KINGSTON, JAMAICA &ndash; Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Ambassador Audrey Marks, is calling for stronger regional collaboration in the face of growing digital transformation needs. She made the appeal during her opening remarks at the inaugural Latin America and Caribbean Digital Alliance High-Level Policy Dialogue, which began Thursday in Kingston.
The two-day event, hosted jointly by Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the European Commission, brings together key stakeholders from across the region to craft a roadmap toward a more connected, secure, and digitally inclusive future.
Ambassador Marks emphasized that as nations grow and develop, collaboration becomes not just important&mdash;but essential. She highlighted the urgent need to move beyond dialogue to tangible action, noting:
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&ldquo;Getting it done is now.&rdquo;
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The EU-LAC Digital Alliance was established during the 2023 EU-CELAC Summit, with the participation of Heads of State from 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and 27 EU member states. The Alliance aims to advance digital cooperation between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Marks acknowledged the strong representation of Alliance members including The Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. She also welcomed non-member observers from Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Cuba, Cura&ccedil;ao, and Saint Lucia, alongside regional organizations, embassies, and government officials.
As part of Jamaica&rsquo;s contribution to the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit later this year, Ambassador Marks outlined five priority agenda areas the country is actively pursuing:
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E-Governance
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Data Governance
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Meaningful Connectivity
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Cybersecurity
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The policy dialogue continues Friday with breakout sessions focused on implementation strategies and regional alignment toward shared digital goals.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Ambassador Audrey Marks

Ambassador Marks Urges Regional Collaboration