WASHINGTON, D.C., February 2, 2023, February 2, 2023 — A 12-member delegation from the Bahamas is in Washington D.C. for a series of meetings over the last three days with US government and private sector officials with the intent of advancing discussions related to the adoption of 5-G technology in The Bahamas.
Also in Washington at the same time were a number of Bahamians attending an Energy Conference sponsored by The International Development Bank.
In a welcoming ceremony at The Embassy of the Bahamas in the Watergate Complex, His Excellency Wendall Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, said, “We are so pleased to be able to have this Communion with citizens of The Bahamas and our friends and neighbors in the United States who have shown great willingness to be great assistance to us in our national development.
“Fifty years ago, when The Bahamas attained its independence, we were left by the British with severe infrastructural challenges and what a social commentator referred to as backwardness. Today with great improvement in our infrastructure, we are developing global citizens who are world-ready and who have embraced great technological changes in the world. Now our youthful population is attuned to the fact that we have to keep pace with technology which is seemingly changing every year.”
Declaring that there is “a whole new generation of Bahamians who want not just 5G by 6G,” the Ambassador added, “We must satisfy their aspiration. That is why it is good that Bahamian leaders in the telecommunications and regulators in this industry are here to dialogue with American neighbors in Washington.
“Some would argue that we are running behind schedule to have Smart country, but as a nation in progress, we have come a long way; but in the words of the late Sir Clement Maynard, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, we have to put on more speed. If the future of the Bahamian society and economy is to be progressive and different from the past, it will require a sharper focus and greater investment in technology.
“This last pandemic has shown us how important it is to be abreast of technology for our social and economic development. Our goal then must be to have not just a smart city in Nassau, but smart country with E-Medicine, E-Education and E-transportation etcetera.”
Continuing, the Ambassador said, “At the end of the day, it is about enhancing a quality of life of a every citizen of The Bahamas and reducing the cost of government. So, we are delighted that the delegation of The Bahamas is here and that we have such a warm and cordial relationship with our next-door neighbor – the United States of America. On behalf of the Embassy and Government of the Bahamas we thank you.
NOTE: 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices. 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connects new industries.
