MIAMI, FLORIDA – May 20, 2026 – The second annual Amplify Summit, hosted by leading Caribbean telecommunications provider Liberty Caribbean, has drawn to a close with a resounding, unified call from cross-sector leaders for urgent, coordinated action to accelerate regional digital transformation and reinforce long-term resilience and competitiveness across the Caribbean.
Bringing together senior government officials, regulatory bodies, tech innovators, private sector executives, and regional development stakeholders under the overarching theme “Elevating the Caribbean’s Digital Future”, the summit convened dozens of influential regional and international voices to map out tangible, actionable strategies to advance the Caribbean’s digital agenda. Over the course of the event, participants delved into practical solutions targeting core priorities: expanding universal access to reliable connectivity, upgrading foundational digital infrastructure, scaling homegrown innovation, nurturing local digital talent, and driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth across the region’s diverse island economies.
Discussions centered on the most pressing issues that will shape the Caribbean’s trajectory in the coming decade, including responsible artificial intelligence adoption, robust cybersecurity frameworks, updated digital policy regulation, climate-resilient digital infrastructure, workforce upskilling, cloud infrastructure transformation, and the digital modernization of two of the region’s most critical sectors: tourism and public administration.
Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Caribbean, opened the leadership segment of the summit by challenging regional decision-makers to move beyond exploratory dialogue and deliver coordinated, large-scale execution. “The Caribbean has never been lacking in talent, inherent resilience, or collective ambition. What we need right now is aligned priorities, decisive action, and the courage to build for the long-term future,” Smidts said. “Digital transformation is no longer an optional upgrade for the region. It is a fundamental pillar of sustained economic growth, national resilience, and global competitiveness. Amplify was not created just to bring leaders together to exchange ideas – it was built to accelerate practical solutions that deliver real, meaningful impact for our people and our economies.”
Balan Nair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Latin America, Liberty Caribbean’s parent company, emphasized that transformative progress depends on intentional collaboration between the public sector and private industry. “The Caribbean stands at a pivotal crossroads right now, where technology can become a powerful engine of expanded opportunity, greater social inclusion, and accelerated innovation,” Nair noted. “Unlocking the region’s full digital potential will require lasting cross-sector partnership, long-term committed investment, and a shared commitment to building secure, resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems. The conversations held at this year’s Amplify Summit reinforced that the Caribbean has both the capability and the bold leadership needed to move forward with confidence.”
Senator The Honourable Jonathan Reid, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science, and Technology for the Government of Barbados, underscored that the region cannot afford delay, and called for aligned policy frameworks across Caribbean nations. “The pace of global digital transformation will not slow down to wait for the Caribbean,” Reid stressed. “We must therefore ensure that our policy frameworks, our education systems, and our digital infrastructure are all aligned to prepare our people and our economies for the digital future. What we need right now is coordinated regional action that empowers innovation, while guaranteeing no community is left behind in the digital era.”
Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, highlighted that for small island developing states like those across the Caribbean, digital transformation is far more than a modernization project – it is a core strategy for economic survival and growth. “For small island developing states, digital transformation is not simply about updating systems; it is about building resilience, advancing long-term sustainability, and unlocking new economic opportunity,” Dr. Hilaire explained. “The Caribbean has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position itself as a globally competitive innovation hub, powered by our creativity, our people, and cross-sector collaboration. But achieving that vision will require bold leadership and meaningful, sustained partnerships across every sector of our economies.”
Throughout the summit’s panel discussions and breakout working sessions, speakers and attendees repeatedly emphasized that basic connectivity access is no longer enough to meet the region’s needs. Instead, they argued, the Caribbean must prioritize building end-to-end digital ecosystems that can support local entrepreneurship, improve access and efficiency in public services, drive innovation across existing industries, and strengthen national resilience during economic, climate, and public health crises. The event also consistently reinforced the critical need for targeted investment in local talent development, to ensure Caribbean workers and entrepreneurs have the cutting-edge digital skills required to fully participate in and benefit from the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
The 2026 Amplify Summit featured contributions and participation from a wide range of partner organizations, including multiple Caribbean national governments, IDB Invest, Guardian Holdings Limited, Sagicor Bank, Amazon Web Services, SpaceX, Sierra AI, Amdocs, regional academic leaders, and senior Liberty Caribbean executives.
### About Liberty Caribbean
Operated by Liberty Latin America and formerly known as C&W Communications, Liberty Caribbean is the Caribbean’s leading communications and technology provider, with operations in more than 20 regional markets. The company delivers broadband, mobile, video, and voice services to residential consumers through its consumer brands Flow and BTC. Via its B2B division Liberty Business, the firm also provides enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data center services to private businesses and government agencies, supporting economic growth in an increasingly digital global economy. With a regional legacy spanning more than 150 years, Liberty Caribbean remains deeply anchored in the Caribbean, delivering robust networks, personalized local support, and tailored solutions designed to meet the unique needs of regional people and communities.