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| Receptionist at the National ICT Centre |
The ICT4EDCs efforts to establish a Foundation for the Information Society in St. Kitts and Nevis was recently covered by the local press. See for instance this article from the Labour Spokesman:
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 28TH 2011 (CUOPM) – The use of information
technology in the daily operations of private businesses and public sector
entities has been identified as a critical element in increasing
productivity and expanding market access for the goods and services
produced in the Federation.
So says St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas,
who also disclosed plans to establish a National Foundation for the
Advancement of the Information Society.
According to the Prime Minister several initiatives undertaken by his
administration with the financial and technological support of the
Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the European Union, have
helped to nurture the rich and largely untapped potential for the
development of a vibrant ICT sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“My Government’s legacy in terms of ICT includes the introduction of
computers in all public schools; the deregulation of the telecommunication
sector which has resulted in unprecedented penetration and access to
telephone and internet services by the general public; the implementation
of the two EU-funded ICT Projects that were implemented with the
objectives of enhancing ICT skills development within the Federation; to
foster the development of a vibrant and sustainable IT sector through the
increased adoption of ICTs in strategic sectors such as tourism and
agro-processing, the development of an ICT service/industry, the
empowerment of social groups, communities and individuals, and support for
an ICT driven public sector reform,” Prime Minister Douglas told
participants drawn from the private and public sectors at a one day
National Economic Growth Forum at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal
Beach Casino.
He said with the assistance from the Taiwanese Government “we also
successfully introduced the ICT Center which has become an indispensible
ICT training facility and has to date trained and graduated hundreds of
students in a variety of courses including internationally recognised
certification.”
Dr. Douglas also said that the introduction of the new I-Literacy
One-to-One Laptop Computer Project is the most recent ICT initiative which
has great potential to contribute to the establishment of ICT as a strong
pillar of economic growth and competitiveness and hoped that ICT
development would gain much more traction in the local private sector.
He said expert advice has led his Government to look seriously at the
establishment of a National Foundation for the Advancement of the
Information Society which will become the lead agency for the development
of ICT Governance, promoting, coordinating and facilitating ICT and
e-development programmes within the country.
“In order for this concept to work it will require support from both the
private and public sectors. I therefore put the private sector entities
present here on notice that the people who are working on this aspect of
the ICT development agenda will be contacting you over the next two months
to share more detailed information and solicit your support,” said Prime
Minister Douglas.
