The Third Meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technology, ended in Barbados, Friday, 15 October 2004, with commitment to an aggressive and focused strategy to accelerate the adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) within the Community. The accelerated focus places people first, and envisages "a new departure for Caribbean ICT and Development."

Under the theme Leadership through Partnership, the CARICOM-led Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) will hold its Fourth Annual General Meeting on 21-22 October 2004, in Barbados

The Heads of Government Information Services (GISs) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have outlined a series of measures intended to ensure that their agencies are fully integrated in national and regional initiatives.

Senior officials of CARICOM Member States meeting in Barbados on 13 October 2004 have endorsed and recommended to the Ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) a series of measures for mobilising ICTs for Caribbean Development. They endorsed a strategy for placing Caribbean development at the heart of regional ICT as well as a Plan of Action for the implementation of the mechanisms over the next 12 months.

Public Sector officials and representatives of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and regional development organisations on Wednesday (13 October 2004) agreed on a range of initiatives expected to refocus and accelerate adoption of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD).

This accelerated focus, which places people first, envisages a range of programmes including_ e-literacy, e-government, and skills training for cultural organizations and entrepreneurs to facilitate worldwide marketing of Caribbean cultural products.