An association which aims to become the representative body for persons working in the field of Information Technology (IT) has been established in Dominica.
The Dominica Association of Information Technology Professionals (DAITP), was registered recently in accordance with the laws of Dominica.
DAITP intends to provide avenues for training, advancement and collaboration for IT professionals, the organization said in a release. It also intends to engage with the government and private sector to develop IT policy and best business practices.
Promoting an understanding of the ICT profession in Dominica is one main objective of the association.
ICT, or Information and Communications Technology is often used as an extended synonym for Information Technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications (the combination of real-time communication with non real-time communication) and the integration of telecommunications, computers as well as necessary software, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.
Other objectives of DAITP include promoting a high standard of education and training for ICT professionals and users of ICT services and sensitize decision makers on the importance of ICT to the economic and social development of Dominica and also to foster high ethical standards, professional workmanship and an attitude of professionalism among members of the ICT field.
Members also plan to engage the public by providing weekly Tech Tips for both home and business computer/IT users.
The association is expected to hold its first general membership meeting on Wednesday 3rd April, 2013 from 5:00 pm at the Public Service Training Center.
Individuals working in the IT field are invited to attend and learn more about the association.
The association is partnering with the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries to assist it in developing further.
Great move but the name could have been a bit more unique though. I’m a part of the AITP here in the U.S. only difference in the name is ‘Dominica’ unless these 2 associations are linked. Are they? I’m just wondering…
It is common practise for organizations common to different countries to have similar acronyms/names with the only difference being the country’s name. They usually have some kind of link or some higher association that governs them on regional/international levels but this is not always the case.
A simple example would be the political parties in the different countries. The ALP and DLP are not necessarily related, though they may have some form of interaction.
Dear DNO
This initiative is welcomed.
However, for Dominica to make serious in roads into the industry, ICT must be introduced to school children as early as possible while their minds are receptive to numeracy, algebra and language.
Is important that the foundation skills of computing be mastered such as binary and scientific notation be appreciated early, and built upon in high school and college to be able grasp concepts in networking, programming, servers, database, security, telephony etc.
I second this suggestion. Hopefully one of the aims of the association will be improving the level of academic interest in IT/Computing.
It would be great, too, If the association could produce a radio program to relate the history of computing. they could use the the time to explain the various smart-phone specifications; invite IT professionals to explain technologies like 4G, broadband, and egovernment. And how software differs from hardware and so on.
A project like this could also feature the ups and downs of IT companies in dominica and existing ITC legislation in Dominica and the caribbean and similar topics.
I welcome the move , however when we are getting trained in “IT” we should also get some training in work ethics and customer relations . I saw some bad work ethics displayed a few months ago at the Roseau credit union, under the name of professionalism. That individual has been getting away with nonsense for to long. It ‘s about time we raise the bar higher.
someone needs to keep a tally of the number of associations we have in d/a better yet someone needs to do a study to determine their roles, responsibilities and also actual social and or economic impact on our development .
And by the way installing windows xp or bootlegging a software doesn’t make you an IT tech.
I hope this move can result in a change in the ICT Unit, which I feel is so lacking to be called this in this country. I can’t see how a group of 4-5 people can call themselves an ICT department and responsible for the Entire Ministry. Furthermore, too many of our IT projects are being outsourced outside. I hope the goal of this IT associated can help the country realize that we have talented IT people in Dominica and every single project like the Customs project, Hospital Project, the Income Tax e-filing system don’t have to be OUTSOURCED.
I guess when the call for tenders are advertised you do not take notice because every single one of these things are advertised (either on the government website, dno, other websites or news papers).
You also have to take into account the fact that some of these projects are funded by agencies like CARICOM, CIDA, CDB and World Bank etc…which have their rules about keeping the competition open. So when locals bid they forget their pricing schemes might be too high. Even other Caribbean small companies winning those bids because we do not research and collaborate (partner) with other businesses.
But great point about the IT Unit. Support that.
I love your comment even though the ICT Unit and the DAITP are two different entities. I hope the DAITP big wigs are actual IT professionals and not a bunch of know-it-alls who regurgitate what they read on the Internet. Why have the blind leading those who can see?
So…who is the professionals in that little club. All I see is decorated people with poor poor work ethics hiding behind a position.
Excellent move. For too long have we been treated as 2nd class employees and not professionals in our fields even if we have all the qualifications in the world. I hope that the association can foster a wider sense of “professionalism” in this country among our IT people and start to differentiate the “Road-side mechanics” from the “IT professionals”.
count me in