Last week, Caribbean Blockchain Network (CBN) and Dgov Foundation network — both exploring and seeking opportunities for people to learn more about the emergent technologies, build their own DAOs and create cohesive complex systems — hosted an incredibly well attended workshop at Trinidad & Tobago University in Port of Spain. We’ll recap the story and cover potential future aspects.
1. KICK-OFF
Trinidad and Tobago welcomes you with the utmost inspirational national motto:
“Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve.”
Above mentioned slogan was established by the Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams, when Trinidad and Tobago achieved its independence in 1962. A few decades later, we decided to check how the blockchain community looks like on the island, we were blown away by many responses and willingness to help organize our one day workshop. The slogan is not at all just a “phrase,’’ but very well captures Trinis and their aspirations.
With more than 20 people on board in less than a week, we organized and hosted a Blockchain & DAO event in Trinidad and Tobago on June 7th, 2019.
2. LIGHTNING TALKS
We kicked off with a short introduction to blockchain technology prepared by Luuk Weber. We’ve then continued with lightning talks provided by members of the local community. The first lightning talk was presented by Sean Valley, who has conducted extensive research and proposed a doctoral thesis about Global poverty eradication and the achievement of a type one civilization by mid-century. As we are creating new forms of organizations and are looking into the use cases of novel technologies to improve our lives and enable people to flourish, it is indeed very important to understand where we are now and where we might go as a civilization.
Next was Shane Ram who introduced us to Creation of Wealth for Caribbean People Through Blockchain. There are numerous possibilities and one needs to keep an eye on the fast-forwarding business when technology plays a role. Shane invited us to be part of many projects winding up the Caribbeans, there is even a crypto movie in the making.
Ruben Russel, also a member of CBN, told us more about Genesis and DAOstack. This intense lightning talk would trigger quite some interest in the second part of the workshop and served as a basis for all participant to understand what it means to have a DAO. How the platform looks like and what benefits we’re gaining when we’re operating through such interface.
I’ve presented the legal developments and lack of legal framework. Powerpoint presentation is a result of numerous previous presentations, researches and talks we had in various groups of legal academics, experts and practitioners. The talk alone would serve as an introduction to many other ideas we’ve elaborated upon in the second part and follow-up meetup and calls.
Later on I was told that the fact all people has returned after an hour long lunch break outside our venue, clearly and undeniably proves the event was a complete success.
Some of us came back late, but only for we had deep and intense discussions about crypto and blockchain endeavors in the Caribbean islands.
Indeed, we had an incredible group! We’ve aimed towards bringing together around 25–30 people and ended up with having 60 attendees.
All slides are available here.
3. THE WORKSHOPS
The second part commenced with discussion circles and 6 different topics. After elaborating and switching circles, getting familiar with different crypto aspects, we would begin with our workshops.
Shannon Clarke from Polymath hosted a workshop about the creation of smart contracts. Jarryon Paul and George Moses had a workshop for the digital wallets and introduction to crypto. Luuk and I hosted a workshop for DAOs and split into two different groups for completion of DAO canvases.
Results were amazing. The hands-on approach demands we all provide some input and collaborate in a way that may lead towards the establishment of a TriniDAO.
In addition, we achieved various Blockchain movements from this in the region came together and tested the waters for a regional Blockchain DAO development.
4. ORGANISERS AND SPONSORS
CBN is an open platform, a network of individuals and organization that seeks to expand the knowledge and understanding of blockchain and related emerging technologies. CBN aims to harness the power of emerging technologies to improve wellbeing and welfare in the Caribbean region. One of the current projects is among others mapping Caribbean islands and graphically presenting the possibility of crypto payments, acceptance and ATMs.
DGov network connects people with the aim to discover practices, implement technical solutions and design complex, scalable governance systems that create cohesion and allow people to flourish.
DAOstack enables the effective governance of self-organizing collectives.
Crypto Island educates the Caribbean about the future of money, one interested person at a time.
Caribbean Blockchain Alliance is an NGO dedicated to promoting the adoption of blockchain technology in the region.
Polymath network connects token investors, KYC providers, smart contract developers and legal experts who help form the basis of your securities token.
Future Law Institute is a path-breaking global community of legal futurists including, transaction specialists, reformers and philosophers acting together to catalyze systems change.
EquiGov Institute is a boutique consulting and training firm specializing in data privacy, public and private sector governance, whistleblowing, monitoring, and evaluation.
TTUni is a prominent University with lots of different programs and excellent support to innovative and knowledge-sharing platforms, individuals and groups like ours.
We will continue to expand the blockchain network exponentially without its becoming directly subject to any particular commercial entity but rather many of them. We’ve collected many great minds that will collectively find new ways of collaboration.
Soon, thanks to CBN, DGov and organizations alike, we will be able to bring a worldwide knowledge and solutions to places where seemingly no infrastructure exists and where we can come closer to the realization of technological potential from scratches.
