With the growing importance and visibility that subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and data protection, have been receiving, Caribbean countries and the region are being challenged to adopt clear, and ideally harmonised, positions, so they can be heard in global Internet Governance conversations. With Nigel Cassimire of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, we discuss, among other things, the internet-related issues and developments that have occurred since 2022 when he was last on the Podcast;  the upcoming Caribbean Internet Governance Forum event; and why just one person can make a difference in the Internet Governance space.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Stitcher!

It was just a mere 12 months ago that we had our last update of the then-latest developments in Internet Governance. But what changes have occurred since then!

Top of the list has been Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is not only challenging existing paradigms about how we live, learn and work, but is also causing us to question the role AI is beginning to play in our lives, and what that role might be in the future. Also, globally, and cognisant of the extent to which the internet has been, and will continue to, drive our economic and social development, the United Nations is advocating for countries to conduct a deeper examination of policies that will be needed to guide our priorities into the future.

The above are just a few of the issues that will be discussed at the 19th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum that will be held on 22—24 August 2023, in Trinidad and Tobago and also streamed online, under the theme, Evolving Caribbean Internet Governance Priorities for Sustainable Digital Development. The event, which is being organised by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union is critical in helping Caribbean countries adopt common, regional positions on important internet-related issues that are being debated globally.

 

Introducing our guest

Nigel Cassimire

Nigel Cassimire is the Deputy Secretary General and Head of Regional Policy Development of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), and the Coordinator of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum. He has functioned as a Consulting Telecommunications Specialist since July 2005 and has worked extensively with the CTU Secretariat in Port of Spain in developing and promoting harmonised Caribbean positions in the areas of spectrum management, internet governance, and ICT policy. He has also successfully conducted consultancies for several of the member governments of the CTU.

Nigel is a Telecommunications Engineer with over thirty years of experience in the technical, operational and executive management of telecommunications systems and services. He has an intimate understanding of a broad range of information and communications technologies and services, with practical experience in network and service planning, operations management and domestic and international telecommunications policy development.

 

Insights into our conversation

As noted earlier, there have been quite a few developments in the internet Governance (IG) space that are likely to have a long-lasting and long-term impact on how we use platforms enabled by the internet. Further, with several important IG meetings scheduled to occur before the end of the year, including LACNIC 40, LACNOG 2023, ARIN 52 and ICANN 78 in October, World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 in November, and the Internet Governance Forum, in December, the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is an important precursor and preparatory event for the region.

With Nigel being a returning guest on the Podcast, to some degree, we can track the evolution of the IG issues the region considers important and has been eager to address.  An important feature of the upcoming CIGF is the revision of the Caribbean IG policy framework that comprises priority topics, issues and recommendations. The last exercise was held in 2016, and the framework is in need of an update.

Below are just a few of the questions that were posed during our conversation.

  1. Since you were on the Podcast in 2022, perhaps let’s start with you giving an overview and update on what has been going on in the IG space.
  2. What is the likely focus of the upcoming 19th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum? Are there any key issues that the region ought to be focusing on?
  3. Most of the popular Internet Governance meetings do not strictly focus on matters governing the ongoing operation of the internet – naming, top-level domain names, etc. – but rather issues that leverage the internet. Why is that the case?
  4. Does the focus on Caribbean Internet Governance have an impact on the realisation of the CARICOM Single ICT Space?
  5. Last year, 2022, the first Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Internet Governance Forum coincided with the 18th staging of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum. What is the plan for the SIDS IGF?

 

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Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  CTU;  Mike MacKenzie (flickr);  Anna Lena Schiller (flickr);  BMN Network (flickr)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez