Plans for the improvement of the ICT Centre can now move along with the half-million-dollar input from the Taiwanese government.
“On behalf of my government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I would like to make a donation of $500,000 to the Ministry of Information and Technology in support of your ICT project…. After the renovation is completed, all necessary computer equipment, including hardware and software will be installed and tested,” Resident Ambassador of the ROC John Liu said at yesterday’s handing-over ceremony.
Ambassador Liu explained that the donation was in response to the government’s call for economic transformation from a sugar-based economy to services-oriented economy.
The ROC has also agreed to provide technical assistance towards the project.
Minister of Information Technology Nigel Carty underscored the importance of information technology to St. Kitts/Nevis as it competes in the global marketplace.
According to the minister, the donation, which has been converted from a soft loan, will go towards the refurbishment of the building on the industrial estate that will house the ICT Centre. It will also house a training unit to be used mainly for the training of people in the private sector and the general public.
“I want to say how appreciative we are as a government and people to be the recipient of this enormous donation of $500,000…We can only expect through that their kind assistance and other partners that St. Kitts/Nevis will continue to develop and become a modern economy in the not-too-distant future.”
Minister of Education Sam Condor was also present at the ceremony. “ICT is essential. It ... is now an educational tool. ...We are talking about a service-based economy…and it is important that we establish this ICT Centre on the industrial site where the majority of our low-income workers are employed. It gives them easy access, equal access to an important instrument for their personal and national development,” he said, while expressing congratulations and appreciation to the ROC.
Among those witnessing the ceremony were Minister of Health Rupert Herbert and Minister of Agriculture Cedric Liburd.
The ICT Centre, which is scheduled to be officially opened in August, will serve two purposes – to conduct e-government projects to improve efficient operations of government departments and to provide training to achieve a computer literate society.
Yesterday, Minister Carty and Ambassador Liu affixed their signatures to a memorandum of understanding which, according to Carty, signals the high level of commitment which both governments intend to pursue.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Corliss Smithen
Quelle/Source: Sun St.Kitts/Nevis, 20.06.2007
