Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capabilities in Saint Lucia’s public and private sectors are expected to be bolstered, thanks to a recently-launched project.

Under the “Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Digital Capacity Building Project in Saint Lucia”, the focus will be on developing and nurturing the ICT capabilities and competencies as part of strategies to enhance the island’s human resource capital.

The four-year project will run from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027, and will be sponsored by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) which will contribute US$1,519,416.00, and the Government of Saint Lucia will contribute US$493,000.00.

The project will be executed by the Ministry of the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs; Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training; Department of Housing and Local Government; in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia.

Under the project, the Department of Public Service’s capacity to conduct ICT-related training, increase the training participation willingness of the private sector, and also improve the ICT capacity building skills of Saint Lucia. Ideally, the overall objective is to increase the capacity of information and communication training sessions offered by 54% across both public and private sectors. Up to 1,440 trainees annually, 70% of whom will come from the private sector, will obtain professional ICT course certification.

Facilities and software at four existing Government buildings in four constituencies will be renovated and uplifted in preparation for their full conversion to full Digital Development Centres, complete with the relevant hardware, software and equipment. The Laborie Development Centre will be the first centre to be renovated later this year, while centres in Gros Islet, Dennery and Soufriere will follow.

During the project’s official launch ceremony held at the Finance Administration Centre at Pointe Seraphine on Thursday, September 28, 2023, His Excellency Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the role of information and communication technology in today’s world was indispensable.

“It serves not only the cornerstone of modern society, but also propels advancements in education, healthcare, commerce and governance,” Ambassador Chen said. “Drawing upon Taiwan’s expertise in ICT and education application, the primary objective of the ICT Project is to enhance the capabilities of the Ministry of the Public Service in conducting information and communication training sessions, as well as the private sector in ICT application abilities and digital service competitiveness.”

Ambassador Chen added: “This Project not only marks another milestone of Taiwan-Saint Lucia bilateral cooperation, but also underscores the potential benefits of our partnership for social development in Saint Lucia. In the meantime, I am firmly confident that this collaboration would become a critical platform driving innovation and progress in this country, bringing our two nations even closer together.”

In her remarks, Hon. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs, said the project will improve Saint Lucia’s capacity to deliver a better overall service and achieve greater customer satisfaction.

“We are dedicated to providing appropriate infrastructure, rationalizing the institutional framework, investing in appropriate skills development, and implementing efficient policy and regulatory framework, so as to enhance development of the private sector and facilitate the modernization of the public service,” Hon. Albert-Poyotte stated. “Our digital government strategy is about putting people -- not technology -- at the centre.”

She added that the Government of Saint Lucia highly values its partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan), and is grateful for the continued support to Saint Lucia in assisting in its economic development process.

“The Republic of China (Taiwan) has proven to be a leader in innovation and technology, and the launch of this project represents yet another milestone of bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Saint Lucia, and will advance the development and nurturing of ICT capabilities and competencies in our citizens,” said Hon. Albert-Poyotte.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sheralin Monrose-Gustave, Chief ICT Officer in the Division of Public Sector Modernization, said the project is essential, especially given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby a heavy reliance on digital technology became the norm.

“The COVID-19 pandemic really taught us some lessons,” she said. “It came while most of us were unprepared, and we have recognized the need for most persons to be ICT literate. We’re now seeing it go down to the grassroots level, we’ve seen it in the schools, and it’s something that we are catching up on slowly, but we’re getting there. So we’re hoping that this project is really going to help us in terms of accelerating our growth and building capacity in terms of our digital skills.”

According to a report from the Social Assessment Human Capital Resilience Project by the Government of Saint Lucia, 44% of all employment opportunities require applicants with certain ICT capabilities. Presently, only 7% of the unemployed population possesses the required criteria, reflecting an unbalanced supply and demand skills force in the Saint Lucian employment market.