This week, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon, Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, set out Bermuda’s record in global digital infrastructure in a solo main stage presentation at the AfroTech Conference in Houston, Texas.
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.”
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.
