BRADES Montserrat, October 31st 2011 – Two officials from the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) are on island this week to begin preliminary work on Montserrat’s National ICT Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan. The CTU has been contracted through the Ministry of Communications, Works & Labour to develop the island’s first comprehensive strategy on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Over the next three months Nigel Cassimire, a telecommunications specialist and Rodney Taylor, Business Development and Operations Manager with the CTU will be meeting with local stakeholders in the public and private sector to look at Montserrat’s needs as it relates to developing an ICT-focused culture. The core objectives are to (1) conduct an environmental review in relation to ICTs and (2) to assess the e-readiness and develop needs of the information infrastructure and the local human resources.

The duo will be joined later on this week by Secretary General of the CTU Ms. Bernadette Lewis, who will pay a courtesy call on Premier Hon. Reuben T. Meade who has been championing the cause for Montserrat to lead the region in its use of ICTs across all sectors.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Works & Labour, Philip Chambers said during Monday’s first meeting with the local ICT Steering Committee and the CTU consultants that he was happy to be working with the CTU to produce the plan and looking forward to the finalisation of it which will contribute to Montserrat’s development efforts.

The CTU team will be meeting with officials from Human Resources Management Unit (HRMU), the Department for Information Technology and eGovernment Services (DITES), the Chamber of Commerce, Montserrat Information & Communications Authority (MICA), telecoms and internet service providers, and local companies that supply ICT equipment and IT services.

Over the coming months, public consultations and other information gathering sessions will be held to inform the strategy. The CTU is to also develop a plan for implementing the recommendations made.

The government has already developed an eGovernment strategy to deal with its internal processes. This new plan to be developed will look at how all areas of the island can advance the five national strategic goals of economic management, human development, environmental management and disaster mitigation, governance and population growth.
 

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