Caribbean Datacenter Association launches to Accelerate Digital Transformation in the Caribbean!

Willemstad, Curaçao, 22 March 2024 – The Caribbean Datacenter Association, (CDA) a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating digital transformation in the Caribbean held its inaugural event on 13-14 March 2024. By unifying operators, sharing resources, and making technology accessible to more users across the Caribbean region, the CDA promises to revolutionize the digital landscape in the Caribbean, driving economic growth and empowering communities.

CDA brings together key stakeholders from the region’s technology industry, including leading-edge operators, government bodies, and industry experts. By fostering collaboration and strategic partnerships, the association aims to create a unified platform for advancing digital transformation across the Caribbean.

With the increasing demand for digital services and the need for improved connectivity, the Caribbean Datacenter Association will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and progress. By pooling resources and expertise, the association will ensure that cutting-edge technologies and solutions are accessible to all citizens, regardless of their location or economic background.

As host of the inaugural event, the Prime Minister of Curaçao, The Honourable Mr. Gilmar ‘Pik’ Pisas, officially opened the conference. He said, “By creating this cluster of connected datacenters, CDA members will facilitate the establishment of a consolidated and sustainable platform on which the region can build its digital economy.”

Other Ministers in attendance included:

  • Honourable Minister Stephenson King – Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal, St. Lucia
  • Mrs Veronica Dorsette-Hector- Honourable Parliamentary Secretary, Montserrat
  • Mr. Devindra Ramnarine- Digital Transformation Advisor, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Trinidad & Tobago
  • Honourable Minister Hassel Bacchus – Minister of Digital Transformation, Trinidad & Tobago

“In the Caribbean, the future unfolds with a connected Caribbean-where innovation meets the sun-soaked horizon. We’re weaving a tapestry of digital transformation through the CDA, charting a course towards a sustainable, inclusive and resilient tomorrow,” says Anvit Ramlakhan – CEO of Datasur.

Top Left: Anvit Ramlakhan – CEO of Datasur- founding member of CDA
Top Right: Giovanni King – CEO of Blue NAP Americas- founding member of CDA
Bottom Left to Right:
Stephenson King – St. Lucia
Hassel Bacchus – Trinidad & Tobago
Veronica Dorsette-Hector – Montserrat
Devindra Ramnarine – advisor Trinidad & Tobago

About the Caribbean Datacenter Association
The establishment of the Caribbean Datacenter Association marks a significant milestone in a journey towards a digitally empowered Caribbean, overcoming barriers, leveraging collective strengths, and driving sustainable regional growth through collaboration. This strategic partnership between industry leaders and government bodies will accelerate digital transformation and create new opportunities for governments, businesses, and individuals. The Caribbean Datacenter Association will catalyse job creation, innovation, and economic development, positioning the Caribbean as a leading technology and digital innovation hub.

The Caribbean Datacenter Association is committed to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship in line with its corporate social responsibility. By advising its members to adopt green technologies and sustainable practices, the association aims to enable its members to minimize their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future for the Caribbean.

More information about the Caribbean Datacenter Association is available at www.caribbeandatacenters.com.

For more information:
Stark Narrative, Blue Nap Americas PRdesk, e-mail [email protected]
tel. +31.(0)020.794.4735.

Whitney de Rijp, MBA in Innovation and Technology.
Whitney de Rijp is a young driven Surinamese woman. She has been working at Datasur for over 6 years. Together with her top team, they ensure that customer data is stored securely all over the world which helps them focus on their core business.

Integrity, authenticity and just being herself is the mode for success as a Commercial Affairs Manager. Furthermore, she finds it very important to maximize effectiveness and of course lead by example. For both the internal and the external organization she is very transparent, which also fosters loyalty and engagement with the company goals.

Jurgen Schmeltz has as a Bachelor's degree in Information and Communication Technology and several IT certifications. His IT career started in Johannesburg, South Africa at IBM where he gained international experience for 5 years. When he came back to Suriname, he worked for two IT companies and also gained experience in VOIP, Backup Solutions and Microsoft Products.

At the moment Jurgen is a Cloud and Datacenter Infrastructure Specialist with many years of experience in the field of Microsoft Virtualization, Workplace Automation, Backup, Replication and Data Center Infrastructure. He currently holds the position of Operations Manager and is responsible for managing the Datacenter Operations such as Cloud and Network infrastructure.

Furthermore, he is also responsible for managing daily Facility Operations of the Datasur Datacenters and Project Lead for Cloud and Datacenter expansion projects. In his free time he’s a parttime lecturer at the two technical Universities in Suriname.

On behalf of Datasur Jurgen Schmeltz is also chairman of SUR-IX. The Suriname Internet Exchange Point which will be operational before the end of 2022

Sheetal Ganput works as the General Affairs Manager at Datasur. In this role she is part of the management team and reports to the CEO of Datasur.

She is a very self-driven, detail-oriented & hardworking young professional. She has helped to reorganize the company in the field of Office, HRM and Supply Chain Management.

Sheetal has her B.Sc. in Business Management and also completed her M.Sc. completed in Business Management with a specialization in Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. She is very progressive and is currently doing her Ph.D. study in Leadership & Management

Our CEO, Dr. Anvit Ramlakhan is a prolific strong inspiring inclusive young professional leader from Suriname, working in different fields to contribute for the betterment of humanity and the world. He is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the ICT industry for several years, with a widespread of skills in operations, quality, risk, project, business, strategy, product portfolio management (just to name a few). At Datasur Anvit oversees the total company performance on strategical level, with a strong focus on business growth, innovation, customer experience and financial profitability.

Furthermore, Anvit contributes to development of the Surinamese youth by lecturing and tutoring at four university study organizations in Suriname on undergraduate and postgraduate levels within study fields such as ICT, Electrical engineering, Organization management, Process management, Business intelligence, MBA, etc.

He has a strong professional background with a cum laude doctorate (Ph.D. in Management- Information and Technology) from the Akamai University in USA, Master of Science (M.Sc.) with merit in Information Systems from Anglia Ruskin University in London, UK and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Telecommunications from Anton de Kom University in Paramaribo, Suriname. He currently is finishing up his MBA in Strategic Management and Leadership at the London School of International Business, London, UK.

Anvit has several prolific leadership and business certifications, ongoing humanity service, extensive spiritual drive and a personal theme which is as follows: “Continuous progressive successful excellence”. He is part of volunteer organization HSS for 20+ years, through which character molding, collaboration and way of living for the youth is created and augmented.

In January 2022 he has been elected for two years as Chairman of the ICT Association in Suriname, in order to help strategize the sustainable digital economic development of Suriname. Furthermore he also has been elected as Chairman for the Suriname Business Youth Association in June 2021 for a period of two years, whereby development and support of young entrepreneurs and professionals is one of the main goals. Anvit is also part of the presidential working groups on areas of e-Government and wage council.