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June/July 2001

The following is the framework used in the exercise to assess the e-readiness capabilities of CARICOM member States. This Study was done in June/July 2001 by CFTC Consultant Mr Alwyn Didar Singh

1. Infrastructural Framework Connectivity and Cost

This essentially examines the telecom infrastructure - the information highway on which e-Commerce rests and develops. Since the main issues here are access and the cost of connectivity the research seeks to find out the level of PC penetration, total number of Internet accounts and the pricing of some comparable connection plans of the existing ISPs. Initiatives for any incubator type facilities are also outlined.

Availability of communications services, access centres and networked computers Existence of effective competition among communication and information services Affordability and reliability of network access including the cost of service (against per capita/average wage) reliability of the electrical supply for e-Business critical operations Existence of any incubator facilities/IT Parks

2. Policy Framework: e-Leadership and Participation

Particularly for developing economies, governmental interventions and strategies are of crucial importance. The research asks if e-Business is a national priority and if so, is there a formal policy and strategy and who is leading the initiative. If government is serious about this then what is the status of IT in Government and plans to make public services available to citizens - particularly for trade and commerce. Also, is the effort participative?

Is e-Readiness a national priority? Is there a national IT/e-Commerce plan or strategy in existence? Is there an agency or ministry leading the initiative? What Progress is there with e-Government promotion of participation of citizens? What partnerships exist between government and industry to improve e-Readiness?

3. Legal Framework: Security and Privacy

E-Commerce transactions on the Internet, both commercial as well as for e-Government, require a legal and regulatory framework. Dos the country provide it. In case of dispute, is redress available and possible through the existing legal establishment? Are secure transactions possible and is cyber crime including IPRs being addressed. These are the questions both investors and consumers want to know before beginning e-Commerce businesses and transactions

Is there Legal support for e-Commerce transactions? Strength of legal protection for the processing and storage of networked information Strength and effectiveness of the legal and regulatory framework to address and prosecute cyber crimes Progress in protecting intellectual property rights Measures of consumer protection and extent of efforts to protect privacy

4. Human capacity framework: e-Enabled Human Capital	As human capital is the most important resource in the new economy, what is the availability of such professional for e-Business - both IT and management trained. What are the training and educational institutes doing about it and how much of IT-literacy is there in the country? Are institutions supporting creative thinking and information sharing?
Availability of e-professionals for e-business Skills and efficiency of the workforce Levels of IT teaching in the education system e-Literacy amongst citizens Is the institutional framework fostering a culture of local creativity and information sharing within the society

5. E-Business Environment: Enabling seamless e-Commerce	E-Business requires an enabling environment that is dependant on several inputs - IT services, banking and financial framework, regulatory and investment climate and a favourable and supportive bureaucracy. These aspects are commented upon in the study.
The present status of the IT industry and of IT in industry The existence of an e-enabled financial framework to support electronic transactions Availability of venture capital for e-business Transparency and predictability of regulatory implementation, openness of government, rule of law, etc Climate and policy for participation by foreign investors

6. The International and Regional Framework	Finally, the study seeks to examine the country international position vis a vis the discussions regarding e-Commerce in international fora, especially the WTO and the FTAA, as these are of much importance to the Caribbean states. Also are there any regional or sub-regional initiatives that the country desires to pursue
Negotiating stnad on e-Commerce at the WTO/FTAA Regional and sub-regional collaboration