ST. GEORGES Grenada, May 17th 2011 - Ladies and Gentlemen, Good evening. This evening, I welcome the ICT road show to Grenada and I give you the assurance that we are COMMITTED TO BUILDING AN INFORMATION based SOCIETY IN OUR COUNTRY.

It is our Government’s Mission to establish a knowledge-based society as the platform on which to foster, accelerate and sustain long-term social, cultural and economic development.

It was Dr. Ho ra ti u of Bucharest University of Economics who said:
And I quote,

“The Information Society, as both a blueprint and evolving reality, confronts its stakeholders with the endeavour of a higher-order of sustainability, on a national, regional and international scale;  this involves turning actual life cycles into virtual circles,   ….in established or emerging  knowledge based economies .“ End of quotation.

This statement captures the essence of today’s world, a world that has changed significantly and quickly from generation to generation. 

Information Communication Technology is the single most significant, life changing development, in the last two decades.  It has brought irrevocable changes that touch every country, every society and every individual. Some countries are leading the march in this rapidly evolving trend in ICT; while still others are striving to ‘catch-up’. We are building relationships with the leaders to help us intensify our efforts to be at the front of the pack in our region.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Information and Communications Technology continues to play a pivotal role in the transformation of the very core of human existence. 

ICT has single-handedly reduced the limitations of space and time. 
ICT has removed the restrictions of geographical boundaries and has moved us closer to the realities of a virtual, global village. ICT has altered both the concept of, and our approach to, employment.

Many people are now able to work from the new ‘Small Office or Home Office’ (SOHO) a concept now known as e-work. This reduces the need for businesses to undertake expenditure associated with large housing for employees. It also reduces expenditure associated with travel and transportation. ICT is now leveling the playing field and increasing the benefits for our people, whether in the rural or urban areas. This is why my administration has been pursuing the goal of getting almost every Grenadian more aware and more integrally involved in Information Communication Technology.

In this region we are utilizing the benefits of ICT to deepen our integration process while reducing on the cost of operations. Recently, OECS heads agreed to the establishment of various organs of governance, utilizing ICT as the main vehicle for communication among our islands. This is precisely why we are partnering with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in bringing the Caribbean Roadshow to you – the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

This ICT Road show has as its theme: “HARNESSING THE POWER OF INNOVATION – THE ENGINE FOR ICT-ENABLED DEVELOPMENT”.  The goal is to inform and educate our population on how technology, particularly Information and Communication Technology, has impacted, is impacting and will continue to impact our lives. In today’s world, it is unimaginable to think of human existence without ICT.

The Grenada leg of the ICT Road show encompasses a cross section of our society – business operators, fishermen, farmers and innovators; among others. My administration has identified ICT as one of the sectors with the greatest potential to contribute to the economic transformation of Grenada.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we feel so strongly about our commitment to this ideal that it was a highlight of our 2011 Budget Statement, immediately after having created a dedicated Ministry of ICT and Information in 2010. The creation of a Ministry of ICT in 2010 was designed to give impetus to an effective Strategy and Action Plan for Grenada.  We remain resolute in our determination that Grenada must be distinguished as a regional leader in the further development of ICT. 

We want to ensure that the unimplemented aspects of the national ICT plan for Grenada, which were neglected from 2006 to 2008, would be corrected, so that we would be ready to move forward with new initiatives as they come on stream. Our goal is to see Grenadians embrace the use of ICT -- in the towns, the villages, on the farms and on the fishing boats.

 
We are aware of the challenges associated with developing a society in which the creation, distribution, integration and manipulation of information becomes the norm.

It is indeed a significant economic, political, and cultural endeavour. However I assure you that we are well on the way. With determination, planning, encouragement and your engagement, we can achieve our goals and overcome whatever obstacles we may face.

It is well documented that the countries that have made the greatest development strides in Information Communication Technology, have spent massive sums of money on their infrastructure and the development of their human resource.  Prominent examples are India, Singapore and Malaysia.  The scarcity of significant financial resources to fund the development of ICT is restricting our rapid leap forward.  This, ladies and Gentlemen, is one of our greatest challenges.

Another impediment we had to overcome was the absence of a proper ICT policy, in the early days.  As late as six years ago there was no national strategic plan.  Planning was done at the individual level and each Ministry charted its own ICT course. 

Today, through the creation of a Ministry responsible for ICT, we are deliberately working to coordinate the processing and flow of information within the structure of Government.

Natural disasters have also proven to be an unplanned, regressive force to our ICT developmental goals.  Hurricanes of six years ago dealt a blow to our infrastructure; as well as that of our nation’s service providers. 

