data protection and cybersecurity, digital transformation, telecommunications

Consistent data protection laws to help ready Caribbean for global AI market

Posted by bartlettmorgan on

Pursue a shared, regionally anchored digital and data infrastructure strategy. That is the number one recommendation from the Caribbean AI Taskforce for the region to bolster its capacity and positioning for the half-a-trillion-dollar boost AI integration could give the Latin America and Caribbean economy by 2030.

In its final report published in July, the Taskforce notes that according to the IMF, AI has the potential to grow a developing country’s GDP 2.7-3.5% over a decade, under favourable conditions.

However, the misalignment of policy ambitions and infrastructural realities, along with fragmented data governance are among issues that need attention. In addition, the report highlights the Caribbean’s current “connectivity paradox”, where there is high digital engagement, but weak AI infrastructure and limited intra-regional data traffic routes.

To maintain resilience and sovreignity, therefore, the Caribbean needs “shared, distributed, and modular infrastructure models, rather than a single large national facility.”

‘Governments should prioritize harmonization of cross-border data flow frameworks‘

According to the report, “governments should prioritize harmonization of data-protection and cross-border data flow frameworks across CARICOM, reducing the current fragmentation that constrains both regional data-sharing and AI model development.”

In support of this, the report urges the adoption of a regional AI governance instrument, for which consistent data protection laws are a necessity. Currently, however, “eleven of the fifteen CARICOM member states have enacted data protection legislation, but implementation varies considerably.”

Cover page of Caribbean Telecommunications Union AI Taskforce Final Report
The Caribbean AI Taskforce (CAITF), convened by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) on behalf of CARICOM’s member states, published its final report in July 2026.

The report’s other five recommendations

  • Establish a harmonized Caribbean AI governance framework, anchored in existing international norms.
  • Sequence economic-transformation policy from foundational adoption toward higher-value innovation, built on a structured research-to-commercialization pathway, rather than attempting to leapfrog directly to frontier development.
  • Build a tiered talent pipeline spanning mass digital literacy through to specialist AI research capacity.
  • Use public procurement and public-service delivery as the proving ground for Caribbean AI governance standards.
  • Prioritize AI-enabled early-warning and resilience applications as a flagship, co-benefit-generating regional investment.
  • Establish CARICOM as a coordinated voice in global AI governance.

The task force comprised 35 members from government, private sector, international organisations and academia, and was convened for one year.