In a country where internet penetration lags at around 30% information and communication technology is like some foreign language. But the promise of it was made somewhat real today when the governments of Taiwan and Belize opened Belize's first ICT center.
It is a place of promise, but in this country where development is so often derailed, can it deliver? That's what I tried to find out today:
Jim McFadzean, Reporting
The multi-million dollar complex represents a milestone in the bi-lateral relationship as Belize takes advantage of one of its relationship with the World's premier centers for hi-tech information and communication technologies.
H.E. David K. Wu, Ambassador of Taiwan
"The Taiwan Technical Mission is not only assign by constructing this brand new ICT center it also dedicates it resources to transfer Taiwan's highest standard agriculture technology to our Belizean brothers."
Belize still lags behind - like most other developing countries - in the fast changing digital and technological world. And so in its efforts to transform Belizean society thru the use of information and communication technologies, it has sought partnership with the Republic of Taiwan, for whom hi-tech ICT forms the backbone of their economy.
Hon. John Salvidar
"Today we are happy to be realizing this milestone which signals yet another stage in not only the collaborative objective with our friends of Taiwan, but also in the desire and commitment of this government to build an inclusive people centered development oriented information society where everyone can create access utilize and share information knowledge enabling individuals communities and people to achieve their full potential in promoting sustainable development."
The training center will serve mainly the public service sector in developing its heir human resource skills in specific IT software applications.
Dwight Gillett, Head of E-gov't
"As you know in the technological world, the softwares change from every couple years a new software comes out so as soon as a public officer gets comfortable with a specific software then a few years later another software hits the market so this is to try and keep abreast with technology."
Jim McFadzean
"How well do the local telecommunications providers in this country fit into the scheme of things?"
Dwight Gillett
"Very good question, Jim. What we would like to see is a stop to these telecom providers tearing each other apart with these competitive ads and put their resources into improving the product development rather than product sales. Because if you have product development that is continuous and that will lead to future growth in sales because what is happening is that the cost at which technology is charged in Belize is very high in comparison to other nations and our children need to have internet access, our society needs to have access to government, our universities need to have access at a lower cost."
The government of Taiwan has promised its continued assistance in providing technical training at the advance level in ICT, but the government of Belize now owns the spanking new building and its operations. And while the Taiwanese Ambassador expressed his government's wish for Belize, in his words, "to share in the sweetness of the fresh fruit", he diplomatically added.
H.E. David K. Wu, Ambassador of Taiwan
"This new born baby needs your continuous care and support; he needs nutrition and babysitting which will certainly require a lot of time and patience. The Taiwan Technical Mission is not only assign by constructing this brand new ICT center it also dedicates it resources to transfer Taiwan's highest standard agriculture technology to our Belizean brothers."
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