Taiwan donates second computer lab
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE nation has once again benefited from its close diplomatic partnership with the Republic of China on Taiwan after an official handing-over ceremony of a state-of-the-art computer facility at the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre, C. A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site.
The presentation of the new facility was made as part of the e-Government Seminar yesterday (Nov. 27) and was a symbol of Taiwan’s continued commitment to Information Technology and human resource development in the Federation.
The first phase of the IT project was officially opened in 2007 and has grown to host Domain Name Servers (DNS), web portals, email and database services and a full development team of programmers.
Director of Information Technology Wesley Wharton opined that through a number of services provided, the ICT Centre has been a “beacon in the training of individuals from all walks of society in St. Kitts”. He informed that through 47 training programmes held between January and November of this year, a total of 1038 individuals including civil servants and industrial workers had become competent in basic computer skills. 
Wharton noted that the ICT Centre has become a very important facility in the Ministry’s thrust in Information Technology and added that the e-government introduction should greatly assist in the general education of the population. He indicated that with the new lab, the staff would be able to extend the training sessions to include training toward the certification levels and stressed the importance of such training in enhancing the human resource on the island.
Resident Ambassador Rong Chuan Wu worded his pleasure on behalf of his government for being able to undertake the second phase of the IT project by providing the lab and computer learning centre.
“When I first came, I made a courtesy call to the Ministry of Technology and Minister Carty noted that there was a need for more money and equipment to support the plans that the government had for Information Technology in the Federation. And, after a lot of discussion with my government, I promise that next year we would have our government allocate a specific amount to such and similar projects.
“We know computer equipment is extremely important and now that the ICT Centre has seen the second phase, it should play a more critical role in educating the people of St. Kitts-Nevis as technology is the key that leads a country to success.”
Ambassador Wu stated that his government is committed to cooperating with its counterparts to ensure the success of the ICT programmes, and thanked the Taiwanese volunteers as well as the local staff for their outstanding training offered at the Centre.
Preceding a site tour, Ambassador Wu, joined by Ambassador Chen Lien Gene, Secretary General of Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) and Director Wharton cut the symbolic Taiwanese ribbon and opened the doorway to many IT opportunities.
