Roadtown, Tortola - Hundreds including dignitaries and school children converged on the grounds of the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park yesterday to participate in the first annual Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
This year’s theme is “protecting children in cyberspace”. The day was commemorated with an opening ceremony that featured an appearance by the Advent Heart Beatz, an invocation by Pastor Calvin Mills, a message by Bishop John Cline, an entertainment segment by the SCB steppers and remarks by Deputy Chairman of the TRC, Mrs. Sonia O’Neal and Minister of Communications and Works Hon. Julian Fraser RA.
In his remarks Minister Fraser provided words of caution to children and teenagers of the dangers of meeting and sharing private information with people on the internet. The minister further went on to tell parents that they must be the first line of defence in protecting children from the dangers of cyberspace. The minister gave a few steps to assist parents in protecting their children. “Raise the topic of cyber bullying with your children; set cyber safe rules and remind your children that they really never know who is on the other end of cyber communication,” the Minister said.
Honourable Fraser also went on to impart sage advice directly to children and teens. “Do not do or say anything on the internet that you would not say in person and do not release any information that you would not tell a stranger.
The Minister closed by expressing the important role of the authorities. “Predators must not only know that it is illegal to exploit children but that they will be prosecuted vigorously and if convicted, the penalty would be prohibitive” he concluded.
Bishop John Cline, owner of Infinite Solutions also gave remarks at the opening ceremony. “The theme chosen for this year’s event, I think is of particular important theme and should be to parents and stakeholders in the British Virgin Islands. There is no doubt that the BVI community has changed quite a bit from the time we as parents were growing up. The challenges are different and the influences are different and a lot of the pressures are different for our children today,” stated Cline. He cautioned parents not to become ignorant, or computer illiterate or stop themselves from learning how to be more versed in computer operations.
Deputy Chairman of the TRC, Mrs. Sonia O’Neal in her message spoke directly to the children and encouraged them to make wise decisions regarding internet use. “You are the future of the Territory so our main investments must be in your hearts and minds,” she said. Mrs. O’Neal closed by reinforcing the fact that the TRC will make the necessary policies and asked the children to join them knowing that they are making the policies in the best interest of them.
After the opening ceremony participants were able to tour the grounds where the telecommunications carriers of Digicel, LIME, CCT Global Communications, and BVI Cable TV all had booths with the purpose of educating and informing the public about the very important topic of protecting children in cyberspace and how parents can minimize their children’s risks.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) in conjunction with CCT Global Communications, Lime, Digicel and BVI Cable TV worked together to make the event possible. The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other information and communication technologies can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually since 1969.
British Virgin Islands News