New Telecoms Director, Bennet Thomas, wants to bring about a greater consciousness of the general public to the world of ICT’s in order to realize maximum benefits within the telecoms sector.
Thomas, who replaced Sylvester Cadette as the island’s new Telecoms Director on June 1st, 2013, comes to the position with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Telecommunications and ICT sector having worked with a number of telecommunication companies such as Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting(now Marpin 2K4), Digicel and LIME Dominica.
In an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) on Monday, Thomas said his plan is to bring all stakeholders including members of the public and private sector together to work at creating an e-conscious society.
“What we are trying to do is to bring a consciousness and an awareness of the entire populace, not just Government but every citizen, the private sector, all stakeholders out there,” he said. “We want to have a vision where we can train our people, develop the young people and entrepreneurs so Dominica becomes part of that digital divide in order to begin to maximize the benefits from the sector.”
Thomas is of the view that Dominica has not been able to benefit from the sector in the manner which it should, since its liberalization a few years ago.
“My vision is to get Dominicans involved in that process, to create jobs, to create a learning environment and a smart community. We have a number of young people out there who are qualified and trained but they are not being utilized and being made maximum use of,” Thomas lamented.
He explained that under his work programme, his goal is to have at least one person in every household e-conscious. He said his department will begin this process with a major sensitization drive.
“We are going to mobilize the masses, we are going to inform and have consultation with the private sector, we want to have a collaborative relationship with the private sector and other stakeholders and allow them to understand how we can begin to take maximum advantage of ICT,” Thomas stressed.
An E-health program to link all health information systems island wide is another initiative Thomas hopes can materialize.
“We want to have an e-health program, we want to look at Tele-medicine, and we want to look at digitization of the hospital records, to link the Princess Margaret Hospital with every health centre in Dominica and by extension a major hospital in the United States,” he said.
Thomas said further that an E-education program to facilitate virtual classrooms is another initiative being proposed.
“We want to be able to have a virtual classroom where you have students in the classroom have access to the internet and broadband service, and be able to have a class being taught with an automatic link to the internet,” he added.
Thomas concluded that “Telecommunications and ICT is very important to the socio economic development of any country and Dominica is no exception”.
The plan can be a sound plan if properly planed and motivate. I have work on such a project and I hope that funding is available to start and finish such a project to a point where it can benefit our country.
DA…. you’re right yes he was the one of the pioneers for interconnection in the region, i remember him as the Digicel ops manger in St Lucia
exellent choice, finally someone with a weath of Knowlegde and experience and a telecoms pioneer in the region.
great choice, comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience and will make a huge contribution to that sector
As much as I understand your intentions I hope that you can do something about the electricity rates! All things ICT run on electricity and we d/cans cannot afford it!
Congratulations. Interesting plans for the Internet and Computer Technology sector, but what about Telecommunications, isn’t that your real job, Telecoms Director? Now I understand that there is some overlap but in all your plans as described nothing about telecommunications!
Secondly, “… so Dominica becomes part of that digital divide”. Are you sure you want Dominica to become part of the digital divide? I would prefer if you helped bridge the divide for us.
welcome back my friend. wish you all the success and all that you need to do the job at hand. with God all things are possible.
I’m assuming that he’s not only going to place a computer in EVERY house in Dominica but also make sure that each house has a broadband connection too.
What a massive undertaking!!
This is good news for Dominica. I hope all involves co-operate to help bring Dominica into the 21st century.
oh…
What are his qualifications? In what capacity did he serve at these telecommunications sectors?? He could have been the janitor or a junior clerk. What is his experience? What significant contribution has be made in the sector?? This is empty and the story reads very fishy like he is another square peg in a wrong hole. Why do we keep doing that to Dominica? A bunch of derelicts in key positions?? How can you talk about e-health, e-education when you do not have an audit, strategic plan or even an action plan to guide you?? What are the lessons learnt from the existing e projects being implemented right now?? How are you going to piggy back on those? Alas. Dominica dead.
I disagree with you. That is what he would like to see. Now he has to develop the plan. That are his goals. Now if they are attainable with the current infrastructure he has to see. He just started. DAMN. I hate square pegs in round holes also but give the man a chance. Not all Academic brilliant people have foresight. i will join you in calling him out after he has proven to be the wrong person for the job.
You can disagree but that does not mean that your point is a valid one. This is a very high profile position with a lot of available information. One needs to hit the ground running. This is no time for feel good pie in the sky promises. A proactive person who knows what they are doing would have had to articulate to the interview committee their plans for the sector so when they are installed it would be a matter of audit available resources etc and at least ideas of an action plan that is supported by available information. Not promises that make no sense?? How many hospitals around the island are computerized?? Do they have a complete network? Does it support interoperability?? What platform is or will be used?? Is this going to be web based??Have you identified software etc. The strategy has to speak to all this. The man seems clueless and it shows in what he says. I am always suspicious of these people when they do not give a bio to show how they can really contribute. So many highly qualified able bodied young people are out there who can perform in this position but they would not even make it to the interview because they are not politically aligned. Sir I am not even waiting for his to mess up. He will seat in his chair and do nothing. Occasionally you will hear him give an empty feel good speech till the next even a speech writer constructs one for him. What makes the man academically brilliant?? Put his bio out there so we can see !
He worked for Marpin and for Cable and Wireless while in Dominica. But you are right such a story should have indicated those things
Why bash the man before he has even started? I have questions too but such negativity…
DNO, please. We are a bit old fashioned. Can you tell us what ICT stands for???
Cheaper internet rates would be a great incentive!
Congrats Bro.
I know u will do a very good job.
One advise is to stay away from petty partisan politics and in whatever you do, always maintain a very high level of professionalism.
We come back Mr Thomas. I hope that you will use this opportunity to lower the communication rates between providers in the interest of the customers.
Also to encourage government to create WIFI Hot spots in public areas around the city.
Void of Political Influence, I await your professional dispensation
Well you and PM Skerrit share a similar goal. He wants a university graduate in each household and you want one person in each household e-conscious. Did he get you that job?