Starting on 21 August 2024, we are just days away from the 20th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, the longest-running Internet Governance Forum in the world! With Nigel Cassimire, the Deputy Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and Coordinator of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF), we get an update on the Internet Governance space and the CIGF.  During our conversation with Nigel, he shared: how Internet Governance and the conversations on IG have been evolving; the most prominent or topical issues in the IG space currently; the likely focus areas of the upcoming CIGF; and whether there are any specific issues the Caribbean region ought to be focusing on.

 

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Whether we realise it or not, the internet is evolving. Though an early premise of an open and democratic network of networks that facilitates fair and equitable access may be true, several countervailing forces and ideologies have emerged that ultimately seek to erode that construct. Much of the success we have had to date in managing those forces has been due to the vigilance of several global and regional organisations, buttressed by the support and participation of governments, the private sector, civil society and citizens at large, to try to remain true to the ideals of the internet, whilst also supporting its evolution.

As small as the Caribbean region is, and more so the countries that make up the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), we also have a seat at the table in these global conversations on the internet, and so have the opportunity to voice our issues and concerns. However, what are our concerns and issues? And have we been able to truly capitalise on the power and capabilities of the internet? These are some of the questions we ought to be able to answer for ourselves – before we make representations to the global internet community.

The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum is the longest-running Internet Governance Forum in the world and provides Caribbean countries with the opportunity to discuss and secure regional consensus on priority Internet Governance policies and initiatives and facilitate accelerated digital transformation of the region. The upcoming Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, which will be held 21—23 August 2024, is the 20th staging of the event and is being under the theme, Reflections, Priorities and Projections re Caribbean Internet & Digital Governance.

 

Nigel Cassimire

Introducing our guest

Nigel Cassimire is the Deputy Secretary General and Head of Regional Policy Development of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). He is also the Coordinator of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum.

Since July 2005, Nigel has been a Consulting Telecommunications Specialist. He has worked extensively with the CTU Secretariat in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 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 ICTs and services, with practical experience in network and service planning, operations management and domestic and international telecommunications policy development.

 

Insights into our conversation

To the average person, the concept of Internet Governance may seem very far removed from their everyday reality. Though that might have been true a decade ago, as the discussions would have been more focused on policy and infrastructure, with the internet permeating all areas of our lives, and being leveraged to develop and deliver a broad range of services, conversations about the impact of the internet on that average person and wider society are becoming increasing important and are being included in Internet Governance discussions. As a result, and over the past 20 years, the Internet Governance topics have not changed, but the discussions have broadened to now include non-technical issues arising from our use of the internet.

It is also important to highlight the increasing role of the United Nations (UN) in Internet Governance. Traditionally the area was managed by select non-profit, technical organisations worldwide that coordinated the participation and inclusion of a wide cross-section of stakeholders. However, with the UN getting more involved, and as a Member States organisation, there is a concern that the multi-stakeholder, bottom-up, model that has been the norm in IG circles will give way to a more top-down and politicised approach to the field.

Below are a few of the questions posed to Nigel during our conversation.

  1. With the CIGF having its 20th staging this year, and with you participating in the space for several years, how have IG and the conversations on IG evolved over the years?
  2. IG can still appear to be a closed space in which a select few participate. Why should more people become involved in IG?
  3. What are some of the most prominent or topical issues in the IG space currently?
  4. What is the likely focus of the upcoming (20th) CIGF?
  5. Are there any key issues that the region ought to be focusing on?
  6. Are any special activities being planned to commemorate the 20th CIGF?

 

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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;  Gerd Altmann (Pixabay);  CTU;  zhang kaiyv (Pexels)

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez