Thursday, May 15, 2008 is being celebrated as Word Telecommunication and Information Society Day under the theme: “Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities”.

The observance of this day in Antigua and Barbuda is part of the Government’s commitment to supporting the special requirements of persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, as part of the national e-strategy, is committed to building ICT capacity for all, including people with disabilities.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda subscribes to the Doha Plan of Action and through the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative is promoting equitable and affordable access to ICTs.

The Ministry is ensuring that the benefits of ICTs are evenly distributed within our society as well as bridging the digital divide by creating digital opportunities for all by harnessing the full potential for development offered by state-of-the-art ICTs.

The key to the information society is universal access. Everyone must have equal opportunity to participate in the digital age. And no one should be denied the potential benefits of new technologies.

In this regard, as the International Community observes World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, the Government is more committed than ever to ensuring the implementation of all the components of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative.

This ambitious and multi-faceted initiative has already seen four of its components put into operation as part of the Government’s commitment to making substantial investments in equipping our citizens with the skills necessary for them to successfully meet the challenges of this century:

Component One: Community Computer Access Centers:

Several centers with access to modern computers as well as broadband technology have been opened. These are located in:

• Barbuda
• Primary Schools: Greenbay, Five Islands, Villa, Jennings, Liberta, Potters, Sea View Farm

(Cobbs Cross Primary School facility to be opened within a few weeks; Green Bay Primary School Community Computer Access Center to undergo expansion); John Hughes, Freeemansville, Old Road and Swetes Primary Schools are all on the planning table

• National Technical Training Center
• Empowerment Centers: Lower Ottos, Gunthorpes, All Saints, Urlings (Yorks Community Computer Access Centre to be opened shortly)

Component Two: Mobile Information Technology (IT) Classrooms:

Three mobile units are fully functional and currently serve every single Government run primary school as well as community, faith-based and non-Governmental organizations.

By mid-June this year, the final two mobile IT classrooms will be commissioned. These two buses were purchased from Harney Motors with assistance from the Governments of Morocco and Libya.

The fleet of five (5) buses, a key component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative, will enable the Government to provide broadband technology to practically all public and private primary schools.

In this regard, the Minaoh Magnet Academy in Radio Range, the Sunny Side Tutorial School, the St. Michael’s School and the Christian Faith Academy have all been identified as facilities where mobile IT Classrooms will be deployed initially.

It is envisaged that a total of twenty (20) private primary school facilities will be serviced weekly in this phase.

Component Three: Community Technology Officers

Nine (9) Community Technology Officers and four (4) full time bus drivers have already been hired and are doing an excellent job.

It is the intention of the Ministry to hire up to thirty (30) Community Technology Officers and six (6) drivers to ensure that the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative is operated to its maximum capacity.

Component Four: e-Learning Advantage

On-line courses are being made available in a number of subject areas. This component of the programme has had several challenges, including a cut in resources in the 2008 budgetary allocations.

Currently, the Villa Community Computer Access Centre offers courses in electronic learning.

Component Five: Education Max Advantage

This program is intended to introduce ICT-based learning into the primary school curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 7. This ICT-driven program enforces:

• Literacy and numeracy
• Computer literacy
• Health awareness.

This component too has had challenges. However, the new scheduled commencement date is at the start of the new school year in September, 2008.

Component Six: Technology for the Physically and Visually Challenged

I am very pleased that today, as we prepare to observe World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, that this component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative is gaining momentum.

The Government recognizes the special requirements of persons with disabilities. They will not be left behind in the ICT revolution currently underway in Antigua and Barbuda.

In this regard, the following facilities will immediately begin to receive advanced technologies under the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative:

• School for the Blind (equipment that will be provided will include large print keyboards, zoom text magnifiers and readers, embossers and specialized software)
• Adele School
• School for the Hearing Impaired

The deployment of technology in these and similar facilities commences today. In addition, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications will provide assistance in the deployment of ICTs for the use of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities.

This will not be a one “off” exercise. Resources, financial and material, will be allocated on an on-going basis to ensure the sustainability of this component. I have already had discussions with friendly Governments and organizations to provide long term support for this important initiative.

Over $150,000 EC has been earmarked for this component in 2008.

Component Seven: Multi-Lingual Studies Programme

Part of the UPP Government’s Manifesto commitment to building an Intelligent Nation (UPP Manifesto, “Agenda for Change”, page 16), was the promotion of multilingualism as a goal for the entire nation. The manifesto committed: “language instruction will be made available in well-equipped language laboratories to all interested persons”.

I am pleased to announce today that yet another component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative is commencing: “Multi-Lingual Studies Programme”.

In the first instance, French, German and Spanish will be taught, using both computerized technology as well as didactic classroom sessions.

In this pilot phase, German will be taught at the National Technical Training Center (NTCC) on Nugent Avenue while Spanish will be taught at a number of the Community Computer Access Centers, including Potters, Villa, Lower Ottos, All Saints and Jennings. This program will commence in the coming weeks and details on the registration process, venues and times will be made available shortly via both the print and electronic media.

In this regard, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Teobaldo Noso, who speaks five different languages fluently (English, Spanish, French, German and Italian) as the Multi-Lingual Studies Programme Coordinator.

I have been holding on-going discussions with representatives of the Cuban Embassy here with respect to operational support for this component of the programme. Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister, who is currently in Havana on a state visit, will be holding discussions with his Cuban counterpart in respect of this.

Let me also take this opportunity to announce and welcome the Acting Community Technology Programme Director, who is the operational head of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative. Ms. Beverly Laviscount.

Ms. Laviscount, who holds a Master's Degree in Business Studies and Information Technology, is currently the Operations and Planning Manager at the Information Technology Center. She assumes the position as Acting Director of the Community Technology Programme along with her substantive duties at the IT Center.

This afternoon, Ms. Laviscount travels to Guyana to attend the second CARICOM ICT Steering Committee meetings.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this Ministry's thrust towards placing Antigua and Barbuda as the ICT Capital of the Caribbean has also been earmarked with representation at important international fora.

As we speak, Terry Ephraim, the Ministry's e-Commerce Development Supervisor, is in Singapore attending a Singapore-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme on “Developing e-Government and e-Business Strategies. The Government continues to make additive steps towards developing several e-Government and e-Business initiatives.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Antigua and Barbuda has rightly positioned itself to take full advantage of the ICT explosion.

As we speak, Ms. Tracelyn Cornelius, ABS' Head of News and Current Affairs, is in China under a programme sponsored by the Government of China that will enable her to look at new trends and new technologies in media.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, Thursday, May 15, 2008, represents another historic day in the national life of Antigua and Barbuda.

This Government continues to upgrade the intellectual capital of the Nation and continues to build an open, pluralistic society – one in which all citizens and residents have access to knowledge.

Thank you.

St. John's, Antigua
May 13, 2008