CARIBBEAN-TECHNOLOGY-CTU secretary general urges regional countries to keep pace with ICT development.

The Secretary General of the Trinidad-based Caribbean telecommunications Union (CTU), Rodney Taylor, Monday urged regional countries to keep pace with rapidly changing technology, even as governments are developing, implementing and managing information communication and technology (ICT).

'In today's environment, one of the most pressing challenges is to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. There is a constant state of flux, with new tools, platforms, and innovations emerging almost daily,' Taylor said, adding that artificial intelligence (AI) for example, is opening a world of new possibilities for public service delivery.

CTU Secretary General, Rodney Taylor

Addressing the opening of the 'The Global Government Forum's Caribbean Digital Summit and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union's Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) Week 2023', Taylor said staying up to date with the latest developments is not only challenging but also critical for ensuring that government services remain efficient, secure, and accessible to all citizens.

He said that another significant challenge facing the regional countries is that of cybersecurity, saying as governments increasingly digitize their operations, they become prime targets for cyberattacks.

'The sheer volume and sophistication of these attacks are a constant concern for digital leaders in the public sector,' Taylor told the event being held under the theme ''Embracing a Digital Caribbean: Opportunities for Growth and Innovation'.

The CTU secretary general said that the consequences of a successful breach can range from the theft of sensitive citizen data to disruption of essential services, potentially endangering public safety.

'As cyber experts will tell you, its not a question of if but a question of when your systems will be breached and what is your state of readiness to respond.

'Data privacy is yet another major challenge. As governments collect and store vast amounts of personal information, they must navigate a delicate balance between using this data to improve services and protecting citizens' privacy. You must ensure that data is collected, managed, and used in a way that respects individual privacy rights.|

Taylor told the opening conference being hosted by the Global Governance Forum (GGF) and the CTU that the digital divide is also an issue.

'Not all citizens have equal access to the digital tools and services offered by the public sector and therefore, how do you...