Joseph is part of a trio of young nationals who began the company last December to develop software for the global market. Daniel and his brother Samuel, along with Manish Valechha launched the company to provide real world solutions to the marketplace and to show that it could be done from Montserrat. Their first foray into the “there’s an app for that” market was AirPiano, a music application for the iPhone and iPod touch devices. It is available for download on Apple’s AppStore via iTunes.  

Lavabits will be used as a case study showing the possibilities for using information communication technology in the Caribbean. The company came to the attention of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), during the ICT Roadshow Montserrat held here last month.  

Minister of Communication, Works & Labor Mr. Charles T. Kirnon remarked during the local event that he was surprised and pleased to know that there was this level of innovation already taken place on Montserrat and encouraged the software developers to continue pursuing their dream.  

The young entrepreneur holds a Masters in Business Information Technology from the University of Manchester and also teaches math and physics at the Montserrat Community College.  

Learn more about Lavabits at www.lavabits.com. 

 ENDS

The three-day event was hailed a success by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Secretary General, Ms. Bernadette Lewis and the Honourable Minister of Communications, Works & Lands, Mr. Charles T. Kirnon.

Minister Kirnon said he was impressed with the level of innovation already taken place on Montserrat that he was unaware of, adding the event showed that the island had the capacity to produce ICT solutions that could benefit the world. “We started out with a goal to empower and now we have also been enlightened and we cannot go back to business as usual. Whatever happens after we leave here, Montserrat must not be the same.”

The minister, who was the official host of the roadshow, said he had been pleased with the presentation by Daniel Joseph and Manish Valechha of Lavabits, the island’s first software development firm, and hoped others would take note of what the young entrepreneurs were doing with technology. He encouraged those present that “we should all take responsibility to develop the region for ourselves as it was clear that the capacity already existed” to do so.

Ms. Lewis said the roadshow went “way beyond the basic objectives and that seeds were planted over the past three days that they will now entrust to the government and the people of Montserrat to water and ensure they bear fruit.”

The DITES Director thanked the CTU for giving Montserrat the opportunity to host the ICT Roadshow, which he said “helped to unearth the catalyst towards Montserrat’s future development.”

West went on to present the action plan towards building the island’s ICT strategy. They include:

• A formalized multi-stakeholder strategy plan;
• A forum for parents to continue discussing the impact and implications of increased internet access for their children;
• Government has to ascertain what is necessary to advance broadband access and international connectivity;
• Focus attention on security issue arising from increased dependence on online business and services;
• Tangible steps to encourage and facilitate and foster innovation and creativity in new niche markets;
• All private sector to provide the leading edge technologies (rather than waiting on government); and
• Specific steps to educate educators in the use, application and benefits of technology in education.

The roadshow was streamed lived on the internet and will be replayed in the coming weeks. For photos and information on the event, visit www.ictroadshow.ms.

ENDS

The presentations gave way to an extended question and answer session facilitated by Selby Wilson of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). 

David Little of PSTG Consulting, called for transformation, not automation and a willingness to challenge the norm. He explained what has driven Antigua & Barbuda’s connect initiative and national ICT plan has been the leadership of Dr. Mansoor. He added that Montserrat has that same leadership ability in Chief Minister Reuben T. Meade, who has called for government to lead in the usage of ICT to create a more efficient public service. 

Mr. Little made several  recommendations toward the  development of Montserrat’s national ICT plan. “If the government goes online, everybody goes online, as we all need to interact with government,” said Little. He called for working groups that should be actively communicating with each other to build an integrated plan. Mr. Little emphasized that youth and persons in their early 20s should be included in the working groups as they are the innovators and will have ideas that “we have not thought about.” 

“The process of developing the plan is as important as the final product,” the consultant said. He added that the leadership, community, government agencies must be involved in all stages of process from planning to implementation. 

Minister Mansoor shared during his presentation that having a strong qualified team was essential to the programme. He said the team in place would be able to continue without him at the helm because they developed processes, protocols and handbooks to move the initiative forward. 

Mr. Little suggests that Montserrat becomes a centre for a regional initiative. Suggest it as a regional centre to register all Caribbean businesses, or a tele-health centre. Call for a drive for services to mobile devices rather than trying to lay fibre optic networks. “We can do so much with what is already in our pockets.” 

“Modern governments,” Little says are in the “service business and e-government is about transforming government.” 

The ICT Roadshow continues on Friday, with the innovators forum featuring young entrepreneurs from around the region. All of the sessions can be viewed online at www.ictroadshow.ms. 

ENDS

The leader called for government to use information communication technologies (ICTs) to become more efficient and offer better services for the general public.  He challenged department heads and the general public not to send him invitations by regular mail as he prefers to receive his correspondence electronically. He said the legislation is now in place to support the use of electronic information and we must implement it fully from a governmental level. 

Despite his push for the nation to use technology more, he said it must be done appropriately without allowing ICTs to control us. “We have stopped talking to one another. Despite technology, we must talk. We must not be tied to ICT and be respectful of others.” 

Chief Minister Meade said Montserrat was not a Third World country but a developing one and that the technology must be used to continue the island’s advancement. He shared his desire to see the education and library systems provide more services to teachers, parents and students virtually, cautioning that the protection of data was also vital. 

