Caribbean and the world with significant changes in attitude, usage, and demand by citizens, in particular youth, for new technological opportunities, training, greater transparency and social inclusion in the governance decision making process. These changes warrant a complete review and refresh of the national (and related regional) ICT strategy, and hence the need for an updated National ICT Strategy and Action Plan for SVG. This Plan must outline the mechanisms, including the enabling policy framework, and the programmes and projects that need to be implemented over the 2010 to 2015 period. It should define the way forward and proposes an implementation framework based on the local and international experience. Therefore, the broad policies and strategies to be outlined in the updated National ICT Plan must include:   Streamlining the existing telecommunications regulatory process for more cost effective regulations of utilities (and possibly energy) and enacting the required legislation and regulations to embrace ICT Ensuring there is a robust modern national next generation and regional ICT infrastructure which does not just meet, but exceeds international standards and the demands of investors in order to attract and draw them and to bolster our level of competitiveness. It must include the redundancy and innovation which can help to leapfrog any unnecessary stages and enable national development          Ensuring a high percentage of households, government agencies, schools and businesses have access to adequate broadband access Leveraging the increase in mobile telephone penetration through the use of a suite of mobile government applications and egovernment initiatives to improve efficiency of government and bring significant service improvements Enhancing the use of ICT in all sectors with an emphasis on education, health, agriculture and tourism Complementing the expansion of broadband access with increased access to computers at tele-centres, schools and community facilities, and implementing strategies which increase personal computers or laptops for students Ensuring that computer and internet usage is safe by addressing issues of cybercrime Empowering business and trade through the use of ICT in e-commerce Expanding training at all age levels with emphasis on bridging the digital divide by using ICT in education, the creation of skilled workers and advance training to produce ICT engineering and knowledge workers Facilitating the creation of local content, new appropriate software applications and the creation of a Vincentian and regional knowledge economy Developing and becoming known for an ICT export sector which feature the export of unique ICT and electronic goods and the export of ICT services However, before determining what needs to be done in the future, it is important to determine what SVG has achieved and defining where it is starting from. It is also critical to review the international best practices and to extract relevant experiences that will assist SVG in moving forward. The re-launching point is therefore reviewed based on the best available national statistics and an assessment of performance against the 2002–2007 Strategic ICT Plan. It took into account selected international best practices and trends. Introduction P a g e | 13