Promoting Creole in cyberspace.

The official website of the newly created Lasosiasyon Bann Zil Kreol (Association of Creole Speaking Islands) is now on line.

The site was launched this week in Seychelles to mark the International Mother Tongue Day, under the theme “promoting languages through the World Wide Web,” a theme chosen by the United Nation agency, UNESCO.

The website was official launched by the chairperson of the association, Patrick Nanty.

“This site will elevate Creole as a working language in the cyberspace,” according to the Creole Institute Director, Penda Choppy.

The site, which is in Seychellois Creole, is aimed at advertising the association’s works, promote the member states’ and national or international events aimed at advancing Creole.

“We also plan to build a chat room, to allow people from member states to communicate using Creole,” says Mrs Choppy.

The association was launched in October last year during the 20th edition of Festival Kreol in Seychelles. Mauritius, La Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Seychelles and the International Society of Creole speaking Nation based in Europe are the present members.

The aim of the association is to promote cultural, traditional and linguistic exchanges and other activities that will help bring together the disperse race Creole race.

Visit the site @ www.bannzilkreol.sc

Kokonet launches Seychelles’ first VoIP service.

Kokotalk is the new telephone service on offer in Seychelles, driving international phone rate as low as Rs3.

The new service uses Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP technology and will benefit all Kokonetwireless broadband customers. They will be able to make phone calls and send fax worldwide via the Internet. Telephone calls between Kokotalk subscribers, are free of charge.

“Since it is wireless, there’s no risk of interruption in the service, a problem which normally occurs when cable telephone lines are down,” explains Kokonet’s General Manager Peter Durup.

Clients will however need a kokotalk device that is connected via the broadband wireless system to be able to benefit from the service.

For existing wireless broadband customer, the installation fee will be Rs, 500 and Rs1, 500 to those who do not have the service (which include the wireless setup package + the kokotalk device). The service carries a monthly subscription fee of Rs50.

“All equipment will remain the property of Kokonet and is returnable to Kokonet should the service be discontinued,” says Durup.

The company says negotiations with the two local telecoms are underway to allow its Kokotalk customers to make and receive calls locally, without being seen as an international number.

Kokotalk subscribers are allocated a six-digit numbers starting with 47.

“We answer to you...,” says C&W.

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (C&W,) is promising to deliver certain services to its clients within a specified period, if it fails it will offer compensation.

The new Customer Charter is for all C&W fixed residential customers. The company has already introduced a similar Charter for its business fixed-line customers.

“This document shows that the company is pro-active, that it means business, that it is committed to its clients, and that it cares,” says the Divisional Manager for Customer Operations, George D’Offay.

If the number of days set for faults repairs and installation cannot be met, C&W will notify the customer and provide them with a specific date of completion. If the company fails to meet these specific dates, customers will be entitled to claim a one-off payment of Rs25 for delayed fault repair and a one-off payment of Rs50 for the delayed installation.

Under the bold slogan “We answer to you…” the company has set a standard of service that covers in four key areas namely fault repairs, installation, queries and operator services.

Cable & Wireless will aim to:
1. Resolve faults within three working days,
2. Install new service (e.g. new line or extension)
within 15 working days, subject to certain terms and
conditions,
3. Resolve all queries immediately but if further
investigation need to be carried out, then within
eight working days, and
4. Answer all operator services calls within 40 seconds
on average, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“The Charter reflects C&W’s corporate values, effort and commitment in providing customers not only with the highest possible standard of service, but also granting them their rights,” explains Brigitte Ferrari, the manager of Customer Services.

Critics say at a time when service delivery in government and sometimes in the private sector has become an issue of concern, such committed standards are a move in the right direction to ensure fast and efficient service locally.