Untitled - Antigua and Barbuda

The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications,
Science and Technology is committed to:
Building an Intelligent Nation
Promoting Computer Literacy
Bridging the Digital Divide
Connecting Antigua an Barbuda to the World
Positioning Antigua & Barbuda as a Cutting Edge Technology
Hot Spot
Published by the New Media Unit
Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications,
Science and Technology,
Sir George Walter Highway, Antigua
Tel: 268-468-4610
E-mail: webteam@ab.gov.ag
www.antigua.gov.ag
Designed by G Productions
www.gproductionsonline.com
Tel: 268-786-9332
2
MAY, 2011

“The strategy that we
have employed is to bring
technology to the doorstep
of the ordinary man and
woman of Antigua and
Barbuda. We are firmly of
the view that throughout
the communities in Antigua
the ordinary man, woman
and child must not be left
behind; in fact they must
be at the forefront of this
technological revolution.”
Honourable Dr. Baldwin Spencer
Prime Minister
“The empowerment
potential of the Internet is
absolutely phenomenal. It is
the Internet that will convert
every developing country to
developed country status,
and the state of Antigua
and Barbuda is leading the
way.”
Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor
Minister of State
Information, Broadcasting,
Telecommunications, Science
and Technology
1

Governments in developed countries all over the world recognize that the ability of their
people to continually master new technologies will have a critical impact on their future global
competitiveness. For Antigua and Barbuda, an ICT revolution that is currently underway is one
of the key contributors to the Nation’s drive towards a technological and knowledge - based
economy.
On September 30 th , 2010, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in partnership with Digicel
and Antigua Computer Technology Company Limited (ACT), announced details of a new initiative
which is geared at further closing the digital divide across the twin-island state by increasing
access to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).
The “Technology for Communication, Education & Empowerment” programme utilizes Wi-Fi
technology to bring broadband Internet into 5,000 homes across the communities of Grays-
Green, Yorks and Lower Gambles, as well as to more than 5,000 Secondary School students in
their classrooms.
The initiative is dramatically increasing the number of households with regular access to the
Internet as schools, homes and villages get connected for the first time.
The programme is the newest component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative,
which is providing broadband Internet access to schools and communities across the length and
breadth of Antigua and Barbuda.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Gender Affairs, Honourable Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro and Minister of
State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor congratulate Digicel’s John Delves on the
occasion of the announcement of the programme “Technology for Communication, Education and Empowerment”.
2

ICT Revolution Reaches Rural Communities
Glanvilles and All Saints Secondary Schools Get Connected
One aspect of “Technology for Communication, Education and Empowerment” is the erection
of Community Computer Access Centres (CACs) in twelve schools, complete with ergonomic
furniture, air-conditioning and security systems. Antigua Computer Technology Company Limited
(ACT) equips each CAC with broadband Internet with speeds of up to 18 megabytes in each
centre.
The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology equips
each facility with high-speed computers and a printer. Each centre has a white board as well as
space allocated for an Information Technology Instructor.
On March 9 th , 2011, the first two CACs commissioned under the project were officially opened
at the Glanvilles and All Saints Secondary Schools.
Students and teachers at the All Saints Secondary School, Technicians from the Ministries of Information and
Education and Digicel Representatives join Prime Minister Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Minister of State
Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor and Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St. Luke, Honourable Chester
Hughes to celebrate the opening of the CAC at the All Saints Secondary School.
3

IT’S ALL SMILES
(L to R) Johnny Ingle, Head of Marketing for Digicel Northern OECS, Clement Samuel, Telecommunications
Officer and Attorney-at-Law, John Delves, General Manager, Digicel-OECS North, Honourable Dr. Baldwin
Spencer, Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor, Minister of State, Information, Broadcasting,
Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Honourable Winston Williams, Minister of State, Education,
Sports and Youth Affairs, Honourable Chester Hughes, M.P., All Saints East and St. Luke and Troy Byrne,
Marketing Executive, Digicel
“No one will be left behind in this digital
revolution. Every member of society will
benefit. What we are seeking to do is make
Antigua and Barbuda the ICT capital of the
Caribbean. That is our objective, and we
believe that we are on the road to doing
that.”
Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Baldwin Spencer
Antigua & Barbuda
4

