Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 05, 2005): The European Union (E.U.) funded, I.T.- Based Training and Management Project of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is expected to result in positive economic benefits based on the delivery of widespread technological training.
According to Mr Wesley Wharton, Acting Director of the Technology Department of the Ministry of Finance, the 3 million Euro project deliverables include the construction of a number of computer labs; an new electronics lab at the CFB College; the establishment of a national IT resource centre; and a modernised engineer workshop.
The establishment of a distance learning facility; a management and maintenance facility and the implementation of ten scholarships are also planned.
The launch of the project on July 19th will take the format of an open community session at the Basseterre High School. Mr Wharton expects a number of the project stakeholders including students, persons
interested in advancing technologically, private sector representatives and social partners to attend.
The Acting Director said he expects a number of locally based companies to participate in the launch to highlight the impact of technology on the advancement of their firms. The primary stakeholders include key representatives from the tertiary and adult education system and champions from other economic and social sectors who appreciate the need to re-train the workforce.
He also revealed plans to launch community based groups which will ensure wide access to computer technology upon the implementation of the community based computer labs which would come on stream shortly.
Ministries actively involved in the project are the Ministry of Education which has spearheaded the project as well as the Planning Unit which conceptualised the programme.
