In this episode, and with digital economy strategist, Tracy Hackshaw, we get an update on the Internet Governance issues that being discussed internationally, many of which are likely affect how we perceive and use the Internet in the future. We also discuss the state of the Caribbean digital economy, and what should be the priorities of the region going forward.

 

This episode is also available in Apple iTunes, Google Play Music and on Stitcher!

With vaccines currently being distributed worldwide, there might soon be light at the end of the tunnel, with regard to the broad range of challenges that individuals and countries have been experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To a considerable degree, the world has been irrevocably changed, especially in relation to the extent to which ICT and the internet are being leveraged to facilitate digital transformation, and to realise digital economies and Information Societies.

For many countries, these long-term goals have been touted for many years, but it is uncertain whether countries, particularly those in the Caribbean region, fully appreciate what it means to have a digital economy, or to be Information Society, and more importantly, what it takes to achieve them.

With many of Caribbean economies in varying degrees of decline, due to the state of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, this is the right time to embrace a future-centric posture, and to strategize and diversify our economies from those vulnerable industries. The Internet and ICT offer a broad range of opportunities. But it is crucial that we understand the governance issues that are being discussed in global fora, which could affect how we perceive and use the Internet in the future, along with the implications to individual countries, and to the Caribbean region as a whole.

 

About our guest

Tracy Hackshaw

Tracy Hackshaw is an ICT and Digital Economy Strategist possessing close to twenty-five years’ experience spanning work in the public and private sectors both locally and internationally, including representing Trinidad and Tobago in various international fora. Currently, he is the Chief Executive of TFH and Associates, a digital advisory and consulting services practice based in Trinidad and Tobago.

Tracy is a highly regarded expert in Internet Governance. Among other things, he is the Chair-Elect , for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Nominating Committee (At-Large Advisory Committee – Latin America & Caribbean), and the co-Coordinator of the Dynamic Coalition on Small Island Developing States in the Internet Economy (DC-SIDS) at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. Tracy  is also a Director of the Trinidad & Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group, and is actively involved in Internet Governance activities in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Insights into our conversation

Due to the many hats that he wears, Tracy is able to detailed insights into not only the Internet Governance issues that are being discussed internationally, but also, he can propose key priorities and strategies our countries could consider adopting to more efficiently become digital economies.

One of the points that was made during the course of our conversation is the fact that the pandemic has highlighted, and perhaps even exacerbated, the chasm between ‘the haves’ – that is countries that have been leveraging the Internet and have digital economies – and ‘the have nots’, with Caribbean countries falling into the latter category. Countries thus needs to be intentional in positioning themselves for the future, based on current and anticipated opportunities, instead of looking to recapture to past glories.

Outlined below are some of the questions posed to Tracy during our conversation:

  1. How has the ICT landscape changed since we spoke in 2019?
  2. What are some of the key IG issues that are being discussed and tackled?
  3. With regard to Internet Governance, how has been the Caribbean region’s involvement in those conversations?
  4. As a digital economy strategist, what is your take on the state of the digital economy in the Caribbean?
  5. What are factors that should be considered in deciding whether the internet should be regulated?
  6. Why is network resilience important?
  7. What should be the priorities of the region going forward?

 

We would love to hear from you!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

 

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: Mark Lyndersay; Sabine W (Pixabay); Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Peter Linforth (Pixabay); Gerd Altmann (Pixabay)

Music credit: Ray Holman