Today, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications launches ICTFEST 2006, the second annual technology showcase in Antigua and Barbuda and the premier technology exhibition in the OECS.

The inaugural FEST held last year was a resounding success as it offered a platform for showcasing the best in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The ICTFEST is part of an ambitious programme by the Ministry to reduce the Digital Divide by beginning to provide citizens with access to ICTs at the community level.

Such is the commitment to provide access to ICTs at the community level that very shortly the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will open a number of Community Computer Access Centres. These Centres, the first of which will be officially opened in the coming days by the Honourable Prime Minister at the Greenbay Primary School, will provide access to computerized technology to teachers and students in primary schools while simultaneously providing access to technology to the surrounding communities.

Integrating information communication technologies (ICTs) into the fabric of our daily life is not an option. It is a necessity if Antigua and Barbuda is to rise to First World standards and status.

With the advent of the Digital Era, Antigua and Barbuda must continue to develop as a knowledge-based society, in which knowledge represents an important national value.

The world is driven by revolutionary changes in information and communication technologies.

Recognizing the potential of learning and knowledge as an enabler of economic development, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda recognises that ICTs are rapidly transforming the way in which our country operates as part of the global community. This is just one good reason why the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications continues its massive roll out of computers in several key areas of Government's operations.

By mid 2007, 1000 new computers would have been deployed in all areas of Central Government. This would double the number of units that are in use in the operations of Central Government. This is already having a profound impact on the way the Government operates.

Indeed, this Government is strongly cognisant of the fact that building a new economy is based on a greater degree of information, knowledge handling and exchange than ever before.

To give full and meaningful effect to the building of this new economy, the Government will commission before year end a brand new state of the art data centre to be housed in the new Parliament building. In this regard, our commitment to move towards full e-Government is already boldly manifesting itself.

As the Government continues to promote a set of policies designed to upgrade the intellectual capital of the Nation, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications has begun the process of ensuring the integration and adaptation of state of the art information and communication technologies in all spheres of our daily life.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda recognises fully the social and economic opportunities that Information Communication Technologies can provide to the citizens. Indeed, part of the building of our national technological capability is the promotion of Antigua and Barbuda as a Regional Centre of Information Communication Technology Excellence.

ICT means different things to different people and by extension the Government. We have e-Government and e-Governance, and there is also Internet Governance, all associated with ICT. This leads to different perspectives on agenda setting and priorities.

Some people would view ICT from what is called a techno-centric perspective. For them, ICT is about networks, wireless and landline communications. ICT for me and for a lot of people is about the Community, the ordinary consumer. It's about people, not technology and machines. We need, of course, to understand the technology but in the context of its application to national and individual priorities: These priorities include:

1. enhanced education opportunities;
2. making citizens more marketable when seeking employment;
3. developing teacher software tools so that more teachers can use technology to reduce the time they spend on mundane chores and increase their time for teaching.
4. the rapid advance towards full e-Government.

The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications is committed to ensuring that the necessary steps are taken to make Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) accessible and affordable to residents of Antigua and Barbuda. Examine, for instance, the explosion that is taking place in the affordability and availability of wireless technologies in Antigua. A cell phone is no longer a luxury. Practically everyone who wishes to own a cell phone can now own a cell phone! Under this Government, technology has become more accessible and significantly more affordable.

I say standby for the rapid expansion in ICTs with the impending full liberalisation of the telecommunications market and the landing of new submarine fibre optic cables into Antigua. Antigua and Barbuda will never be the same.

ICTFEST 2006 will be held at the Multipurpose Exhibition and Cultural Centre at Perry Bay on September 20 and 21. This ICT explosion, with a theme of "ICT Solutions for Antigua and Barbuda's Development", will have a number of objectives including:

1. showing ICT solutions in as many sectors as possible as a means of facilitating national development;
2. finding novel ways of getting ICTs to have an impact on and reaching ordinary citizens;
3. providing information for business entrepreneurs on how to increase business productivity;
4. providing an exciting and stimulating interactive environment to those who are yet to be introduced to ICT tools.

The ICTFEST will have three distinct but very important components:

• an interactive exhibition featuring dozens of leading telecommunications and technology providers including software developers;
• interactive seminars throughout the two day event on technology issues that are highly relevant to Antigua and Barbuda;
• technology competitions targeting different age groups to include web search competitions and computer assembly races.

Two ICT Interactive Fora will precede the ICTFEST. The first will be held on Wednesday, August 30 and the other on Wednesday, September 06, 2006. Both of these will be held at the Jolly Beach Resort. These interactive sessions will provide a platform for all those involved in the development of the ICT sector, both Government and Private Sector, to discuss issues that impact the development of the sector.

The challenge now is to familiarise Antiguans and Barbudans with the technology so that we can all understand that we can practically solve a lot of problems and explore several avenues which were previously inaccessible. Technology has the potential to raise the standard of conducting business, making it easier to promote, sell and obtain goods and services with greater efficiency.

Technology also affords Antigua and Barbuda an opportunity to improve the quality of our national life especially as it relates to the delivery of education, telemedicine, as well as opportunities for employment and investment.

Connectivity to the information super highway, especially broadband connectivity, is therefore important to developing Antiguans and Barbudans as competitive citizens.

ICTFEST 2006 is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications to reflect the absolute necessity for mass connectivity, computer literacy and training in the use of ICT applications and solutions.

More information on ICTFEST 2006 can be accessed at the website www.ictfest.ag.

See you at the Multipurpose Exhibition and Cultural Centre on Wednesday, September 20 and Thursday, September 21, for ICTFEST 2006.

Thank you.