Bernadette Lewis honoured for contribution to C’bean’s ICT sector

In a media release, the CTU said recognition of Lewis’ work occurred during the opening ceremony of the inaugural Barbados Internet Governance Forum (IGF) at The University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus on June 21.

“Ms Lewis was recognised for her pioneering work in establishing the first Internet Governance Forum in the world in 2005.

“The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF), now in its 13th year, is dedicated to building capacity and fostering universal open, equitable and affordable access by Caribbean citizens to infrastructure linked to global information resources.” D escribing Lewis, a Trinidadian, as a visionary with a passion for ICT-enabled development, the CTU said she has been at the forefront of activities to advance effective use of the internet and its resources in the Caribbean.

CTU president and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados Darcy Boyce, in a video documentary highlighting her work, cited Lewis’ “all-consuming passion for getting the Caribbean to use ICT to improve all aspects of Caribbean life.” The CTU said Lewis was “surprised to receive the accolade.” Having thanked the organising committee for the recognition of her efforts, Lewis commended them for the establishment of the Barbados IGF.

She noted that in 2014, at the 10th CIGF, she had presented a new approach for advancing caribbean internet governance which included the establishment of national IG fora to advance the work of the CIGF in each country.

She congratulated Barbados for being among the first Caribbean countries leading the way in establishing a national IGF and expressed her satisfaction of being part of the first Barbados IGF.

Lewis said, “The establishment of the Barbados IGF is a testimony of the determination of a diverse community of stakeholders to influence its development of the internet for the benefit of the citizens of Barbados.” She added that Barbados influencing the development of the internet was not an exaggeration because the country was already at the forefront of the internet’s development.

Lewis said Barbados national Alan Emtage had developed ARCHIE, the internet’s first search engine. Emtage’s contribution was also recognised by the Barbados IGF.

In 2012, Lewis was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin American and Caribbean Registry for Internet Numbers for her work in internet governance.