The Boardroom, Ministry of Commerce, Science & Technology

Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 11:00 a.m.

I am very happy for this opportunity to share with you this morning some of what has been happening in the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS). The JCS was established as a professional organization, which would seek to have an impact all aspects of the application of information and communications technology in the public and private sectors.

This is in keeping with the objectives of the JCS, which include:

· Maintaining a code of ethics amongst its membership.

· Influencing government policies which impact on Information and Communications Technology; and …

· Developing its membership through exposure to current and future trends in the industry.

Over its almost thirty year existence, the Jamaica Computer Society, through its annual conferences, has provided Jamaica with exposure to some of the latest cutting edge Information and Communication Technology as well as providing leadership in promoting of the efficient and effective use of I.C.T. in Jamaica.

The JCS sees itself as having to ensure that it remains responsive to the needs of the I.C.T. industry in Jamaica. As a result, it is in the process of implementing a programme to incorporate more technology-based organizations into the Society, the objective being to make the Society more responsive and reflective of the needs of the industry.

The Society, like many other organizations, recognizes that it has to reinvent itself to remain relevant to the needs of the industry it represents. We also have to re-position the image in the Society from a computer-based organization to a technologically diverse organization, which embraces all those who have an interest in Information and Communication Technology. I would like to use this medium to invite and encourage persons, institutions and organization – from the young web designer, to the large telecommunications organization to become a member of the JCS. We can all benefit from the collective sharing of ideas that can only work to further strengthen the growth and development of I.T. here in Jamaica.

We at the JCS are heartened by the Minister’s emphasis on of Information Technology being the driving force for growth and development in Jamaica, and see ourselves as one of the instruments in making this a reality.

Thank you Minister Paulwell and the Ministry for your continued support for the work of the Society and for what you have been doing to promote an awareness acceptance and use of Information and Communication Technology in Jamaica. Your support is truly appreciated. Thank you.