Minister Promotes Bermuda At AfroTech Event
Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne highlighted the island’s growing role in global digital infrastructure and its subsea cable investments during a presentation at the AfroTech Conference in Houston, Texas.
A Government spokesperson said, “With more than 40,000 attendees over the course of one week, AfroTech is one of the world’s largest gatherings of technology professionals, founders, investors and business leaders.
“The invitation to deliver a keynote address was extended to the Minister in June 2026. It followed Bermuda’s emergence as a landing point for new transatlantic and regional subsea cable systems and recognised the island’s work to prepare the regulatory ground for that investment.
“In her presentation, ‘Building the Digital Bridge: How Small Nations Are Winning Big in Global Tech Infrastructure,’ Minister Lightbourne traced how Bermuda secured Google’s subsea cable investments, including the Nuvem and Sol systems landed in June 2026 and the Canoa system announced in August 2026. She credited three decisions: early regulatory clarity, disciplined partnership with the private sector, and a policy framework built before the investment arrived. Together they position Bermuda as a connection point between North America, Europe and the Caribbean.
“The Minister also set out Google’s commitment to skills training and scholarships for Bermudians, so that residents gain the exposure and qualifications to take up roles in the island’s growing digital infrastructure sector.”
Minister Lightbourne said, “Sound regulation for the digital needs of the future laid the foundation for Bermuda’s next chapter of economic growth. That foundation creates opportunities for our people, room for local businesses to expand, and a stronger community. It lets Bermuda compete globally while the domestic economy evolves. But, as we embrace these new international relationships, the fundamental task is to make sure the benefits of the digital future unapologetically reach every corner of our island.”
A Government spokesperson added, “While at the AfroTech Conference this week, Minister Lightbourne also participated in a Smart Cities Executive Roundtable, joining approximately 20 elected officials and senior executives from across North America. The discussion focused on how leaders balance competing priorities, work with private sector partners, and ensure communities receive tangible value from large scale technology investment.
“On the margins of the conference, Minister Lightbourne met Dr. Derrick V. Warren, Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Grambling State University, and students pursuing studies in business, technology and entrepreneurship. The discussion focused on exchange opportunities for Bermudians in areas aligned with Bermuda’s digital transformation agenda.
“The Minister closed her time in Houston at a reception for members of the African American Mayors Association [AAMA]. Discussions centred on leadership, economic development, and the effect of rapidly changing technology on people’s everyday lives. At the event Minister Lightbourne also held introductory discussions with Democratic Senator London Lamar of Tennessee and with Representative Yvette D. Clarke of New York, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Representative Clarke, who is of Caribbean heritage, leads the largest class of Black legislators in the history of the US Congress. The discussions covered economic opportunity, innovation and public policy.
“The AfroTech invitation strengthened Bermuda’s relationships with technology leaders, educational institutions, legislators and municipal leaders validating Bermuda’s position as a valued jurisdiction. For more information on the conference, visit www.afrotech.com.”
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“Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne highlighted the island’s growing role in global digital infrastructure”.
If you want evidence of the Islands’ growing role in global digital infrastructure just look at all the activity at Sankofa House (formerly Victoria Hall) at the corner of Victoria Street and Washington Street.
Don’t forget that Bermuda’s digital infrastructure is so strong that the Government and businesses are hacked with the greatest of ease, and millions of dollars are scammed from old folk.
Minister Lightbourne, now tell everyone how much cyber ransom Mr. Big approved.
Bermuda’s “digital infrastructure” is a hacker’s dream come true.
Now tell everyone how much cyber ransom Mr. Big approved. Say what? I hear the sound of crickets.
I’m sure the listening attendees were thoroughly impressed by the Minister telling them about how our government got hacked and paid an undisclosed sum in ransomware and are yet to tell the public of the extent of sensitive data leakage.
Not to mention, our business-savvy Government sold out our infrastructure to Google for a laughably paltry sum of money with no committed deep investment in Bermuda from Google. That is probably one of the single most insulting actions our Government has carried out that is a proverbial spitting in the face of every single Bermudian. Would almost be hilarious, if it wasn’t so infuriating.
Bravo Minister, you’re truly out showing the best of Bermuda!
All these fancy trips taking place with Ministers telling the world how great Bermuda is, yet Bermuda never gets to read the actual presentations. If they were so impressive why not inform us? Could it be that such information is closely guarded like the Government hack and alleged ransom?
Since Constituency 14 changed hands we have been subjected to this consistent media circus and word salad incoherence from Minister Lightbourne.
First Minister Lightbourne led with expensive champagne events in the Middle East, grand announcements and no results.
Then the grand failure of her cost of living summit at Hamilton Princess, abject failure.
Next up, resurrection of FinTech wrapped up as modern AI AfroTech Industry photo ops.
When word salad fails or remains incoherent, shift to lots of photos to look busy, in Gucci, Ferragamo and now Adidas sneakers.
We give Minister Lightbourne 12 out of 10 for public relations but a minus -12 out of 10 for actually doing anything since she became a minister
Fortunately, when mentor and boss Buttons leaves the stage, the next leader will ask MP Lightbourne to refocus on her core skill, leading smear campaigns, election campaigns and negative PR for internal and general elections, the only person who watches Olivia Pope’s Scandal box set every weekend for tips how to undermine political rivals and appear busy.
MInister Lightbourne for Premier we say!!!