The minister’s remarks were welcomed by Ms. Bernadette Lewis, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) who thanked the chief minister for agreeing to champion the cause of the agency on a regional level as well. 

The ICT Roadshow Montserrat is the seventh edition of the conference and is organized by the CTU in collaboration with the Government of Montserrat. More information on the roadshow, presenters and activities can be found online at www.ictroadshow.ms. 

ENDS

BRADES, Montserrat – BSS: Be Sexually Safe is the new television ad campaign developed by the HIV/AIDS/STI Multi-Sectoral Team, which will make its premiere during the ICT Roadshow on Montserrat.

The new series of 20 and 30 second spots feature local personalities and young people from across the island and will be shown during the live streaming of the three-day conference. They will also be available on the Government Information Unit’s YouTube channel.

According Anjella Skerritt, the coordinator of the committee the BSS television adverts provide tips on how people can protect their sexual health. Supporting the campaign will be online presentations giving additional instruction on how to use male and female condoms effectively.

“We are very pleased with the new campaign and appreciate the support of ZJB Radio Montserrat and the Government Information Unit which collaborated with us on the project,” said Skerritt.

The new commercials were scripted by Nerissa Golden, Director of Information & Communications for GIU and taped and edited by Glesford James Norvelle Greenaway. The musical track is ‘Choices’ produced by 501 Army featuring Ringtone for the committee.

Featured in the ads are on air personality Basil Chambers, the Festival 2009 Miss Montserrat Teen Monique Mighty, members of the Youth Empowerment Association, Rolando Ponde, and Marisha Meade.

To see the condom demonstrations visit   www.ictroadshow.ms website.

(Photo of HIV/AIDS pin with the Oriole, Montserrat’s national bird and the island’s madras colors.)

Hon. Dr. Edmond Mansoor

BRADES, Montserrat  – Two senior members of government from Antigua & Barbuda and Bermuda will present case studies on their national ICT plans during the ICT Roadshow which begins on Montserrat on Wednesday. 

The Honourable Dr. Edmond Mansoor, who is the Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, has been at the epicentre of the ICT Revolution in Antigua and Barbuda. His award winning Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative, has successfully positioned the twin-island Nation as a cutting-edge technology hot spot. 

Dr. Mansoor, who will lead a four-person delegation, is scheduled to address the conference on Thursday morning at 9am at the Montserrat Cultural Centre. 

Also scheduled to participate is Senator Marc Bean, Bermuda’s Junior Minister of Tourism, Transport, Environment and Sport. Senator Bean is an FAA certified commercial pilot as well as a small business entrepreneur. He is currently Managing Director of Paradise Air Limited and a Director of OMP Limited. He is deeply involved in volunteer service as Deputy Chairman of the West End Development Corporation. 

Both presentations are part of the Policy and Regulatory Forum which kicks off the main two days of the roadshow and is sponsored by WINAIR. 

The ICT Roadshow Montserrat is part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and is being hosted in collaboration with the Government of Montserrat. 

Be sure to check out the full schedule of activities at www.ictroadshow.ms. 

ENDS

According to Nerissa Golden, Director of Information & Communications the youth forum on Thursday morning is open to students attending all of the primary schools and runs from 9am to 11:30am. On Friday, the youth forum for post primary students will begin at 1:30 until 4:30pm.

The presenters include Bevil Wooding, the Chief Knowledge Officer for the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). A video presentation highlighting how important it is for young people using the internet to be aware of where they put private information and befriending strangers online will be shown in both sessions.

Post primary students will also be given a practical lesson of “How to make a Podcast.” A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through the web. It is hoped that following the training more students will use this is a way to share their ideas, stories and views with the rest of the world.

The ICT Roadshow Montserrat is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and is being hosted in collaboration with the Government of Montserrat. Be sure to check out the full schedule of activities at www.ictroadshow.ms.

ENDS

Gregory Richardson, CEO Secure Tech International, the first company in North East Caribbean to specialize in network security.

BRADES, Montserrat – Leaving digital assets, such as financial accounts, reports, proposals, and client data unprotected is a common practice for small business owners in the region, says network security expert Gregory Richardson.

Richardson, who is the CEO of Secure Tech International, the first company in the North Eastern Caribbean to specialize in network security will be one of the speakers at the ICT Roadshow coming to Montserrat next Wednesday, April 21 to Friday, April 23, 2010.

The network security specialists, says there are several things that small business can do to protect themselves and their assets online. “Most of the security needs are internal ones. You must know your employees, understand them and have a good relationship with them. Secondly, you must be willing to invest in digital protection for your digital assets,” recommends Richardson, who is based on St. Maarten.

“Leaving your electronic information without proper security is the same as building a million dollar home, filling it with all sorts of expensive furniture, art, electronics and leaving the doors wide open, and never locking up. We wouldn’t do that with our homes but Caribbean companies are doing it every day online.”

The entrepreneur will be one of the presenters in the ICT Solutions for Real Problems Forum, which takes place on Day Two of the roadshow.

The ICT Roadshow Montserrat is part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and is being hosted in collaboration with the Government of Montserrat.

To see the full lineup of speakers and activities, visit www.ictroadshow.ms.

ENDS

Caption: Gregory Richardson, CEO Secure Tech International, the first company in North East Caribbean to specialize in network security.