Caribbean Must Turn Connectivity into Global Competitiveness

– The Caribbean has reached a pivotal moment in its digital development and must now translate advances in connectivity into greater innovation, productivity and global competitiveness.

In delivering the keynote address on the opening day of CANTO’s 41^st Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Caribbean, highlighted the opportunity to build on the region’s increasingly connected environment.

“Connectivity has transformed the Caribbean, but our ambition cannot stop there. We now have an opportunity to build on the digital foundations we have created and use them to drive innovation, strengthen our economies and position the Caribbean to compete more effectively on the global stage,” she said.

Smidts delivered the address as Liberty Caribbean returns for the fifth consecutive year as headline sponsor of the region’s leading telecommunications and ICT gathering, taking place August 9 to 12 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana under the theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean: From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.

“We cannot build a globally competitive digital Caribbean in isolation. It will take governments, regulators, technology companies, businesses and communities working together, along with the courage to invest, the willingness to innovate and the urgency to turn ambition into action,” she said.

“The Caribbean has the talent, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience to compete. Our responsibility is to give that potential the infrastructure, technology and opportunity it needs to thrive.”

The address set the tone for Liberty Caribbean’s broader participation in the conference, with the company contributing to discussions on the issues shaping the region’s digital future.

Smidts also joined the ‘CEO Dialogue: Powering Caribbean Competitiveness’ with John Gomez, CEO, Aliv; Ray Collins, CEO, Liberty Networks; Marcelo Cateldo, CEO, Digicel Group; and Naji Khoury, CEO, ATN International, for a discussion on the role of industry leaders in building the digital capabilities and enabling environment needed to strengthen Caribbean competitiveness.

The conference also featured a presentation by noted Caribbean economist Marla Dukharan, “Economic Outlook: The Caribbean in the AI Decade,” exploring the potential economic impact of artificial intelligence and the opportunities it presents for the region.

Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, Business Markets, Liberty Caribbean, also led a panel discussion titled “Building the Digital Capabilities Behind Caribbean Competitiveness,” examining how businesses can harness technology, talent and digital solutions to compete and grow.

Other company speakers on Day One included Stephen Price, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Jamaica, who participated in “Building a Cyber-Resilient Foundation for Caribbean Digital Competitiveness,” Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago who participated in “Wires. Wealth. Web. Women Leading the Caribbean’s Digital Transformation,” and Darron Turnquest, Director of People, Flow Jamaica, who contributed to “The Future of Work in the Caribbean.”

CANTO’s 41^st Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition brings together more than 800 delegates from across the Caribbean and beyond for four days of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, networking and collaboration focused on advancing the region’s ICT sector.

CANTO is a non-profit association made up of operators, organisations, companies and individuals primarily focused on advancing the information and communications technology (ICT) sector across the Caribbean region and the Americas.

About Liberty Caribbean

Liberty Caribbean is a leading communications and technology provider, with operations in more than 20 markets across the Caribbean delivering broadband, mobile, video and voice services to residential customers through the consumer brands Flow and BTC.

Through its B2B division, Liberty Business, the company delivers enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud, security, and data centre services to businesses and governments — supporting national growth in an increasingly digital world.

With a legacy spanning more than 150 years, Liberty Caribbean remains steadfastly anchored in the region – providing robust networks, personalized local support, and tailored solutions that truly resonate with the people and communities we serve.

About CANTO

The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) is a non-profit association comprising operators, industry organizations, regulators, and ICT professionals from across the Caribbean and the Americas. CANTO advocates for policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation and support the deployment of communications technologies and digital services throughout the region.

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