Minister Vaz to Represent Jamaica At High Level DFI launch
By: , April 28, 2022The Full Story
Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, the Honourable Daryl Vaz, MP, left the island on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 for the United States capital, Washington D.C., to represent Jamaica at the high level launch of the Declaration of the Future of the Internet (DFI) at The White House. The launch is to take place on Thursday, April 28, 2022 and is to be chaired by National Security Advisor of the United States, Jake Sullivan.
Minister Vaz’s visit to The White House comes following an invitation by the United States Government for Jamaica to be among countries which are to participate in the DFI launch and endorse the relevant Declaration.
Minister Vaz is also expected to take part in a round table discussion with senior administration officials including US National Cyber Director, Chris Inglis.
The DFI is a political commitment led by the United States, which is expected to also receive the endorsement of several of Jamaica’s international partners including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Japan.
The Declaration seeks to revitalize common democratic principles surrounding global internet usage.
The DFI initiative focuses on partnership between governments, various agencies, civil society and other stakeholders to promote a shared vision for an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure internet.
The DFI aims to secure a commitment to facilitate global internet usage which is governed by a multi-stakeholder approach that works through existing institutions and processes while promoting respect for human rights in the digital context and advancing respective goals across relevant economic policies and regulatory activities.
During the working visit to the United States capital, Minister Vaz is also scheduled to meet at the State Department with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development within the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB/IFD), Roland Demarcellus.
Earlier this month, Vaz in his capacity as Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, had productive discussions with Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, in Washington D.C.
The meeting took place ahead of Minister Vaz assuming the role of Chairman of the Inter-American Committee of Science and Technology at the end of April for a period of three years.