2.8 THE PRIVATE SECTOR SVG has had a major monopoly telecommunications provider for over 100 years. Since the liberalisation of this sector, two new major providers, a refashioned incumbent, and other organisations have brought major advancements in technology, affordability and value to the ICT Sector. However in order to achieve the true benefits and potential of liberalisation, the entire Private Sector has to be fully engaged, firstly to support the goals and initiatives of connectivity, and secondly to adopt ICT to improve their own internal efficiency, communication and marketing. Additionally, if the Sector fully engages in training of all employees in ICT, it is believed that this will improve their level of competitiveness, sustainability and success. Figure 13 below give some details of the challenges that business typically faces with utilization of ICT, which must be addressed by local enterprises in SVG, if they are to obtain the desired improvements. Developing core ICT skills within the organisation is a priority in ensuring the ICT operations function smoothly. The involvement of ICT leaders in the alignment of ICT and business strategy is also critical to the strategic use of ICT by any organisation. At a regional level, organisations such as the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Organisation of National Telecommunication Operators (CANTO) have outlined programmes for connecting the Caribbean, in which partnerships with Governments and Civil Society are seen as critical to success. ICT for Economic Diversification Under the EU Special Framework of Assistance 2005 Programme, the economic diversification, competitiveness and employment capacity improvement is being pursued for the productive sectors of SVG. The Programme aims to create an enabling environment and human resource pool to support the further introduction and sustainable use of ICT. In fact, the development of this National ICT strategy was supported by this Programme. SVG is pursuing diversification in several areas including agriculture, tourism and ICT, so it is useful to review how ICT is utilised in these sectors. There is a general perception that ICT leaders of departments and enterprises lack appropriate essential skills to meet the strategic needs of business enterprises and of governments, isolated from the strategy definition phases and relegated to delivering systems and maintenance procedures. 2.8.1 The Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of updating its 1997 – 2006 National Agriculture Development Plan. Within this context, work is in progress on the development of an Agricultural Portal and on the introduction of a National Agricultural Production and Marketing Information System. The implementation of a Geographic Information System is being investigated and a Land Bank Project is expected to be implemented soon. An Organisation of American States (OAS) project is also being pursued with the assistance of the Centre of Enterprise Development to reduce poverty in rural areas by assisting individuals in starting up businesses. Computer Resource and Internet Centres (CORIC) have been implemented in five rural communities to offer free computer access and instruction to citizens of all ages which will aid the establishment of SMEs. The Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Authority and the National Rivers, Beaches and Rivers Authority are responsible for the development of tourism in SVG. Figure 13: The ICT Challenges faced by Business Current Usage in Non-ICT Sectors P a g e | 47