May 17 A Day For Technology

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Monday, 16 May 2011 00:49

By press release

Antigua St John's - The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Science will celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) on May 17.

Activities are intended to raise the awareness of the opportunities that the Internet and other Information Communication Technologies (ICT) can bring to society, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.

This year, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day highlights the theme, “Better Life in Rural Communities with ICTs”, with the aim to ensure that ICTs will contribute to a better future for rural populations.

In promoting the use of ICTs for social and economic empowerment, the government of Antigua & Barbuda has spearheaded a number of programmes geared at bridging the digital divide by bringing computer technology access and education to schools and communities. Programmes such as the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative and Technology for Communication, Education & Empowerment are ensuring that people and communities have the necessary skills to compete in an information technology driven world.

The ministry has indicated via release that it recognizes that ICT is a key pillar in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and is committed to providing accessibility to Information Communication Technology (ICT) to everyone across the twin-island state.

The ministry will observe World Telecommunication and Information Society Day through a series of activities:

1)  On Tuesday May 17, beginning at 7 am, Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Science Dr Edmond Mansoor will deliver the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) message on ABS Television.

a)  A series of interviews geared at enlightening the public about developments within the country's Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector will be held on ABS television’s Good Morning Antigua Barbuda Programme.

b) At 9:15 am, officials within the Ministry, along with specially invited guests will host a live panel discussion that will focus on a number of ICT-related developments including the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative and ICTFEST.

2) At 5 pm, the government, in partnership with Digicel, will open a Community Computer Access Centre (CAC) at the Clare Hall Secondary School.

ICTs are increasingly in demand to meet the Millennium Development Goals. In the rural context, ICTs provide enhanced opportunities to generate income and combat poverty, hunger, ill health, and illiteracy.

Latest figures indicate that up to 70 per cent of the developing world’s 1.4 billion extremely poor people live in rural areas. They are also among the least connected to the benefits of ICTs. 

As ICTs increasingly dictate lifestyles and behaviour patterns and power the growth of trade and commerce, rural communities must not be allowed to fall behind in their quest for connectivity.

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