On September 7-8, 2024, legislators from across the Caribbean convened at Florida International University's Steven J. Green School for International and Public Affairs in Miami for a groundbreaking forum on "The Role of Parliaments in Transforming Digital Economies in the Caribbean." This event laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration among the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), and ParlAmericas, with support from the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The forum brought together legislators from CARICOM countries and technical experts, to explore strategies for enhancing digital transformation in the Caribbean. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL] and Barbara Lee [D, CA] — Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, respectively — welcomed the participants and emphasized their bipartisan agreement on the importance of US engagement with its neighbors. Additionally, regional and technical representatives from USAID, including Counselor Clinton White, actively engaged throughout the program and echoed their agreement for continued support for and engagement in the Caribbean.

The forum covered critical topics for digital economic growth, including:

The fundamentals of the digital economy and the legislature's role
Current policy approaches in the region
Strategies for enhancing digital infrastructure
Digital transformation of government services
Climate resilience in the digital age
Ensuring inclusivity in the digital economy
Artificial intelligence considerations
Cybersecurity for parliaments
Leveraging the private sector and FinTech
Employment opportunities and challenges
Regulatory frameworks to enhance the digital economy

Expert speakers from various backgrounds shared insights, including representatives from Amazon Web Services, the eGovernance Academy, the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Urban Research, the City of Monterrey, POPVOX Foundation, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CARICOM, UN Women, and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. A "World Cafe Style" roundtable on the second day allowed delegates to brainstorm potential collaborative projects to benefit the entire region.

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, this ongoing collaboration will be crucial in shaping the Caribbean's digital future. By empowering legislators with the necessary knowledge, tools, and networks, this partnership lays the groundwork for a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient digital economy in the Caribbean. Future efforts to capitalize on the momentum from the gathering could include technical assistance programs, knowledge-sharing events, and potential collaborative technical initiatives.

The success of this inaugural event sets a promising precedent for future collaborations between the United States and its Caribbean neighbors, potentially becoming a model for regional cooperation in addressing digital age challenges and opportunities.