnett highlighted Grenada’s significant contributions to advance Science and Technology, including Information and Communications, in CARICOM and emphasised Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell’s leadership in achieving the Region’s sustainable development goals.
The Secretary-General noted that this year’s theme reflects the progressive spirit of the Grenadian people; a key factor in their past achievements that will be the impetus of their future progress.
Commending the country’s unwavering pursuit of climate justice, the Secretary-General lauded its resilience in recovering from the severe impacts of Hurricane Beryl and called it “exemplary.”
“We stand united in advocating for an international legal framework to hold major polluters accountable for global warming, and to secure the necessary resources for our survival and sustainable development,” Dr Barnett stated.
The full message reads as follows:
On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I extend warm regards to the Government and People of Grenada as you celebrate the Fifty-first Anniversary of your country’s Independence, under the theme “The Next 50: Embracing a Future of Development, Transformation and Unity.”
The spirit of progressiveness promoted by this year’s theme is indicative of the People of Grenada’s commitment to excellence, a driving force behind past successes and a crucial element for continued progress. Grenada’s invitation to Member States to join its Independence celebrations fosters stronger ties within our Community and demonstrates dedication to regional unity.
Grenada’s resilience amidst ongoing recovery efforts from the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl is exemplary. In this vein, we recognise Grenada’s unwavering pursuit of climate justice.
We stand united in advocating for an international legal framework to hold major polluters accountable for global warming, and to secure the necessary resources for our survival and sustainable development.
Grenada’s dedication to regional integration, particularly its ongoing contributions to the development of Science and Technology, including Information and Communications, within CARICOM, is highly valued. Prime Minister, your leadership in this crucial domain is of paramount importance to the Region’s attainment of its sustainable development goals.
I extend best wishes to the Government and People of Grenada as you mark your Fifty-first Anniversary of Independence. I trust that the road ahead will lead to increased prosperity as you embrace a future of development, transformation and unity.
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