Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, PJ Patterson, emphasized the pivotal role of telecommunications in Caribbean development during his address at the Digicel Graduate program graduation ceremony.
Speaking on the topic of the Caribbean Metaverse, Patterson asserted that the telecommunications sector’s impact on the region surpasses quantification by any metric. He reminisced about his tenure as Minister of Development, Planning, and Production, during which he spearheaded efforts to dismantle telecommunications monopolies in Jamaica.
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Patterson recalled facing formidable opposition to competition and cellular telephony, but he remained steadfast in his conviction that telecommunications technology was essential for the advancement of the region in the global market.
At the heart of our carefully planned development strategy was a $700 million investment in Infrastructure, Patterson stated. He highlighted collaborative efforts with the private sector to design and implement a roadmap for the information superhighway, encompassing financing, training, and market development. Patterson stressed that the substantial investment in telecommunications infrastructure stands as one of the most significant ever made in the Caribbean, shaping the region’s growth trajectory in the 21st century and beyond.
Addressing the Digicel graduates, Patterson urged them to envision and design a Caribbean Metaverse tailored to the region’s unique needs and aspirations. He coined the term, Mas Metaverse encourages graduates to consider the digital landscape they wish to inhabit, including both its positive and negative aspects.
To achieve sustainable development, we must harness our entrepreneurial and creative talents, Patterson emphasized. He called for leveraging the collective creativity ingrained in Caribbean culture, symbolized by events like carnival, to drive innovation and progress across the region and beyond.
