{"id":158801,"date":"2021-06-09T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=158801"},"modified":"2021-06-09T06:07:24","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T11:07:24","slug":"ictp-158-creating-a-seamless-and-harmonised-regional-telecoms-and-ict-space-with-rodney-taylor-of-the-ctu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/06\/ictp-158-creating-a-seamless-and-harmonised-regional-telecoms-and-ict-space-with-rodney-taylor-of-the-ctu\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 158:  Creating a seamless and harmonised regional telecoms and ICT space, with Rodney Taylor, of the CTU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Ideally, a unified Caribbean region should be better and stronger than its constituent parts. With regard to telecoms and ICT, we still in the process of establishing a seamless and harmonised regional space. In our recent conversation with <em>Rodney Taylor,<\/em><\/em> <em>the new Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, he shares his thoughts on, among other things: the CARICOM Single ICT Space; the efforts afoot to establish a regional regulatory machinery; and what should be the region\u2019s priorities, with respect to telecoms and ICT.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1064793661&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" title=\"ICT Pulse Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICT Pulse Podcast<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\/ictp-158-creating-a-seamless\" title=\"ICTP 158: Creating a seamless and harmonised regional telecoms and ICT space, with Rodney Taylor, of the CTU\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICTP 158: Creating a seamless and harmonised regional telecoms and ICT space, with Rodney Taylor, of the CTU<\/a><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This episode is also available in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple iTunes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&amp;isi=691797987&amp;ius=googleplaymusic&amp;apn=com.google.android.music&amp;link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Icau5acn2xiyl5yjuh7orl2mt54?t%3DICT_Pulse_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play Music<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/3d0U4ZYX80e5lenYLdzyX4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a> (NEW!!) and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a popular quote from Lewis Carroll, most famously known for the book, Alice in Wonderland, \u201c<em>If you don&#8217;t know where you are going, any road will get you there<\/em>\u201d. Suffice it to say, as it relates to telecoms and ICT in the Caribbean region, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single ICT Space and realisation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), have been longstanding goals; but we seem to be challenged in figuring out how to realise them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be fair, successfully implementing almost any CARICOM initiative is a mammoth undertaking, as it requires extensive coordination, and the agreement of 20 member countries, each of which have different characteristics, needs and imperatives. Further, and when the complexity of and initiative is brought into the mix, seemingly straightforward plans and activities can get mired in the slow grind of trying to implement a unified and cohesive approach. As a result, the concept of the CSME is already over 30 years old, whilst the early discussions on the Single ICT Space, that is the Regional Digital Development Strategy, is already around 10 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, and has been said before, COVID-19 highlighted the importance of telecoms and ICT in the region. In <a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/2021\/02\/ictp-141-how-much-closer-are-we-to-realising-the-single-ict-space-with-jennifer-britton-of-the-caricom-secretariat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our most recent conversation with Jennifer Britton of the CARICOM Secretariat<\/a>, she indicated that the CARICOM Member States seem to be now moving with more alacrity on ICT-related matters in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A critical player in the efforts to advance telecoms and ICT in the region is the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), which is an institution of CARICOM, and a technical agency focussing on all matters related to telecoms and ICT. Earlier this year, the CTU announced the appointment of a new Secretary General, Rodney Taylor. In 2018, we had <a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/2018\/12\/ictp-034-realising-21st-century-government-caribbean-bernadette-lewis-ctu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a conversation with past Secretary General, Bernadette Lewis<\/a>, on some of the regional plans and initiatives, particularly in relation to \u201821st century government\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has been a few months since the new Secretary General assumed office; so we have been eager to get his perspective on telecoms and ICT in the region, and consequently, the role he would like the CTU to play in shaping that future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing our guest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"158804\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/06\/ictp-158-creating-a-seamless-and-harmonised-regional-telecoms-and-ict-space-with-rodney-taylor-of-the-ctu\/rodney-taylor-ctu\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?fit=720%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"720,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rodney Taylor (CTU)\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;https:\/\/ctu.int\/secretary-general\/&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Rodney Taylor&lt;br \/&gt;\nCTU Secretary General&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?fit=270%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?fit=720%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?resize=399%2C443&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-158804\" width=\"399\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?w=720&amp;ssl=1 720w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Rodney-Taylor-CTU.png?resize=270%2C300&amp;ssl=1 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><figcaption>Rodney Taylor\nCTU Secretary General<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective 1 March 2021, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.int\/secretary-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rodney Taylor<\/a><\/strong> was appointed the Secretary General (SG) of the CTU. Prior to that appointment he was the Chief Digital Technology Officer of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology (MIST), in Barbados, where