Caribbean area representative for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Cleveland Thomas, who is on a familiarization visit to Dominica this week, told reporters on Friday November 15,2013, that Dominica has the potential of being recognized as a major leader using technology in the Caribbean.
During his visit, Thomas had the opportunity to hold discussions with the island’s Telecommunications Minister, Ambrose George, his Permanent Secretary, Davis Letang, as well as other key persons working in the ICT sector.
Thomas praised the Government of Dominica for the level of progress made in creating the enabling environment for the country to realize the full benefits of ICT’s. He spoke specifically about recent legislation adopted by Dominica’s Parliament.
“I understand that as far as legislation is concerned, that there were a few instruments under E-legislation. You have now certain e-signature, electronic funds transfer and electronic transaction act and so forth and I think this is very commendable. Equally, we understand that the ASYCUDA World system implemented at the Customs Department is working very well, and your electronic passports, is commendable,” he remarked.
Thomas is suggesting that Dominica share its ICT accomplishments with other regional counterparts.
“The difficulty or challenge is that the world does not know what is going on in Dominica as far as ICT development is concerned and I am really encouraging the Minister and his team to tell their story,” he noted. “As a matter of fact, based on some applications that we are hearing about already in progress in Dominica, it would be useful to share those applications within the Caribbean region because its one Caribbean.”
Thomas expounded on the point by saying “In Dominica for example, the mobile application, even the certified land application system that you have is remarkable. I don’t know that these applications are available throughout the Caribbean and it would be an ideal opportunity to share it with other countries in the region.”
He noted that the ITU could be a conduit to facilitate that.
Thomas said based on discussions with the Minister, his organization will seek to assist the Government of Dominica with its plans at creating increased employment opportunities in the area of ICT.
“Some of the discussions we have had centered on ICT for probably the Youth Programme. There is need for more community centers and access to the community centers, by different players in society, so we have agreed to partner in this area,” Thomas said.
He added that discussions also centered on improving the efficiency of the use of ICT’S within Government offices and institutions by formulating a single Ministry, to deal with ICT related activities, as a means of cutting cost within the Government structure.
“The general trend and practice in the world now is for a single Ministry or entity that would handle ICT related activities, rather than it being spread in a number of ministries.”
He explained that “We have seen the problems, if not the disadvantages in that approach of having separate ministries handling ICT related activities. In some countries, you find that one Ministry is negotiating with a particular provider for the purchase of computers. Another ministry is having negotiation and purchasing computers from that same provider, yet they don’t know nor do they benefit from the economies of scale if there was a centralized ministry or entity handling that. So having a single Ministry dealing with some of that, I think would be very useful and a step in the right direction.”
In concluding, Thomas described his meetings in Dominica “as fruitful and very constructive,” and pledged to strengthen the relations between Dominica and the ITU.
Please……praise for what……for the High price of internet, for lack of advancing technologies(3G, 4G, Wimax), for lack of implementation of tablets and programs oriented to further develop the youth, no advancements in electronics, no courses, not one course in A+, Network+ or Website Design……
SO what is this praise about……These guys really think They’re slick, please come again with that crap
These ICT initiatives mention will improve the efficient for the GOVT workers and that is the good.
But the bigger issue of developing the ICT environment to facilitate new jobs to support the global technological sector as a form of reducing unemployed in Dominica is not address.
SMH!!!!
“Dominica has the “potential” of being recognized as a “major leader” using technology in the Caribbean.” We know that, but are we following through? Did we need someone to tell that to us, NO. After hurricane David the then Government was told Dominica was RICH with oil/kerosene if only they would allow American Engineers to dig, they said NO. We need the resources to make improvement. Without resources and strategy we will NEVER create the JOBS to MOVE FORWARD.
Is this guy serious more jobd are lost in this sector ie Lime Dominica
I don’t know how much you were paid to talk all this BS, but this crap wont work. Skeritt can fool some people but not all
what was your point again?
excuse me what technology?….dominica is leader of using what technology? is dominica leader of e-laws?
pure nonsense they are speaking with this cable and wireless (LIME) internet we have here; in Grenada the company FLOW overs 100mbps far cheaper than what LIME offers. LIME does not even offer 100mbps the fastest they offer is 8mbps PURE SCAM.
I am very pleased that my supervisor and colleague had a fruitful visit to Dominica.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to ensure that we got a thumbs up from your boss
Syl, small world. Let’s hope that this ‘endorsement’ could translate into potential ICT development for the country.
I hope you are now able to command more of an influence that would benefit Dominica – ie, helping command Dominica’s leading presence in this arena.
Take care my friend…
so 1 question where are all the jobs this functional ict suppose to create? only if it is not functional…. right ambrose and co.
