As an outcome of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS Conference) held on 1-4 September 2014 in Samoa, the SIDS ACCELERATED MODALITIES OF ACTION [S.A.M.O.A.] Pathway (http://www.sids2014.org/samoapathway) has indicated:
- The ability of the small island developing States (SIDS) to sustain high levels of economic growth and job creation has been affected by the ongoing adverse impacts of the global economic crisis, declining foreign direct investment, trade imbalances, increased indebtedness, the lack of adequate transportation, energy and information and communications technology infrastructure networks, limited human and institutional capacity and the inability to integrate effectively into the global economy.
In recognition of this challenge, SIDS are, along with other underserved targets (such as Africa, for example), the object of several programmes by OECD-based private sector to bring Internet access at either free, or close to free rates. Many have welcomed this intervention, given the limited resources of the Government and the indigenous private sector operators.
Other observers have however argued that this "free" access to the Internet, is actually akin to "being locked up in a corporate digital prison" (Niels ten Oever, Article 19 via http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-africa-internet-idUSKBN0MK10F20150324)
As part of its ongoing Research & Action Agenda, the 2015 SIDS Roundtable seeks to elucidate all sides of the argument, searching for common ground and understanding, with a special emphasis on increasing the volume of seldom heard voices of the SIDS in Global Forums such as the IGF.
Discussants include:
Mr. Carlton Samuels Academic Community Adjunct, Department of Library and Information Studies Faculty of Humanities and Education University of the West Indies (Mona) Jamaica
Dr Ellen Strickland Technical Community/Civil Society Community Programme Director, InternetNZ & Vice Chair, Pacific Islands Chapter of Internet Society New Zealand
Maureen Hilyard Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society Cook Islands (Remote Discussant)
Ms. Deirdre Williams Civil Society Co-Coordinator Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus St. Lucia
Professor Patrick Hosein Academic/Technical Community University of the West Indies (St. Augustine) Trinidad & Tobago
Niels ten Oever Civil Society Head of Digital, ARTICLE 19 Netherlands
Dr. Vint Cerf Chairman American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) USA
Dr. Robert Pepper Private Sector Vice President, Global Technology Policy - Cisco USA
Mr. Dhanaraj Thakur Academic/Technical Community Research Manager, Alliance for Affordable Internet Jamaica
