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St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): “We moved 20 spots according to the International Telecommunications Unit ICT Development Index for the year 2016 and we were dubbed the most improved country in the world of 176 countries evaluated in ICT development. The most recent ICT Development Index ranks us number 37 out of 176 countries listed.”

These were the words of Prime Minister, Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris, who addressed the gathering at the re-opening of the National Information Communication Technology Center, on 15^th February 2018.

The center was refurbished through the joint effort of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Government of The Republic of China (Taiwan), represented by His Excellency Ambassador Gow-Wei Chiou. Ambassador Chiou said: “I still remember when I first visited this center with the Minister of Communications, Honourable Vincent Byron, three years ago. This center was abandoned due to the serious mould damage. The ICT technicians and specialists had to scatter around the other government buildings to implement their duties. With the resolution to restore this important technology and communication interactive platform for the government and the public; the embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan was invited to cooperate with the Ministry of Communication and Public Infrastructure, for the renovation of this National Information Communication and Technology Center. Today I am happy to join with the Minister Vincent Byron and the Prime Minister and the information and communication technicians and specialists, to witness this re-opening of the National ICT Center.”

Honourable Vincent Byron, Minister with responsibility for Information and Communication Technology, revealed some of the new features of the ICT center: “The center will also be a point for our IXP, our local internet exchange point. We say that an internet exchange point allows on-island connectivity and allows communication to stay on island. It enhances security and speed, gives you broader bandwidth and more efficiency. Another factor that we will have here in this building is our Cyber Security Incident Response Team- A CSIRT Response Team. So that in St. Kitts and Nevis for the first time we will have a dedicated unit to respond to reports of cyber attacks.”

During the ceremony, the St. Kitts-Nevis Robotics Team showcased their robot, ‘Mali’, which outperformed robots from 127 countries, to place 36 at the inaugural world robotics competition, in July 2017.

In terms of the practical use of the services provided by the ICT center, Mr. Fitzroy Edinborough, Coordinator of Innovation and Training explained; “I was involved in training the nurses, getting them prepared in terms of security for their health information system. They have showed up, they have been willing to show up, they have been willing to participate and learn. They recognize that there are things that they don’t know and they are willing to learn as much as they can.”