Minister Paulwell to Submit Proposal on Behalf of Local ICT Players

Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell is to submit a proposal to Cabinet to put in place an affirmative action approach so that local players in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector can be awarded contracts.
“We are now looking at putting forward a policy that is designed to provide for, especially the newer members in this sector, an affirmative action approach so that where contracts are to be awarded that involve ICT, that there will be something earmarked for local players,” he said.
The Minister was addressing a press briefing on Thursday, July 24 at the Ministry’s office on Trafalgar Road in Kingston to launch the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) 2003 Conference schedule for October.
Mr. Paulwell said that he would be submitting this proposal to Cabinet shortly. “I think we will get a positive response to it,” he said, adding that software developers would benefit greatly from this policy.
Turning to the Jamaica Computer Society, Minister Paulwell urged the organisation to recruit key players in the Information Technology (IT) sector as members of the society.
“I believe that with the type of support we have given the sector we need to see a reflection in your membership. because I believe that your voice would be so strong and effective because of the support you have received, because of the tremendous wealth that is being created now in this industry, that your wish for enhancement in membership should not be one that takes too long to be fulfilled,” he stated.
Meanwhile, this year’s JCS Conference will be held from October 30 to November 2 at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
Giving an overview of the Conference, Hugh Campbell, Conference Chairman at the JCS said that this year’s meeting would focus on showcasing the utilisation of technology to reduce cost, increase profit and provide business solutions.
The Conference dubbed the ‘Jamaica Computer Society Information Technology and Management Showcase 2003’ is a reflection of the products that will be on display.
Mr. Campbell explained that one area of emphasis would be on how to use technology to reduce cost, increase profit and provide business solutions in companies. “The ICT solutions that will be demonstrated at the exhibition will present real world solutions to national, business and sector problems,” he said.
Among the activities planned for the Conference are presentation and tutorial forums. The presentation forum will take the form of a one-hour session, which should include a period of approximately 15 minutes for fielding questions from the audience.
Mr. Campbell said that the focus of the material would be on concepts methodologies and results. Topics will include e-government, e-learning, policing the Internet, spectrum management and many more.
Turning to the tutorial forums, he said that this would provide hands-on training for participants and also professional accreditation. Among them are the Certified Internet Webmaster Qualification forum, which will offer Web Page Authoring Fundamentals, Internet Fundamentals and Networking Fundamentals courses.
Meanwhile, the Certified Technologist Professional qualification forum will offer the Data Networking, Telephony Networking and Convergence Technology courses.
Interested persons are asked to register for the Conference by calling the JCS at 929-5307.