Lately, I’ve been focusing on Barbados’ lack of digital transformation, a significant deficit holding our economy back. A recent conversation with a peer highlighted how only a few large Barbadian businesses still have the capacity to expand beyond our shores. Such growth is crucial if our economy is to move beyond tourism, which remains heavily reliant on the “heads in beds” model or continuous hotel construction.
We discussed innovation and what it would take for the country to think and do business differently. Initially, I believed we lacked the talent to pivot, as every opportunity to showcase local skill seems overshadowed by foreign solutions. However, my friend reminded me that Barbados has a wealth of talent; what’s missing is the platform and financial support to harness that potential for national benefit. That remark sparked an idea, taking me back to the early 2000s, when Barbados made a concerted push to foster national pride and creativity—most notably through the National Innovation Awards organised by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST). These awards gave local entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts the opportunity to showcase their ideas with government backing, earning national recognition.
It was a bold attempt to nurture homegrown talent, but despite some successes, the momentum waned, and many promising initiatives never fully took root. Now, with a renewed focus on digital transformation, perhaps it’s time to reignite that spirit of innovation—not through sporadic funding, but with a focused, outcome-driven national call to action—to expand our economic reach beyond tourism.
A Global Model for Innovation
Governments worldwide, including the Caribbean, have embraced public-driven innovation through hackathons and national awards that tackle civic and economic challenges. Jamaica, for instance, hosts an annual National Innovation Awards, recognising individuals and organisations that leverage science and technology to drive impactful innovations. Administered by their National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), these awards highlight achievements in education, engineering, and agriculture, promoting innovation for national development.
In Europe, the EU Datathon, organised by the Publications Office of the European Union, fosters the development of innovative services that utilise open data to enhance governmental processes. Meanwhile, in Australia and New Zealand, GovHack—one of the largest open government hackathons in the Southern Hemisphere—leverages government open data to create solutions that benefit communities.
The Role of Open Data & Legislative Frameworks
In addition to tapping into our national innovation consciousness, another underlying theme is emerging—the importance of open government data. Even Jamaica has embraced this strategy, recognising that a country cannot improve its position without access to accurate, actionable data. Data.gov.jm, Jamaica’s open data portal, provides free access to government datasets to promote transparency, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.
The Data.gov.jm platform was made possible by the Access to Information Act (2002), which grants the public the right to access official government documents. The Act promotes transparency, enhances accountability, and encourages public participation in decision-making.
However, Barbados lacks an Access to Information Act—a critical missing component in our push toward digital transformation. Without a legal framework mandating data accessibility, true transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and private-sector-driven innovation will remain out of reach. Establishing such an Act, like Jamaica’s, would be a foundational step in ensuring government data is open, usable, and beneficial to all.
A Roadmap for Barbados
So, what should our initiative look like? While we have viable examples, I suggest a hybrid approach—starting with the designation of October as National Digital Innovation Month.
Why October? It aligns with the government’s budgeting cycle, meaning actionable innovations introduced during this period could be factored into the following year’s budget, ensuring a clear pathway from ideation to implementation. However, this initiative cannot be fully realised without the proper policy framework, which is why introducing an Access to Information Act should be a priority alongside digital transformation efforts.
This initiative would go beyond encouraging random software solutions and instead focus on strategic, economy-driven innovation. The goal would be to tackle real-world national challenges, such as improving customer service, enhancing guest experiences in tourism, and optimising government processes. By aligning innovation with economic priorities, we can create a sustainable model where technology-driven solutions directly contribute to national development.
Inspiring the Next Generation
To further embed innovation into our national fabric, I propose a school-based component, ensuring that the next generation has a stake in shaping the Barbados of the future. This initiative would go beyond traditional essay competitions, shifting into actionable prototypes, with eligibility for students aged 13–18. Participation would be team-based, requiring groups of three or more to collaborate, problem-solve, and create viable solutions.
Innovation Expo & Awards Gala
During the month, an Innovation Expo would showcase entries from competitions, providing a platform for both emerging ideas and established solutions. This would allow industry leaders, innovators, and partners to engage, collaborate, and contribute to Digital Transformation Month, fostering a broader ecosystem of progress.
The initiative would culminate in the National Innovation Awards Gala, recognising outstanding achievements in technology and innovation across both government and private sector. Award categories would highlight workplace innovation, societal impact, and emerging industries, with special recognition for green initiatives and climate change solutions.
By fostering a structured national effort, these initiatives have the potential to unlock local talent, drive innovation, and catalyse economic transformation—a model Barbados must seriously consider as it rethinks its approach to innovation and digital progress.
Steven Williams is the executive director of Sunisle Technology Solutions and the principal consultant at Data Privacy and Management Advisory Services. He is a former IT advisor to the Government’s Law Review Commission, focusing on the draft Cybercrime bill. He holds an MBA from the University of Durham and is certified as a chief information security officer by the EC Council and as a data protection officer by the Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB). Steven can be reached at Mobile: 246-233-0090; Email: steven@dataprivacy.bb