The Glanvilles Secondary School, which was recently upgraded to a full secondary school, was the first school
to benefit directly from the newest component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative: “Technology
for Communication, Education and Empowerment”.
The Jennings Community now boasts
a state of the art CAC. Teachers and
students at the Jennings Secondary
School are also benefitting directly
from this programme.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Works
and Transport, Honourable Elmore Charles joins
his colleague Honourable Winston Williams in
exploiting the tremendous benefit of the Internet
at the Jennings Secondary School.
5

The Super Information Highway Heads South
Jennings and St. Mary’s Secondary Schools Get Connected
On April 7th, 2011, the United Progressive Party (UPP) Government took the initiative to the
southern side of the country, where the third and fourth centres commissioned under the project
were opened at the Jennings and St Mary’s Secondary Schools respectively.
Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Honourable
Dr. Edmond Mansoor said that “the UPP Government continues to make substantial investments
in equipping our young people with the skills and competencies necessary for them to meet the
challenges of these times”.
Wheel chair ramps make each centre accessible to the physically challenged.
Teachers and students at the Jennings and St Mary’s Secondary Schools now have access to the
outside world in an unprecedented way, as the Government continues to work towards closing
the digital divide and increasing the opportunities available to them.
6

Community Computer Access Centres Providing A Passport
to the Super Information Highway
In the first quarter of 2011, five new Community Computer Access Centres were opened:
Primary Schools
Bolans
Secondary Schools
Glanvilles, All Saints
Jennings, St. Mary’s
Seven additional Centres will be commissioned in 2011:
Primary Schools
Bendals, Pigotts
Secondary Schools
Pares, Clare Hall, Antigua Girls’ High, Ottos
Comprehensive, Seventh Day Adventist
CACs already in operation:
Primary Schools
Villa, Five Islands, Greenbay, Jennings
Liberta, Sea View Farm, Potters, Cobbs Cross
Holy Trinity (Barbuda), Old Road
Empowerment Centres
Lower Ottos, Urlings, All Saints
Gunthorpes, Yorks, Lower Gambles
Newfield, National Technical Training Centre
The CAC’s are supervised by Information Technology teachers and/or Community Technology
Officers (CTOs), who teach information technology at introductory, intermediate and advanced
levels. Utilizing specialized software, the CTOs teach Grades 4, 5 and 6 students information
technology from a special syllabus developed by the Ministry of Information.
7

Students at the Swetes Primary School, soon to be upgraded to a full secondary school, are also
benefitting from Government’s Digital Revolution. The Swetes CAC, located adjacent to the Swetes
Clinic, provides broadband Internet access to teachers, students and nursing personnel all in one
facility.
In 2011, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was observed on May 17. The day
was observed by a number of activities including the opening of a Community Computer Access
Centre at the Clare Hall Secondary School as well as a special edition of GOOD MORNING ANTIGUA
BARBUDA” on ABS TV and ABS Radio. The events were coordinated by (L to R): Isoke Perry, Database
Administrator, Clement Samuel, Telecommunications Officer, Asha Christian, Special Projects
Coordinator in the Connect Antigua & Barbuda Initiative, Wendy Pantor, Office Manager
and Nasheta Richards, New Media Unit.
8

Getting Teachers Connected
Each of the principals in the twelve schools where the programme “Technology for Communication,
Education and Empowerment” is being rolled out will receive a laptop as part of the UPP
Government’s digital thrust to provision technology to the teachers. Teachers will also benefit
from the CACs, as they will now be able to better plan lessons as well as establish a variety of
databases. By the end of 2011, it is expected that all teachers throughout Antigua and Barbuda
will be personally provisioned with cutting-edge technology.
Honourable Hilson Baptiste, Member of
Parliament for St. Mary’s South, presents
Myrna Isaac, the Principal of the St. Mary’s
Secondary School with a laptop.
Honourable Chester Hughes, M.P.
presents George Edwards, Principal of the
All Saints Secondary School, with a laptop.
Former Education Minister, Bertrand Joseph
presents a laptop to Ursula Willock, Deputy
Principal at the Jennings Secondary School.
9

