Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) was honored to participate in the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute’s (CCGI) Governance Week 2025, which takes place from June 22 to 27, 2025. COCI was formally invited to serve as a panelist during the Opening Ceremony and contribute to the high-level discussion on “Navigating Change and Impact on Caribbean Nation States in the Age of Generative AI.”
Representing COCI was its Director, Mr. Jude Houston, who shared valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities that Generative AI presents to Caribbean economies and governance structures. In his remarks, Mr. Houston underscored the increasingly critical role that the corporate sector must play in shaping the adoption and responsible use of Generative AI, particularly in light of the absence of comprehensive frameworks and adequate legislation across most jurisdictions in the region.
“As the Generative AI revolution advances at an unprecedented pace, it is becoming clear that governments alone cannot keep up with the legislative demands this technology creates,” Mr. Houston stated. “The private sector must be actively engaged in supporting the development of ethical frameworks and contributing expertise to ensure balanced, inclusive, and forward-thinking policies.”
Mr. Houston further emphasized that Generative AI is not a fleeting trend but a transformative reality that societies will need to learn to coexist with. He called for collaborative efforts to not only harness the benefits of this technology but also to proactively mitigate its potential downsides, including labor market disruptions, corporate governance gaps at board and executive levels, increasing digital dependencies, and the safeguarding of digital sovereignty within Caribbean nation states.
The participation of COCI in Governance Week 2025 reflects the Chamber’s commitment to fostering dialogue on emerging global issues that have a direct impact on the business community and the broader socio-economic fabric of St. Maarten and the Caribbean region.
Governance Week 2025, organized by CCGI, brings together thought leaders, policymakers, business executives, and governance professionals from across the Caribbean to discuss critical topics influencing the region’s development and resilience.