The education system also suffered major losses as the entire school system in Grenada loss IT material. As a result we were forced to rebuild our ICT stock instead of expanding it. Another major challenge for us in Grenada is the hemorrhaging of IT expertise – the “brain drainage phenomenon”.  Some of our brightest minds, which our government and education system have nurtured and assisted, have left our shores for more lucrative opportunities abroad.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the Government of Grenada continues to forge ahead with several initiatives, aimed at meeting our goal of an information and knowledge-based socio-economic reality.
As far back as 1998, Grenada undertook an initiative to computerize our schools.  We were the first in the OECS to do so and certainly ahead of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, in those days.  This was done to the tune of  EC $7.41M, which involved training of personnel and procurement of equipment.

The ‘Technology for the Blind’ initiative’ was another step taken.  It allowed visually impaired students to sit in a main-stream school with their sighted counterparts to pursue their education.  Brailed keyboards and assisted tools allowed the students to pursue their studies.   One of the success stories of this project is now a teacher, having graduated with 80% passes in CXC. 

So today, as we focus on the value and significance of Information Communication Technology, I wish to re-assert my administration’s commitment to implementing the belief that ‘No child should be left behind’. 

We will continue to enhance our efforts to meet the needs of all of our people, including those who are physically and mentally handicapped or challenged. In partnership with Cable and Wireless, the Government of Grenada instituted the National Web Development Programme, which allowed hundreds of young people to be trained in Web development.

Grenada also implemented the robotic project -- the first of its kind in CARICOM.  This allowed our students in secondary schools to use their creativity and analytical problem solving skills to design and build working robots.  This project received outstanding commendations from both the CDB and the World Bank.

And more recently, in an attempt to advance our goal of having a stronger and more effective information society and knowledge-based economy, we have commissioned and opened an ICT Centre of Excellence and Innovation.
 

This Centre is conceptualized to impart practical knowledge to Grenadians and CARICOM nationals. It will serve as incubator for innovation. The centre will also raise awareness of information and Communication Technology among our citizens, setting the stage for increased penetration of ICT usage in the rural communities throughout Grenada.

But, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have gone even further.  

Grenada is one of four OECS countries implementing the Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project, also known as EGRIP. Many areas of Government operations will see improvement because of the EGRIP.

We are currently laying the legal framework for the electronic delivery of multiple services to our citizens. They will soon be to able file their taxes online, which will be facilitated by a unique ID number that will be assigned to each person.

We will also implement an electronic Health Management Information System, which will comprehensively facilitate improvements in patient-care in Grenada. EGRIP will provide faster and more convenient access to government services on a twenty-four hour basis to Grenadians at home and abroad.  The EGRIP is also envisaged to achieve Public sector efficiency, transparency and accountability. It will therefore reduce the opportunities for fraud and corruption.

The Government of Grenada is pleased to be a part of this initiative.  The potential savings for the Government in implementing the EGRIP with the three other participating islands are appreciative.

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no doubt that the benefits we are experiencing today are products of the liberalization of the telecommunication industry over a decade ago.  The establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), and the NTRC have brought significant benefits to our people through the promotion and maintenance of high quality communications services, as well as fair and competitive prices to consumers. 

All the initiatives which I have mentioned are aimed at building the information society here in Grenada and demystifying this extremely important sector. It impacts every area of activity and will greatly increase our efficiency, in the individual and corporate levels.

Already there are several observable benefits from the sector. The Corporate community has developed several financial services and products utilizing ICT.  Whether it is electronic banking, bill payment or the ability to check the balance on your mobile phone anywhere and anytime, ICT is with us to stay.

Ladies and Gentlemen, whether its agriculture, education or health, ICT will continue to transform the way we live. In closing, ladies and gentlemen, for us in this region, and for Grenada in particular, ICT is one of our brightest hopes for the employment of our people.

There are clear possibilities for job creation and ICT. Our partner for our ICT Centre for Excellence and Innovation, India, has demonstrated the capabilities of ICT on that country’s economy.

Today millions of young people in India, stay at home, while working for major companies in Europe and North America. The same is happening in Pakistan and China.  The same can happen in Grenada.  Online employment opportunities can significantly lower Grenada’s unemployment rate.  It is therefore clear that we MUST harness the technology to our benefit”. We Must create, we must innovate! And we MUST compete!

It is imperative that we reduce the digital divide between the first-world and our developing nations. We must embrace ICT and work diligently to master it. We must expand our ICT labour-force.  I encourage us all to reduce our fear of the future, embrace ICT, and take charge of our destiny.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the future is now.

We must learn from the past, embrace the present and plan for a secure future.

I must thank the hardworking team of professionals and their support staff at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, our corporate sponsors and of course our very own Ministry of ICT, Information and Culture -- who have all partnered to make this road show a reality.

Let us think of ICT as a cricket bat in the hands of Brian Lara!  a Basketball in the hands of Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or a pair of spikes on Kirani James. The fact is that when each of us succeeds, Grenada succeeds. It is therefore with immense pride that I declare TEXPO, the Grenada leg of the Caribbean ICT Roadshow, officially open.
May God bless us all.

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