As a Dominican living in the UK I am very pleased to hear this and further add my own observations to this. There is often so much negativity and frankly stupidity written on these pages that the good that actually goes on in Dominica are usually unnoticed. I have friends from Ghana which though small is much bigger than Dominica, and having visited DA, they us much ahead of them in many aspects.
When people write to complain and offer the penny’s worth of criticism and negativity, it would be so worthwhile if they could always take into consideration our relative size. From the geothermal work that is going on, to the various road improvements, to the Presidential palace. These are things that some and many much bigger countries can’t do.
Our income or GDP is not great, our import is twice that of our export yet we are developing. You only need to leave out of DA and return every two-three years to understand this. Yet by-and=large it’s the people’s constant negativity to everything that holds DA back.
Too much of our good work and good news goes unnoticed, such as the one above. Lets praise the good works.
Your naivety astounds me! Do you realize how negative your comment is? You are bashing other commentators’ right to freel;y express themselves, whether you like it or not.
Please say it again ! While I agree that we have
a long way to go But we making progress. Sometimes I say we Dominicans are our own enemies. We all love the country but the bashing
is awful,
but what exactly you are proud of? look in the uk there is one company called Vodafone and it has subsidiary called C&W aka Lime..see those fellas made almighty monopoly which has the following consequences:
– decent access to high-speed internet (more than 6 mbit/sec) will cost you thousands per month
– order to put additional line will take 1.5-2 weeks
– no governmental agencies have normal access to inquiry to their databases etc
– locate servers in dominica is risky and expensive business: custom duty to bring equipment in Dominica are terrible
So while you sitting in the UK and posting your utterly naive comments, take a time and try to understand how things really works here…not judge from some international bureaucracy report
PS DNO will you post my comment?
You could not have said it better.
Dear SD,
I share your alarm that there seems to be a cadre of persons whose only intenet is to malingn and bring down the government by using avenues such as this. Of course everyone has a right to express thier views, but any one ccan see that your views are biased, and in most cases harmful to the greater good of Dominica.
When the opposition, or should I say the minority, realize that their role is supposed to be one of support to the government to enusre that development happen in the country, even though they did not win the popular vote, instead of trying to instigate civil disobediance.
As one who is studying Computing and IT at university, it’s really good news that the ITU could give the government’s efforts a thumbs up, much to the consternation of the weaker voices. Actions speak louder than words, and so I say that the elctorate who continue to support the minority are wasting their ballots.
The Labour party is the only party that has an ethos that includes the development of the whole country.
Remember, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
If you are serious about developing our beloved island you need to remove the blinkers and join/vote the majority party, where real power lies, and not on commnenting on a few media outlets
how do you judge that other people views are biased and your judgements aren’t biased? Probably you curriculum of IT study doesn’t include a bit of politology (political science) which can make you familiar with cornerstones of democracy which pluralism: ability to accept different points of view…only society where voices of minority is heart can be successful… so instead of quoting JFK out of context..switch on you brains and look realistically on following factors:
– IT sector is a monopoly of one company
– e-registry work is non-existent
– how many CCNA qualified specialist are in Dominica
– no opportunity for higher speed internet without direct connection to the fiber
So who is commenting on a few media outlets?
This great news and I must say this is the right way forward,now am on a campaign to ask the PM I will give u credit for the vision u had to go to China now don’t stop there we have great relation with Cuba lets use it wisely please lets get them training our youths to play baseball some will not want to hear it for now but just like China now they will see it.Look at all the DR guys that are playing in the States see all the monies that are being sent back to their land,u have Cubans risking their lives just to go play in the US the biggest name in baseball rite now is Yasiel Puig we are so close to the US and yet so far u have Japanese that’s hundreds of miles away playing the sport lets get it going we see how the big islands treat us when it come to cricket so like every thing else lets diversify,I hope Dominicans see where am coming from and put this out there too PS we don’t have to go to Jared to get the Diamond field.
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This is great news for DA and also a Great comment..I’ve always said if i had to re-live my youth i would’ve learn to play baseball…the money in baseball is ridiculous..injuries is limited..and the physical play is limited..plus we have some of the basic fundamentals of the game already because it is basically rounders played with a bat a hardball a helmet a gloves and at a faster pace…but then again we can’t even resurrect the sports were known for on island like basketball, cricket, football n netball because we’ve destroyed all the playing grounds we had with no proper replacements and white elephants..how can u destroy the basketball n netball courts at Windsor park and not have replacement plans after all these years. sports in Dominica is at it’s lowest era much less for taking on a new sport..but still it’s the right way to go..learn to play baseball DA that’s where the money lies and china would happily build baseball fields for us i guess.