Free Internet Initiative
The “Technology for Communication, Education & Empowerment” programme also includes free
Wi-Fi Internet for three communities- Grays Green, Lower Gambles and Yorks up to December,
2014.
The joint program between Digicel and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will provide
5000 homes and over 15,000 people with broadband Internet. Digicel has partnered with
Antigua Computer Technology Company Limited (ACT) to ensure the broadband Internet is piped
into these communities. The initiative will significantly increase the number of households with
regular access to the Internet as homes and villages get connected for the first time.
Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Honourable
Dr. Edmond Mansoor, says this particular aspect of the programme is the most revolutionary
component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative.
The testing phase of the free Internet initiative has been successful in the Yorks Community.
Residents of that community are now surfing the super information highway compliments the
Government of Antigua and Barbuda. The communities of Lower Gambles and Grays-Green
will also benefit from free broadband Internet pending the successful completion of the testing
phase in these communities.
“The importance of bringing people online is widely recognised and where access to
the Internet is low, it is particularly important for countries to invest in public access.
As such, we are proud to be leading the way in connecting communities and schools
for the first time.”
10
Honourable Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
Minister of Education, Sports, Youth and Gender Affairs

Public Private People’s Partnership
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda understands the necessity for synergy between
the public and private sector for the successful delivery of projects within the Information
Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
Several individuals and entities have been contributing to the success of the “Technology for
Communication, Education & Empowerment”.
The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology extends
its thanks to:
Digicel, ACT, Consolidated Maritime Services, Ministry of Education (and Doristeen Etinoff
and Clare Browne in particular), the Board of Education (and Mervyn Brown in particular),
Execu-Tech Electric, Dougie’s Backhoe and Trucking Service, Special Security Services, Essential
Security Services and Signs Plus.
Antigua Computer Technology’s Arif Jonas greets Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor at the
Glanvilles Secondary School CAC. Looking on are Prime Minister, Honourable Baldwin Spencer, ACT
Telecommunications Engineer, Eustace Philip, and Senior Hardware Technician in the Ministry of
Information, Elmon “Smokey” Benjamin.
11

Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Baldwin Spencer, greets Jermaine Caesar of Execu-Tech Electric
and Carlton Douglas of Dougie’s Trucking & Backhoe Services, two of the sub-contractors
assisting with the erection and outfitting of the Centres.
Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Baldwin Spencer, and John Delves, General Manager,
Digicel – OECS North, agree that the colour of the tie matches the colour of the
classroom!
12

“Our focus is on connecting
the remotest corners of
Antigua and Barbuda to
the benefits of ICTs. ICTs
are also quintessentially
important to meeting
Antigua and Barbuda’s
Millennium Development
Goals”.
Hon. Dr. Edmond Mansoor
Minister of State
Information, Broadcasting,
Telecommunications, Science
and Technology
Special Projects
Coordinator in the
Ministry of Information,
Broadcasting,
Telecommunications,
Science and Technology,
Asha Christian-Philip,
assists a young student
with navigating the
wonders of the Internet.
13

www.antigua.gov.ag
The official Government web site, www.antigua.gov.ag, serves as a major portal for
up to the minute information.
The site is jointly managed by the New Media Unit and the Software Engineering
Team at the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science
and Technology.
14

The Community Computer Access Centres are each powered with highspeed
broadband Internet from Antigua Computer Technology Co. Ltd.
(ACT). Teachers and students are now fully empowered and can acquire
highly competitive skills in a globally competitive environment.
Web surfing
e-education
Distance learning
Community networking and Social Media
Connectivity to the World
15

Students at the All Saints Secondary School are wired into today’s digital
revolution, enabling them to research projects for their examinations as
well as acquire important competitive job skills.
16
Senate President, Honourable Hazelyn Francis, surfs the Internet using highspeed
broadband Internet at the St. Mary’s Secondary School Community
Computer Access Centre. Young and old have been leveraging on the power
of the super information highway.