As a result of the policy to open up the telecommunication environment, domestic business activity has increased and lower prices have resulted as the once ‘monopoly provider’ moved their rates to address the growing competition. The 2002 assessment recognised the significant absence of formal legal and regulatory frameworks governing e-commerce, within SVG and across the region. It was recognised that collaboration within the OECS was highly desired in addressing this aspect of commerce. It was noted that relative to other developing countries, SVG and the OECS region as a whole had a significant comparative advantage through high levels of literacy and trainability in their workforce. The Ministry for Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Innovation and ICTAC has begun building on this base through the important step of increasing the level of computer literacy of the school-going population. It was noted that apart from niche markets such as call centres, data processing centres and online gaming, the supply of ICT products and services was a small aspect of the SVG economy. It was recognised that in most areas of the private sector, ICT was in the early stages of adoption. This ICT strategy focussed on ICT as an enabler of development rather than the development of a definitive ICT Export Sector. The role of Government in utilising ICT to address its need for improvements in internal efficiency and effectiveness, while simultaneously demonstrating to its constituents the benefits as a “model user”, was acknowledged in 2002. The need for the banking sector to support the growth of e-business by addressing existing financial impediments was noted, as was the need for SVG to move ahead with its planned Fiscal Incentive Act. In the context described above, a Framework for Action was created to illustrate how to use and support ICT-based development. The Framework took a holistic and multidimensional approach to strengthening the synergies between the different developmental components that can be impacted by ICT. See Figure 1 which follows. Using this Framework as the basis, a number of actions (see pages 18-21), short term goals and longer term goals were developed which form the 2002 – 2007 Plan. During the periods, 2002 2007 and 2007 - 2010, these actions and goals were addressed with varying degrees of success. Their completion was assessed as part of the development of this current 2010 – 2015 Plan, and the factors underpinning the completion rate were determined. These outputs were used to create a Performance Scorecard for the execution of the 2002 - 2007 National Strategy and Action Plan. The Scorecard provides a good summary of progress from 2002 to 2010 and is outlined below. THE MINISTRY FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION St. Vincent & the Grenadines National ICT Strategy and Action Plan P a g e | 16 It is advisable to undertake aligned interventions in a number of ICT strategic areas including: Coordinated actions, strong partnership and local implementation This requires a greater focus on the interplay of the different components and a coordinated action among diverse stakeholders and an inclusive policy. The process will address barriers and resistance, put in place transitional mechanisms to address trade-offs and create positive incentives to change, needs and opportunities. Global, National and Local Linkages The Global network economy creates new opportunities for nations and communities. National ICT strategies must be positioned within the global context, while at the same time addressing the local context.