Caricom Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque has lauded Grenada for leading by example in using ICT to create an enabling environment to pursue its social and economic development goals.
The secretary-general made these remarks at the Caricom Secretariat Headquarters where he received the credentials of Grenada’s new Ambassador to the Community, Patrick Antoine, a press statement said.
In commending Grenada’s drive towards increased use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), LaRocque cited the country’s decision to become the first English-speaking Caribbean country to develop its own Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in 2011. Grenada, he said, was positioning itself for diversification by “embracing technology, while maintaining its reputation as the Spice Isle through its abundance in nutmeg and mace with supplies approximately 20 per cent of the world market in those commodities.”
Earlier in his remarks, the secretary-general noted the “hands-on approach” taken by Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in executing his responsibility as Lead Head of Government for Science and Technology, including Information and Communications in the Quasi-Cabinet of the Conference of Heads of Government.
LaRocque recalled the prime minister’s involvement in tabling the Regional ICT Agenda and Platform for Action at the Heads of Government Meeting in July 2004 as well as his encouragement to his colleague leaders in 2003 to support the project which has evolved into the Caribbean Knowledge Learning Network Agency.
“Once again, Prime Minister Mitchell has taken leadership of the process and has successfully called on his colleague Heads of Government to devote a focused session on ICT when they meet at their Twenty-Fifth Inter-Sessional Meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines next February,” LaRocque said. Dr Mitchell will preside over a Ministerial Session which will consider the Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS) in preparation for discussion by Heads of Government, the secretary-general said.
