This extract was originally published as part of the report Emerging Leaders for the Digital World. The full report can be accessed via http://www.diplomacy.edu/acp/el.asp EMERGING LEADERS FOR THE DIGITAL WORLD Michele Marius in Jamaica ponders the impact of development on a society My life began in Jamaica, Communications, Controls, and where I was born the elder of Digital Signal Processing at two sisters to a doctor and a the University of Strathclyde teacher. My father is from Saint in Scotland. After that, whilst Lucia, and so when I was six, my living and working in Saint family migrated to Saint Lucia, Lucia, I attained a Law degree where most of my schooling took through the University of place. My parents considered London’s External Programme. me a bright and disciplined child. In Jamaica, the school I A tale of two cultures had attended was guiding me through an accelerated learning The slower, and at that time, programme, but similar schemes simpler way of life made did not exist in Saint Lucia. As a growing up in Saint Lucia result, the pace of my education an excellent foundation for slowed down considerably, so the experiences I have had much so that I sometimes wonder to date. Since my mother is how different my life would Jamaican, my sister and I grew have been, had we remained in up experiencing two cultures at Jamaica. the same time – Jamaica in our home and Saint Lucia outdoors – Nevertheless, I attended the and we married the best of both University of the West Indies into our psyches. in Trinidad and Tobago, where I I never anticipated the journey studied Electrical and Computer Additionally, at the time we my life has taken so far… Engineering. Thereafter, I immigrated to Saint Lucia, the pursued a Master’s degree in country was on the brink of 2 Michelle Maurius change. The banana industry Regulating processes in Saint Lucia in the was about to experience a telecommunications Caribbean, and in Fiji, Kiribati, boom, and comprehensive Samoa, and Vanuatu in the electricification, construction, I have had many opportunities South Pacific. and telephone roll-out projects over the years to ponder were imminent. In less than the impact of development Telecommunications regulation ten years, radical economic on a society. A considerable is challenging, but I have greatly development occurred. People’s part of my professional life enjoyed the experience and am lifestyles and spending power to date has been in the grateful for the opportunities improved considerably, but I field of telecommunications it has afforded me. It has was of the view that attitudes regulation. Telecommunications, allowed me to contribute, be and outlook lagged behind. The and now Information and it directly or indirectly, to transformation I witnessed is Communications Technology improving a country’s economic an experience that I continually (ICT), are considered key drivers situation and to increasing the refer to whenever I have to of economic development. To availability and affordability consider a small, developing varying degrees, and in diverse of telecommunications services country’s desire to improve its roles, such as chief executive, in a society. However, over economic position, and the price regulator, and consultant, the last few years, I have been that it might have to pay to I have been involved in keen to broaden my skills and achieve it. telecommunications regulatory experience, and ICT, which ‘As a participant, I was also impressed and proud of the contributions of my fellow classmates. Many were erudite and eloquent in their comments, so not only were they a joy to read, they added such value and perspective to the discussions.’ 3 EMERGING LEADERS FOR THE DIGITAL WORLD is a natural progression of Due to my experience in involved. As a participant, I telecommunications, is where regulation, I had been exposed was also impressed and proud I have been directing my to a number of the topics of the contributions and views attention. that are considered to fall of my fellow classmates. Many under Internet governance were erudite and eloquent in Embracing ICT (IG). However, the topics are their comments, so not only diverse, and when I began were they a joy to read, but I must admit that I was my own research on global IG they added such value and initially hesitant about, or policy, I became overwhelmed perspective to the discussions. perhaps defiant of, embracing by the number of issues being They really reminded me of ICT. Although I recognised discussed, the organisations the breadth and depth of the that the shift to ICT was involved, and their individual expertise and experience we inevitable, I sensed that people, jurisdictions. have in the Caribbean and especially policymakers, did of what we can offer to the not appreciate the importance Internet governance: a holistic rest of the world if given the of telecommunications as the view opportunity. foundation for ICT. Further, they had no idea what ICT truly Participating in Diplo’s Internet Perhaps more importantly, entailed and the diverse issues Governance Capacity Building the programme brought home that needed to be addressed. Programme (IGCBP) 2011 has to me how uninvolved and Hence, when I decided to really helped me to develop underrepresented the Caribbean jump onto the ICT bandwagon, a holistic view of the IG region has been in this global and taking into account my discussion. I am more aware conversation. I am currently professional background, I of the salient issues that are based in Jamaica, a country wanted to focus on policy and currently being discussed, the that is seen as a leader in the governance issues as they relate key arguments that are being region, but in the global IG to ICT. made, and the main entities conversation, it has not been http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica 4 Michelle Maurius present. Perhaps, similar to how that can not only be applied to focused on telecommunications I felt prior to the IGCBP, many their lives, but which can be and ICT development, I fully are grappling with ‘where to communicated to national and expect to have the opportunity start?’ regional leaders as appropriate. to continue to promote IG as a In January 2011, I launched part of substantive projects I Having a voice ICT Pulse (www.ict-pulse.com), am involved in. In that regard, a blog aimed at discussing I hope to help developing I am also very concerned that ICT issues from a Caribbean countries around the world civil society and the public at perspective. To date, a number understand IG issues that should large within the Caribbean do of the articles I have published be important to them, especially not appear to have a voice in IG have dealt with topical IG as the world transitions to issues. This is the area where I matters, and thanks to my own information societies and hope I can make a difference. increased awareness of the knowledge-based economies. issues, I intend to use the blog A critical activity will be as a platform for generating Michele Marius is an information dissemination more discussion on the subject. ICT/Telecoms consultant based – educating people about IG in Jamaica and Editor and issues and assisting them in Additionally, since my Publisher of ICT Pulse formulating views and opinions professional endeavours are still (www.ict-pulse.com) n 5.