Connected Caribbean is an initiative of Caribbean Telecommunications Union in partnership with Congress WBN to facilitate functional Caribbean Integration.

It will involve a combination of strategic and practical mechanisms for integrating the region’s peoples, institution and systems.

Connected Caribbean is an initiative of Caribbean Telecommunications Union in partnership with Congress WBN to facilitate functional Caribbean Integration. It will involve a combination of strategic and practical mechanisms for integrating the region’s peoples, institution and systems.

The CTU and C-WBN have been engaged in a mutually beneficial partnership to foster strategic leadership development for promoting the effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Caribbean. Their vision is to move beyond the functional cooperation and promote the use of ICT for functional integration.

The Connected Caribbean Initiative represents a new ICT-based development model that facilitates the establishment and strengthening of regional partnerships and is a tangible demonstration of the commitment of the CTU and CWBN to support the regional community in realizing the vision for a seamless Caribbean and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

CCI Foundational Pillars

The creation of critical points of synergy in intra-Caribbean relations is a key objective of the CCI. To this end, activity under the initiative is premised on the widening support and participation by key stakeholders in Government, Private Sector, Civil Society, the Diaspora and international community.

The Connected Caribbean Initiative will therefore be established on the basis of four foundational pillars.

Environment

• Creation of an environment conducive to encouraging investment in ICT and the development of regional ICT infrastructure, applications and services.
• Strengthening of ICT institutions.

Human Development and Empowerment

• Promoting leadership development and expert networking.
• Empowering communities through effective use of ICT for Development.
• Implementation and support of skill and capacity-building initiatives.

Infrastructure

• Promotion of the development of seamless Caribbean ICT network infrastructure.
• Facilitating the adoption of broadband access and mobile communications technology.

Applications and Services

• Development and Implementation of ICT services and applications.
• Creation of relevant indigenous content

Objectives

The objectives of the CCI are:

• To facilitate interworking of regional governments;
• To connect and strengthen organizations, communities and individuals working on or in support of functional Caribbean Integration;
• To provide a framework to foster development, integration and expansion of regional stakeholder groups
• To support Caribbean Governments in achieving the MDGs

To What End?

The end result; the creation of Critical Points of Synergy in intra-Caribbean relations In order to preserve the Caribbean identity by effectively responding to the reality and threat of globalization and external forces.

 Focus Areas

Each dimension will be designed to engender enlightened Caribbean leadership as well as provide a platform for enhanced regional dialog and decisive action. Sustainable resource development, capacity building and institutional strengthening are fundamental to the achievement of these objectives.

The implementation strategy will involve an amalgamation of Government and Private Sector Leadership Development Interventions together with Online Tools (connectedcaribbean.com); Programmed Networking and Training Initiatives and Regional Promotion initiatives.