50th Executive Council Meeting and Inaugural Caribbean ICT Ministers’ Retreat

The Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU) will hold its 50^th Executive Council (EC50) meeting, its 21^st Caribbean Ministerial Strategic ICT Seminar and the Inaugural Caribbean ICT Ministers’ Retreat from 11^th to 13^th April 2024.  The meetings are being hosted by the CTU Member State of Belize, under the patronage of the Honourable Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics & E-Governance (MPUELE), Government of Belize.

EC50 is one the CTU’s statutory meetings for the members of the Executive Council, its Permanent Secretaries, Technical Officers and Advisors to ICT Minister, to guide the work of the Secretariat. It is a closed meeting.

The 21^st Caribbean Ministerial Strategic ICT Seminar, like previous seminars, will share with Ministers and their teams the current, pertinent developments in the areas of 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity to name a few.

The Inaugural Caribbean ICT Leadership Ministerial Retreat is being held to obtain the guidance and insight of the CTU’s ICT Ministers and Senior Government Officials as the CTU develops its 2024 – 2028 Strategic Plan. The retreat will discuss the pressing ICT challenges in the Caribbean to ensure they are factored into the Strategic Plan and importantly will also seek to strengthen the bonds between CTU Ministers, fostering a spirit of regional cooperation and future-oriented thinking. The retreat will be a blend of formal sessions, cultural immersion and leisure activities so as to deliver a holistic, productive and memorable experience for all attendees.

Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU and other key Stakeholders will join Member State Ministers and their advisors in Belize for this event.

Objectives:

• Primary Objective:

To foster collaboration, share insights and strategise on the advancement of ICT in the Caribbean.

• Secondary Objectives:
  • To review, discuss and progress the Draft CTU Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028;
  • To discuss challenges and opportunities unique to the CTU Member States;
  • To develop a unified approach to digital infrastructure and cybersecurity;
  • To explore innovations and emerging technologies; and
  • To enhance the relationship of the CTU’s ICT Ministers.

The retreat is designed to foster interactive and open discussions among Ministers, as the region’s foremost policy makers in the ICT sector. This gathering will offer a unique opportunity to engage with regional counterparts and, importantly, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), represented by Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). Dr. Zavazava will be visiting the Caribbean for the first time since his election as the Director BDT in September 2022. Through a blend of formal sessions and cultural immersion, the retreat aims to facilitate candid conversations on pivotal ICT issues facing the Caribbean, encouraging regional collaboration and cooperation; and the pursuit of forward-thinking initiatives with our international partners.

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