Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2022 – Minister of Information Communication, and Technology, Hon. Konris Maynard delivered his SKN Policy Statement today, Friday 30th September 2022, at the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference (ITU PP-22) in Bucharest, Romania.
In his statement the Honourable Minister spoke of the challenges our twin-island federation experienced during the pandemic and the results of the implementation of a “Whole of Government Technology Strategy” to address these challenges.
“Like other countries, the Pandemic has highlighted the need to urgently improve and expand our ICT infrastructure and its accessibility to enable and foster universal, affordable, secure, efficient and high-speed internet access and ICT services. Our Digital Transformation journey, as we start the implementation of our ‘Whole of Government Technology Strategy’, has resulted so far in about 85% mobile and internet penetration in St. Kitts and Nevis, digital application for financial assistance during the pandemic, online Vehicle Registration and Licensing, creating an Immunization database, online Immigration/Customs portal eliminating the need for paper and improving entry processing speeds, pledge to our local internet service providers to engage in “Partner2Connect’ initiatives to improve connectivity around the island, and high-speed internet provided for free to our local community centres around the island to enable unconnected citizens the opportunity to connect.”
Hon. Konris Maynard also highlighted a new government initiative. He added:
“The government has also embarked on laying the groundwork and physical equipment and infrastructure to create a GWAN (Government Wide Area Network) to facilitate seamless communication across the whole of Government”.
In his presentation the Minister of ICT congratulated the two executive members who have so far been announced following the election of the senior management team, the member states of the council and the members of the Radio Regulations Board of the ITU.
Congratulations were extended to Mrs. Doreen Bogdan-Martin and Mr. Tomas Lamanaukus on their election to the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General positions respectively. Mrs. Bogdan Martin became the first woman to be elected to the top position of the UN Specialized Agency for ICT in its 157-year history.