Senator the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, has called for Caribbean states to play an active role in shaping the region’s digital future as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies continue to transform economies and societies.
Minister Smith, who also serves as President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) General Conference of Ministers, is participating in CTU ICT Week 2026 in French Guiana, where he delivered welcome remarks and participated in a Ministerial panel discussion focused on AI, Data Governance and Digital Policy Leadership.
During his opening remarks, Minister Smith said deeper regional coordination could allow Caribbean states to share expertise, strengthen AI and data governance, build common capability and approach global technology partners with a stronger collective voice.
“Our 21 Member States and Territories cannot afford 21 disconnected digital transformations,” Minister Smith said, underscoring the need to share expertise and coordinate approaches across the region. He emphasised Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing work to strengthen national AI readiness and responsible adoption, including the AI Academy, the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and initiatives to expand AI literacy and capability across the public sector. He stated this work is being pursued alongside investments in trusted infrastructure, cybersecurity and stronger data governance.
“We believe very strongly that AI will be the amplification of technology globally. We believe that essentially, it’s the new industrial revolution,” he said
He also emphasised that AI adoption must advance alongside responsible governance, with attention to workforce development, skills gaps, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, accountability and appropriate safeguards for citizens.
Minister Smith said forums such as CTU ICT Week provide an important opportunity for Caribbean states to shape discussions on emerging technologies based on the unique circumstances and priorities of Small Island Developing States. He stressed that technology must ultimately improve people’s lives, reiterating his view that “technology must not surpass the humanity in which it was meant to advance.”
The Minister said the Caribbean must move beyond simply adapting to the age of artificial intelligence and work collectively to help shape it in ways that reflect the region’s values, priorities and aspirations for its people.