Q: Can you please provide us with your view of the current state of technology adoption in the Caribbean region from your perspective?

A:  As the English speaking Caribbean’s leading full service provider we continue to invest heavily in order to ensure that Jamaica and the wider Caribbean territories in which we serve have the latest and best telecommunications technologies available – in broadband, data, IP-based services, mobile, fixed line voice - that continue to make the region an attractive investment destination.  (In Jamaica alone, our investment has been just under US$1-billion over the last 10 years.)

Take up of the services made possible by these technologies continues to be encouraging.

Q: Who do you think is responsible for the underdevelopment of the Caribbean region in terms of its current technology position?

A:  I would say the lack of collective will, economic constraints and contending priorities are to be blamed.  The challenge of a radical transition from largely agrarian and raw material processing industries has up until now not been fully embraced.  As a result of this dependency on what happens in its international markets and the region’s own susceptibility to external economic factors, the funding required to equip educational institutions with IT resources at the level to have dramatic impact has also been limited.

Q: What steps has Cable and Wireless taken to move the Caribbean forward to becoming more technologically advanced?

A:  We are proud of our long history of involvement in Caribbean society and investment in telecommunications technology for the good of the regional economy.  I say that within the context of our being a business and being aware of our responsibilities to satisfying the expectations of our stakeholders.  The markets in which Cable & Wireless operates have a world-class telecommunications infrastructure and as economies and efficiencies are realized the resulting savings are continually being passed on to customers.

Additionally, we provide global products/solutions to assist businesses to embrace technology, operate more efficiently and be more competitive in global markets.

Q: In terms of developing young technology oriented entrepreneurs in the Caribbean region what sort of programs have been put in place?

A: In addition to the foregoing, C&W sees itself as more than a business in the region.  We are committed to playing an active and leading role in helping the region take advantage of the opportunities now emerging in the field of ICT.  For that reason we have made education a special area of focus for our community investment programmes.

We provide free Internet access to hundreds of educational institutions throughout the Caribbean; have funded some 200 scholarships in IT training at the tertiary level; and in recent times have stepped up our programme of providing cyberClubs in communities and under the aegis of voluntary organizations that cater to young people primarily.

Our support for the Childnet International programme to promote safe and positive use of the Internet among young people across the globe is another involvement of which we are proud.

Q: What type of programs do you believe need to be established to provide capital to assist young entrepreneurs?

A:  I am sure those in the field of finance would be better placed to speak on what the possibilities are but interest free/low interest loans for start-ups would be good to begin with but the dynamics of macro economics I am sure would be a factor.  I know that regional governments, the private sector, in tandem with international agencies and some non-governmental bodies do make an effort to assist in this area.

The reality is though that the region is caught in a peculiar position where it must compete with other regions for the increasingly scare funding that would normally be available for this kind of financing as other regions of the world deemed either to be more needy or more promising in economic terms are vying for the available assistance.

Q: Do you believe that a vibrant Venture capital industry in the Caribbean will assist young entrepreneurs interested in producing technology products?  What is Cable and Wireless doing towards this end?

A:  Anything that is genuinely dedicated to the advancement of the region’s development would be welcome.  What the region must ensure is that initiatives in this regard do not result in accelerated transfer of wealth from the region to economies that are already developed without tangible benefit and sustainable legacies in the region itself.

For us at Cable & Wireless it is prudent of us to concentrate our efforts in the area where we are best equipped to make a meaningful contribution in a critical area of need and as stated before those are in education, particularly e-education, and facilitating access through efficient reliable and widely available telecommunications services and IT solutions.

Q: Do you believe that governments and the private sector are doing enough to assist in the uptake in usage of technology by the region's youth?

A: Efforts continue from both quarters and others, in a variety of forms.  The important thing is an intensification of the effort at all levels of society as more and more entities that are able to assist get involved.  Caribbean potential in this field is still hugely under-exploited and the young people of the region must be equipped to take full advantage of the global opportunities that these technologies present.

The extent to which the region is able to fully harness the potential of ICT depends on a radical re-thinking of our approach in this area.  We can no longer think in terms of step changes.  There has to be a paradigm shift, and it must begin with how we facilitate access.

Q: Is there enough talent currently in the Caribbean region to develop the necessary sectors that we currently lack?

A: Most definitely I believe.  Globalization, increase awareness and the spirit of adventure make cross-pollination and knowledge transfer and skill development, the Caribbean Single Market Economy, greater freedom to explore job opportunities across the region are all positive variables that I am confident will soon begin to bear fruit throughout the region.

At the same time the efforts being made in making IT education more widely available throughout the various levels of the system, if sustained and strengthened, will ensure continued development of the pool of resources.

I think the challenge we face in this multi-sectoral approach though is how to ensure that the resources developed here and the region’s best and brightest talent are not poached by developed economies.

Q: In the next five years what is your vision for the Caribbean tech Sector?

A: That’s a tough one.  I need new glasses to see that far.  I think the region will continue to make strides to the extent that it is able to anticipate and take advantages of the trends and demands in the global economy.  I think as more and more innovate technology-savvy, young people launch out on enterprising endeavours we will see the Caribbean using IT in particular to optimize earnings from its rich and varied cultural offerings, services, and leisure industries.

Governments will no doubt be getting more involved in driving It development and deployment – in Jamaica they have already stated an intention to transact more and more business via the Internet for example and more and more private sector companies are going this route as well.

The critical variables are continued investment in education and the creation of opportunities in a climate of social stability.

Q: Do you have any words of advice for Caribbean youth who may see technology as a viable sector but lack the financial resources?

A: I suspect the advice would be the age old ones – seize the opportunities you now have for the best education possible; be ambitious and follow your dream with discipline and a clear plan of action.  Persevere.  Even if you do not realize your entire dream you would be a lot better off for merely just giving it your best shot.

Q: How do you feel about the record number of Caribbean entries in this year Childnet competition, and do you believe this is an indication of the high numbers of involvement of Caribbean youth in technology?

A: Fantastic, I figure.  And for Jamaica to lead the 40-odd countries from which entries were submitted is even more pleasing for me.  Not only does Jamaica have the highest number of entries among countries it has also produced the winner of the ‘New to the Net’ category for the second year in a row.  And the sole Trinidadian entrant was also a prize winner.

The success with Childnet for us justifies our belief that with active support our young people will assert themselves and be outstanding among their peers anywhere in the world.

Q: Do you have any additional comments that you wish to make?

A: Cable & Wireless is committed to its partnership with the region.  We intend to continue playing a leading role in facilitating its development in all spheres where communication is a vital aide and we hope you will be one of the enterprising young people who come back to the region to assist in its development.  There are great opportunities here for the enterprising.

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