Road Town, Tortola - The Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Julian Fraser RA hailed the Information and Communications Technology Roadshow a success.
The BVI hosted the eighth stop of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Information and Communication Technology Roadshow from May 16-18 which began with an opening ceremony that infused technology and included special guests and local talent. At the opening ceremony performances were made by the BVI Elite Sky Dancers, Elmore Stoutt Steel Orchestra and cultural dancers from the Enis Adams Primary School.
The Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE announced during the opening ceremony that the BVI will host the first Internet Exchange Point in the English speaking Caribbean.
“The Internet Exchange Point is a physical infrastructure through which local Internet Service Providers will exchange their Internet traffic between their customers domestically, without such traffic leaving the Territory on a cost neutral basis,” the Premier said during his remarks. The Premier also outlined the benefits of the Territory hosting an IXP. “Having an IXP in the BVI will increase resiliency of the Territory’s internet network, ensure better protection of privacy and business secrets, encourage innovative services, including the possibility of cheaper and faster delivery of domestic traffic and it will provide incentives for content providers to bring their content to the Virgin Islands and invest here,” the Premier said.
On day two, the community was exposed to a variety of forums including the featured Banking and Investment forum which explored banking practices and policies which promoted ICT business development. Co-founder of Blackplanet.com and Internet analysis Mr. Omar Wasow presented on the importance of social media to the BVI.
On day three the Youth Extravaganza took place at the Multipurpose Sports Complex under the theme “Protecting Children in Cyberspace”. In keeping with the theme a regionally produced video which depicted the dangers that teens face with putting too much personal information and revealing pictures on the internet was addressed. Following the video, the children displayed what ICT meant to them through song, dance and theatrics.
The Roadshow culminated with a dinner where the Minister for Communications and Works expressed his pleasure with the outcome of the roadshow and he reiterated his overarching message that he wanted the BVI community to take grasp. “The maximization of the use of technology means for a significantly higher level of production, due to greater efficiency, and the result of course being automatic economic growth.”
The ICT Roadshow is a series of country visits across the region, designed to foster a spirit of innovation in the development of Information and Communication Technology-based (ICT) practical solutions, raise awareness and encourage harmonization of efforts in the adoption of ICT solutions for inclusive economic and social development.
British Virgin Islands News