Trinidad and Tobago IGF January 26, 2017 Key Objectives, Challenges, Outcomes and Aspirations.
What it was The inaugural Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF) took place on January 26th, 2017, in Port of Spain. The theme of the TTIGF was The Role of the Internet and the Digital Economy in the Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago. TTIGF 2017 had the distinction of being the first national IGF event ever held in the English-speaking Caribbean, drawing an enthusiastic multistakeholder audience from academia, the business community, civil society and the public sector. The event was livestreamed, and attracted remote participants from all over the world.
Participants As the first IGF in the English speaking Caribbean, the conveners, the TTMAG, were warmly congratulated by leaders in the global internet governance community, including: Mr. Chengetai Masango, UN IGF Secretariat Ms. Lynn St. Amour, Chair of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum (MAG) Mr. Markus Kummer, Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA) Ms. Marilyn Cade, Chief Catalyst for the IGF-USA
Role of the TTMAG TTIGF 2017 was hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group (TTMAG). THE TTMAG is a registered Not For Profit organisation, run by a Board which consists of 2 seats chosen by each of the 5 major stakeholder groups government, civil society, academia, technical, and business. The TTNIC also has 2 permanent representatives on the Board. TTMAG s mission is to be an independent multistakeholder entity for the promotion and development of best practice policy standards for the.tt country code Top Level Domain (cctld) and the local Internet ecosystem in the interest of the Internet Community.
Launch of the TTMAG, with the Minister of Public Administration and Communications
Minister of Public Administration and Communication at the launch of the TTMAG
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
IGFTT 2017 Photo Album
Support and Financing Financial and in-kind support came from some of the various member organisations of the TTMAG, ISOC-TT TTCSI TTCS TTIX and TTNIC as well as IEEE (Trinidad and Tobago Section), ICANN and the IGFSA.
Main Session - The Role of the Internet and the Digital Economy in the Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago. Moderator Mr. Mark Lyndersay - Writer and Photographer, Lyndersay Digital Panelists Prof. Patrick Hosein - Director, Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group (TTMAG) Dr. Kim Mallalieu - Senior Lecturer, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of the West Indies (UWI) Mr. Kurleigh Prescod - Chairman, Trinidad & Tobago Internet Exchange Co Limited (TTIX) Mr. Kirk Sookram - Executive Officer, Technical Services and Development, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT
Substantive Discussion The main theme was broken down in to the following sub-themes: Integration of ICT into the economy Role of Government in embracing and promoting technology Net Neutrality E-Payments and E-Commerce Role of citizens and users in shaping the future of ICT and the Internet in T&T Open Forum Deeper discussion by participants on the issues raised. The challenges and opportunities that electronic payments present to Trinidad and Tobago s digital economy; Network neutrality as it pertains to the local telecommunications landscape; Creating a supportive culture for the next generation of digital entrepreneurs; Open data as a driver of digital innovation; Management of generated electronic waste and sustainable development
Follow-up and intersessional work First, we need to note that the IGF is a process, not an event. The discussions continued after the TTIGF event in several fora, including discussion groups hosted by members of the TTMAG, and the official TTIGF website. We are planning an intersessional event in October 2017 to document the follow up and discuss updates to the issues raised in the January IGF. There is also a stakeholder discussion ongoing to come up with the themes for the TTIGF 2018, to be held in January 2018.
Why a TTIGF in 2017? Trinidad and Tobago has been involved in the IGF from its inception, with locals playing major roles in its conception, as well as in the creation, facilitation and moderation of IGF sessions over the years. The local environment had matured enough for the country to have substantive discussion on IG Policy focused on local issues. The TTIGF was an idea that had been ready to be implemented, but the group decided to wait until the MAG was formally established in order to have legitimacy as a multistakeholder. There were calls from some stakeholders to have such crossstakeholder, collaborative interactions.
Objectives To focus and align the diffuse discussions on Internet related issues in T&T To collaboratively turn national intellectual resources towards short-, medium- and long-term policy and strategy solutions To have stakeholders identify strategic elements needed in the re-direction of T&T towards a Digital Economy
Challenges Nature of the IGF Financial the notion of partnering vs sponsorship The perceived image of the IGF as a talk shop. Some participants questioned the value of a forum that was not designed to be a decisionmaking event. Logistics Free registration and access made it difficult to properly forecast attendance, especially as it was the first event. However, the team had much experience in event and conference management, as well as in IGF processes, and online participation, so we had few issues otherwise. Nature of the discussions Policy development is often seen as a Government responsibility. Many people in T&T do not see themselves as having an active role. The TTIGF needs participants who have agency, and who see themselves as having a valuable role in policy development.
Outcomes This first TTIGF fulfilled its intention of being a catalyst for further dialogue, ideation and action on critical internet governance issues Achieved higher-level discussion and longer-term focus in national discussions on ICT and other issues Increased interest of many stakeholders especially women s groups, girls in technology, and students. These were some groups that were not usually considered as having a voice in policy development. We have been approached by some of our First Peoples with regard to ongoing participation. Increased national focus on the integration of ICTs into everyday life, and the issues arising from such Increased visibility of Internet Governance in the national environment
Aspirations To support the development and implementation of the multistakeholder model in the Caribbean, and the expansion of the MAG model. To support the inclusion of ALL stakeholder groups in IG processes. To support the development and implementation of NRIs in the Caribbean region To support the use of ICTs to transform the economy of T&T in the post-oil and gas environment.
Coming soon! TTIGF 2018 January 26, 2018 (tentative) www.igf.tt
To contact the TTMAG Email: info [at] mag.tt Website: www.mag.tt Talk to one of our members. To contact the TTIGF: Website - http://www.igf.tt Or via the TTMAG Thank You!