NEW YORK — In a high-tech conference room at the Jamaican Consulate in Manhattan, Caribbean diplomats gathered last week to face the urgent realities of diplomacy in the age of algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital disruption.
The inaugural ARIN Diplomatic Forum brought together consular leaders from across the CARICOM Consular Corps for an interactive exchange on the future of diplomacy in the digital era. The Forum was organized by the Government Affairs Department of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) in collaboration with the CARICOM Consular Corps, with support from the Consulates of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The event drew participation from a cross-section of Caribbean diplomatic missions based in New York City.
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Mr. Bevil Wooding, a Trinidad and Tobago national, on whose initiative the Forum was held, led the exchanges. (Mr Wooding serves as the Director of Caribbean Affairs at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), where he leads diplomatic, governmental, and international relations across the Caribbean. In this role, he engages with regional governments, regulators, and international organizations to advance Internet governance, cybersecurity, and digital transformation initiatives. He represents ARIN at key forums, such as the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum and the Connected Caribbean Summit, fostering collaboration among stakeholders. His efforts focus on advancing regional leadership capacity by shaping policy discourse, and fostering inclusive, facilitating regional and international knowledge sharing, and multi-stakeholder engagement to support development and governance across the Caribbean. )
The presence of senior officials from two major internet organizations, ARIN and ICANN, sent a strong signal: the Caribbean is not a peripheral player in global digital affairs. With the region’s unique challenges and growing digital ambitions, the event highlights how Caribbean voices are increasingly central to shaping Internet governance, cybersecurity, AI and data policy on the world stage.
Expert Insights on Governance and Risk
The Forum also featured expert contributions from Leslie Nobile, ARIN’s Senior Director of Trust and Public Safety, and two senior officials from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) — Alexey Trepykhalin and Veni Markovski.
“Diplomatic communities must understand how evolving threats to digital infrastructure can compromise national interests,” said Nobile. “Capacity building in Internet governance must be a priority — especially for small states.”
Voices from the Region
The presentations reinforced the importance of having Caribbean voices and perspectives represented in global Internet governance discussions. These global themes found powerful resonance in the voices of regional leaders.
The Honourable Alsion Wilson, Consul General of Jamaica, emphasized digital competence in foreign service: “Digital literacy is now essential to effective representation, both in the advancement of foreign policy and in delivering responsive, modern consular services.”
The Honourable André Laveau, Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the importance of digital training: “In a world shaped by geopolitical shifts and fast-moving technological innovations, our diplomats must be prepared to lead, adapt, and advocate with confidence.”
The Honourable Jeremiah Hyacinth, Consul General of Saint Lucia, underscored the regional impact: “Sessions like these are vital for helping our foreign service professionals navigate and lead through the complexity of the digital age.”
In the words of Technology Attorney, Rhonda Binda, Esq., who is also CUNY Adjunct Professor of Smart Cities and a former U.S. Diplomat, “The ARIN Diplomatic Forum was a powerful reminder of the importance of international cooperation in shaping the future of internet governance. The discussions underscored how critical it is for global stakeholders to collaborate on issues like digital sovereignty, access, and infrastructure resilience. It was an honor to be part of a dialogue that directly influences how the internet evolves for the public good.”
A Forum for Open Dialogue
The ARIN Diplomatic Forum is part of a broader initiative to support Caribbean missions in building capacity and strengthening engagement on digital policy, cyber diplomacy, and data governance. The gathering offered a space for open, practical dialogue. Participants shared how they’re navigating the rapid evolution of digital tools and expectations in their daily work. Many reflected on the resonance of the keynote presentation.
“The feature address brought clarity to the urgency of rethinking how we engage as nations and as a region,” said one diplomat.
“The concept of ‘platform diplomacy’ and the influence of non-state digital actors struck a chord,” another attendee added. “We must now factor in tech giants and algorithms when considering national interest and global representation.”
Looking Ahead
The next ARIN Diplomatic Forum is scheduled for November 2025 in Washington D.C., alongside plans for a complementary virtual session to expand access to critical discussions on cybersecurity, AI governance, and digital policy coordination.
“This was more than a symposium; it was a platform for shaping the future of Caribbean diplomacy in a digital world,” said Consul General Laveau. “We are deeply appreciative of the work being done by ARIN and look forward to building on this momentum.”
As the digital era continues to redraw the map of diplomacy, the Caribbean is not standing on the sidelines. Through platforms like the ARIN Diplomatic Forum, the region is asserting its voice — and shaping its digital future — with clarity, confidence, and strategic purpose.