he was the technical lead on Barbados\u2019 digital transformation, to improve public sector service delivery through strategic use of innovation, science and SMART technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SG has over 20 years of professional experience, which includes managing the Information Systems Unit in Barbados\u2019 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and its overseas missions. He also previously served as the Business Development and Operations Manager of the CTU, where he worked with regional governments in the development of policies to govern ICT and represented the region in many international ICT conferences. He also led the work to operationalise the CTU\u2019s Caribbean Centre of Excellence, to offer consultancy services to the Member States and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SG has been an advisor on Internet Governance and has published research on e-commerce diffusion in small island developing states in the Journal of Information Systems for Developing Countries. He is an Ethical Hacker and a founding member and former Chairman of the Barbados Chapter of the Internet Society, an global organisation that aims to promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SG holds a Masters in Management and Information Systems from the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Insight into our discussion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is anything that the conversation with the SG highlighted, it is the number of ICT-related initiatives that are currently ongoing in the region. Some are being spearheaded by individual countries, whilst others are to benefit the entire CARICOM region, or a sub-group of countries. Additionally, some are \u2018quick wins\u2019, such as the removal of roaming rates across the Caribbean, whilst others, such as the Single ICT Space and 21st century government, are far more complex and have longer term horizons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To that end, the new SG seems to be up to the challenge of corralling 20 countries, in the hopes of making some meaningful headway on the telecoms and ICT projects and initiatives that have been in the making for several years.&nbsp; Below are some of the key questions that were posed during our conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>To get us started and provide some context, how would you describe the Caribbean Telecommunication Union, why is it important an organisation in the region?<\/li><li>In recently assuming the position of Secretary General, please tell us a bit about yourself<\/li><li>How would you describe the telecoms and ICT space in the region, for example with respect to state of development?<\/li><li>As a technical agency of CARICOM, why is the CARICOM Single ICT Space taking so long to be realised?<\/li><li>Is \u201821<sup>st<\/sup> century Government\u2019 still a focus of the CTU?<\/li><li>What might be some challenges or concerns you have with respect to countries trying to get from where we are, to where we need to be?<\/li><li>Based on your interaction with Caribbean governments so far, what are some of the challenges or concerns that have been expressed, with respect to the continued development of telecoms and ICT in their respective countries?<\/li><li>What do you see as priorities for the region, as it relates to telecoms and ICT?<\/li><li>What do you see as the priorities of the CTU?<\/li><li>Are there any specific goals you would still like to achieve during your tenure at the CTU?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>We would love to hear from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> pages, or via Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@ICTPulse<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.int\/secretary-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rodney Taylor<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.int\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Caribbean Telecommunications Union<\/a><\/li><li>CTU paper, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.sightfactory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Vision-and-Roadmap-for-a-Single-ICT-Space-Final-Version-UPDATED.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vision and Roadmap for a Single ICT Space<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>CTU paper, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.sightfactory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Towards-21st-Century-Governments-Issue-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Towards 21st Century Governments<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>CTU video on <em><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.int\/21st-century-government-playlist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">21st Century Government<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>CTU Press Release, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/ctu.int\/memorandum-of-understanding-signed-between-ctu-and-a4ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between CTU and A4AI<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2QeLqYi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 034: Realising 21st Century Government in the Caribbean, with Bernadette Lewis of the CTU<\/a><\/em> &nbsp;<\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2NsVUxV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 020:&nbsp; Establishing the Caribbean Single ICT Space, with Jennifer Britton of the CARICOM Secretariat<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;<\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2lUoG1A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 073:&nbsp; Following up on the Caribbean Single ICT Space, with Jennifer Britton of the CARICOM Secretariat<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;<\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3cWhJFA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 141: How much closer are we to realising the Single ICT Space, with Jennifer Britton, of the CARICOM Secretariat<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image credits:  CTU;  Chaitawat Pawapoowadon (<a href=\"http:\/\/pixabay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a>);  Barbara Bonanno (<a href=\"http:\/\/pixabay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a>);  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/143789194@N03\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JCT 600<\/a> (flickr)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Music credit:  Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our recent conversation with Rodney Taylor, the new Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, he shares his thoughts on, among other things: the CARICOM Single ICT Space; 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