Minister of Innovation and National Development the Hon. Sebastian Bastian reported on the main outcomes of the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 (WTPF-26)’s Strategic Dialogue: “From Vision to Action: Steering an Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Digital Future,” held on September 1, 2026 at Atlantis Resort.
“The Dialogue opened in the presence of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Hon. Philip Davis, K.C., who reminded us that “connectivity is inseparable from opportunity and resilience,” said Minister Bastian during the Opening Ceremony of the Forum on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
He explained that its High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Segment, co-moderated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General and himself, brought together ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, industry leaders and leading academics, alongside representatives of civil society and international and regional organizations.
The Minister said three messages stood out.
He said, “First, resilience must be designed before crisis strikes.
“That means diverse and well-designed networks, reliable power, infrastructure sharing, early-warning systems, trusted technologies and strong institutions.
“It also means governments, regulators and operators establishing arrangements to cooperate before disruption occurs.”
Minister Bastian said as the Secretary-General put it, the objective must be to get “the right information to the right people at the right time.”
He said, second, Small Island Development States and other vulnerable economies require solutions tailored to their realities.
“Terrestrial, subsea, satellite and community networks must work together.
“Regional cooperation, shared infrastructure, development finance and more predictable regulation can help overcome the constraints of small markets and dispersed communities—and make it easier to scale what works.”
The Minister explained that third, coverage is only the starting point.
He said success must be measured by what people can do once connected: learn, work, access services, build businesses and participate fully in society.
“As I said during the Dialogue, let us not fall in love with technology alone. Let us fall in love with the problem—and allow technology to help us solve it.”
Minister Bastian said the afternoon dialogues then carried this people-centred message into action.
He noted that the dialogue on women, youth and persons with disabilities called for solutions designed with, not merely for, the communities they serve: “Nothing about us without us.”
The Minister said, “From the youth-designed Smart Steps mobility cane to the launch of ITU Youth Digital Hubs, the session showed what becomes possible when underrepresented groups move from being discussed to shaping decisions and creating solutions.”
He said the Partner2Connect Solutions Lab focused on converting more than $120 billion in pledges into measurable impact.
“Its message was equally direct: connectivity does not automatically equal participation.
“Affordability, devices, skills, trust and adoption remain binding constraints. Overcoming them will require fit-for-purpose regulation, blended finance, regional cooperation and partnerships built around measurable results.”
Minister Bastian said connectivity is the foundation, not the final objective. The real test is whether digital transformation strengthens resilience, expands opportunity and improves people’s lives.
“Let us carry that test into our consideration of the draft Opinions. And let us leave Nassau not only with shared words, but with renewed determination to turn vision into action—for everyone, everywhere.”
Prime Minister the Hon. Phillip Davis and ITU’s Secretary General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin also brought remarks during the opening.
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