ICT development must harmonize with Guyana’s culture – Former Advisor to Hillary Clinton

Jun 15, 2018 News

Alec Ross, former Advisor to Hillary Clinton

As Guyana works with Estonia to develop a digital roadmap, a former advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned against ignoring local stakeholders in shaping the vision.
Alec Ross, an American technology policy expert who was Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was a panelist at the recently held eighth annual Caribbean Civil Society Dialogue at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.
“Please don’t just try to copy other places; don’t try to turn your community into Miami or California or some other place,” Ross advised.
In response to questions from the audience about the use of technology to preserve indigenous communities, Ross stated that technology can be a tool to strengthen these communities.
“By using drone technology to ensure that there isn’t illegal development taking place. We can use these technologies in a way that harmonizes with local culture,” Ross noted.
He stated that the key is for local stakeholders to have their own vision, and to define their own vision, and then use technology as a tool to execute the vision.
According to Ross, if the goal in indigenous communities is to figure out how people can live in harmony with their land and not see degradation, then technology can be a very powerful tool for that.
“But it has to all flow from local stakeholders,” Ross noted.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes recently disclosed that Guyana plans to establish a digital roadmap by engaging Estonia, which is considered ‘one of the most advanced digital societies in the world’.
While addressing the forum, Minister Hughes shared that Guyana is moving towards a 21st century Government, where more services can be provided online.
“As a Government I know we are not supposed to be interested and we are not interested in maintaining the development status quo, but we are interested in real transformation…but this country will not transform on the strength of incremental growth and that is why our discussion is on exponential growth,” Hughes stated.

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