Friday, October 20, 2006

Promoting ICT in education is the key.



African francophone countries have been motioned to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their educational systems to move the continent forward.

The recent Summit of the Francophone organisation held in Bucharest, warned member states that poor ICT infrastructure will widen the digital divide and aggravate their marginalisation.

The summit held under the theme: information and communication technologies in education, was aimed at looking at how impoverished countries can employ ICTs in tackling factors hindering their progress.

Being one of the eight head of states to address the XI summit, the Seychelles’ President, James Michel said: “Promoting the use of ICTs in education could be a way out of the predicaments facing Africa, by re-enforcing its capacity which is central to its strategic development.”

Mr Michel pondered on the summit’s theme by sharing the experience of Seychelles.

Being isolated from the rest of the world, with very limited natural resources, 65% of the population being young people and having no universities, Seychelles has to rely heavily on ICTs to handle the pace of globalisation,” said President Michel.

The summit called for the creation of a Francophone society of knowledge, urging member states to employ ICT as a tool of learning in primary and secondary schools, to boost capacity building.

Another resolution called for a pledge to fight digital inequalities, improve basic infrastructures and increase Internet Access.

President Michel summed up that ICT also serve as a vehicle to uphold democracy, by enhancing freedom of expression, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, all of which are ideals promoted by the Francophone organization.

The next summit, scheduled for October 2008, will be held in Quebec City, Canada.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Local paper seeks clarification over the e-government’s project.



Ten months after Vice-President Joseph Belmont’s declaration that “efforts towards the government offering electronic services continue to edge closer to realisation,” questions are being raised about what is happening to the e-government project.

In a rare article on ICT issues, the latest issue of the (Le Nouveau)Seychelles Weekly says the ministry concerned should enlighten the public about the demise of this project.

On its popular page 3 column “As told to Troukler,” the headline screams: What on earth happened to the e-government project? Troukler (the columnist) is the Creole description for a simple man of great wisdom, feared by many because of his uncanny ability to see things as they really are.

The columnist reminds its readers that it was amidst much “fanfare and publicity,” that Seychelles announced its intention to introduce the project. An expert was flown in from Canada to advise the government on the virtues and benefits of e-government.

Speakin about the project in January, the principal Secretary for technology, Benjamin Choppy said: “At the moment, the MITC is working with different government ministries and departments, assisting them with their computerisation processes.”

The column says it is incomprehensible why the government did not embark on this project at all.

As Seychelles is an archipelago, one of the many benefits of the project is that people from all the inhabited islands will eventually be able to apply for driving licences, planning permission, passports, a plot of land and file Pension Fund returns, etc, online from their own premises and without having to come to the main island Mahé at great expense.

Editor’s note: Seychelles Digital has reported on the e-government’s initiative. I’ve also approached various local ICT specialists about this project and there are indications that there are problems in its implementation.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Protests over freedom of expression.



The normally peaceful islands of the Seychelles have witnessed a rare eclipse of political unrests over the rights to operate private radio.

The violence between protestors and riot police took place on Tuesday (03rd October)during the sitting of the National Assembly to vote on the Amendment of
the Broadcasting and telecommunication Bill 2006.

A group of opposition supporters had gathered to protest against the move accusing the ruling SPPF party of robbing their constitutional right of freedom of expression.

They insisted on signing a petition calling on the President not to sign the Amendments into law.

The police said the protest was illegal and responded by using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

A move condemned by the international media rights body Reporters Without Borders (RSF)as “excessive.”

The Opposition Leader Wavel Ramkalawan was assaulted and wounded during the unrest and was hostipalised together with four others.

The health authorities reported that 25 people reported for medical treatments, whilst police detained SNP's Secretary General Roger Mancienne.

The amendments seek to prohibit all political parties; religious organisations or person(s) affiliated to a political group to own a license to operate a private radio station.

The government argued that allowing the opposite might incite future unrest, giving the cause of the Rwandan genocide as an example.

In his address before the assembly the minister for technology Jacquelin Dugasse says the move was to stop the Seychelles National Party (SNP)'s attempt to launch it's own radio station.

Seychelles is not inventing an undemocratic rule. South Africa, Mauritius and the United Kingdom have similar laws and they are all democratic models,” say Dugasse.

But Mr Ramkalawan characterised the move as unconstitutional and said the debate is much larger than banning particular interest groups. He objected to the R800, 000 ($149, 000) annual radio license fee and labeled the national broadcaster, SBC the “government mouthpiece.”

If the SBC was fulfilling its mandate objectively, Seychelles would not need
another radio station. Above all through its signatory of the various international conventions, the government should safeguard the people's right to freedom of expression
.”

The amendment was approved unanimously in the absence of the opposition members, who walked out in protest over the police handling of the demonstration.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Only electronic visa application forms are now valid.



Since October 2006, only electronic visa application forms are accepted for US visa requests, following a decision taken US State Department.

The policy is being applied worldwide.

In a press communiqué the State Department says the move will permit a rapid process of nonimmigrant visa applications and provide more efficient service.

Individuals who do not have access to the Internet at home or in offices may access the forms at any one of the multiple Internet cafes located in Seychelles.

Information must be entered into the system and the application, with its barcode, must be printed out and sent to the consular section for application.

The on-line visa forms can be downloaded from the US State Department website at http://evisaforms.state.gov.

Further information on the visa application procedures, can be obtained on the embassy’s website at http://mauritius.usembassy.gov.