Annual ICT festival and exposition announced

ST GEORGE’S, May 18, 2011 (GIS) – The Grenada Government, which has positioned information and communication technology (ICT) as one of the pillars for further developing the economy, plans on hosting a national ICT festival annually.

Senator Arley Gill, Minister with responsibility for Information and ICT, made the announcement in St. George’s Wednesday at TEXPO, a four-day technology exhibition.

“We believe this festival of ICT must be an annual event. This is TEXPO 1. Next year will be TEXPO 2,’’ Sen. Gill said in remarks at the Grenada Trade Centre.

For two days, the Trade Centre in Morne Rouge had been a hub of activities that included exhibition of information and communication technology; interactive displays; and lectures for children and adults on the use of ICT such as the internet.

An ICT roadshow, which forms part of TEXPO, will be visiting St. John, St. Patrick, St. Andrew and Carriacou on Thursday, May 19.

Sen. Gill, claiming that “ICT awareness is taking root in Grenada,’’ said a “strategic policy position’’ had been taken to stage an “ICT festival and exposition’’ every third week of May annually.

The Minister, who also has responsibility for Culture, expressed government’s determination to deliver “feasible, accessible and affordable’’ ICT services such as providing greater internet penetration in rural areas; and using technology to promote distance learning from T.A. Marryshow Community College in St. George’s to communities in St. Patrick and Carriacou.

The Ministry of Information, ICT and Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office played the lead role in staging TEXPO, which is a project of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). Grenada is the 15^th stop of a CTU regional tour.

Sen. Gill thanked regional and international participants of the Grenada leg of the exhibition and roadshow, saying “we want to place on record our appreciation to them.’’

He added that the success of TEXPO was also due to the support of the local National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and sponsorship from several private sector companies.

“We could not have done this without our sponsors,’’ said Sen. Gill.

However, he urged additional private sector involvement next year from businesses such as banks, National Lotteries Authority, insurance companies and St. George’s University.