In this Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Eric Nurse, from Grenada, and Claire Craig, from Trinidad and Tobago, the panel discusses: the need for a digital ID that can be used seamlessly across the Caribbean region; and the importance of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to the Caribbean region.

 

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Over the past two weeks, many of us who live and work in the Caribbean region may have been happy to learn that a fixed rate for roaming will soon be introduced. This initiative is one of many towards the establishment of a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single ICT Space, which we have discussed quite extensively here on ICT Pulse, and more recently in an article, Caribbean roaming charges: when will they truly be eliminated?, and in a follow-up interview with Jennifer Britton of the CARICOM Secretariat.

In this month’s Podcast Community Chat, the discussions also have a regional focus, but first, here are our guests:

Eric Nurse

Eric Nurse, is CEO and Founder of NXSys.NET, a tech company, based in Grenada, that provides its clients with a broad range of customised solutions, and has a particular focus on intelligent systems for the public and private sectors. Those who might be familiar with Eric most likely connected with him when her worked for the Government of Grenada, having started in teaching and then working in the Ministry of Education. His last post with the Government was that of ICT Director of Ministry of Communication, Works and ICT, which he demitted in 2018.

 

 

Claire Craig

Claire Craig, who was a guest on the Podcast last year for our ride-hailing services episode, is the Enterprise Applications Support Manager, at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies, in Trinidad and Tobago. She is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. Program in Social Policy at The UWI through Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) where her thesis focuses on the Deployment of Internet Exchange Points in the Caribbean. Claire has authored and presented papers and reports on pertinent ICT issues at local, regional and international meetings and conferences. She is a member of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), President of the Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA) and a member of the Internet Society.

 

 

Topic 1:  National versus regional digital IDs

Seemingly piggybacking on the emphasis on regional integration, Eric tabled, The need for a digital ID that can be used seamlessly across the Caribbean region, which is a conversation we do not appear to be having in the region.

Many Caribbean countries have been talking about introducing a digital or smart ID system. Jamaica is one of the frontrunners, and although underpinning legislation was struck down by the courts last year as being unconstitutional and is in the process of being revised, equipment, technical advice and services are still being procured. Hence, invariably, and in most Caribbean countries, the focus appears to be local, not regional. As a result, we are likely to end up with a siloed approach to digital IDs, which does not facilitate greater regional harmonisation and integration, as envisaged under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

 

Topic 2:  Internet Exchange Points

Finally, Internet Exchanges Points is something that we, consumers, frequently overlook, but their presence and proper functioning in the region could greatly enhance our Internet browsing experience. It is a topic we have discussed here on ICT Pulse since we first launched in 2011, and it also appears to be a concern to Claire, who wanted us to discuss, The importance of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to the Caribbean region.

Currently, about half of the countries in the region have an iXP, but the majority may not be operating as they should, resulting in limited, or no, benefits to the countries. For her doctoral research, Claire’s focussed on Caribbean IXPs. Hence during the course of our discussion, she shared some of her findings, particularly the approach that seems to be working, particularly in Curacao and Grenada, which are benefiting from having a well-managed and well-leveraged IXP.

 

We would love to hear from you!

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Select links

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

 

 

Image credits;  SplitShire (Pixabay);  PublicDomainPictures (Pixabay);  TPCativi. (Good FreePhotos);  C Craig;  E Nurse

Music credit:  Ray Holman

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