11 years of Internet

“Better stay on the alert or you’ll risk finding yourself embarrassedly on the net!” is now a common catch phrase amongst the population of the tiny Seychelles archipelago.

This month as the country marks the 11th anniversary since it got connected to the world’s largest network, many argue the above statement goes to show how central this technology is in the islanders’ lives whilst others pointed out their mistrust for it.

A series of interviews the writer conducted as part of a special assignment for the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, show the public’s attitude to the Internet varies from one extreme to another.

Whilst 12-year-old Shannen Henrie calls it “cool,” because it can spares her from boredom, the technologically minded radio presenter Nathalie Rose describes the web as “information at your finger tips.” But for Mrs. Johnette Mambé a pensioner who lives at Cascade and who has never used a mobile phone or type on a computer, let alone know the meaning of the acronym ICT, the web is a total mystery. She simply shouts back “what?” to my question of what she likes about the web?

In a country where the vast majority of the population is employed by the government, this is where their primary Internet source is.

Latest figures published by the National Statistics Bureau show that home Internet accounts are taking much longer to catch on. From the 2003 figures, it has increased by only 1, 061 to a total 3, 872.

What is the future direction is now a $30 million question. Whilst the government wants every home with an Internet connection by 2015, the private sector is more worried about how the struggling economy will raise the $30 million needed to transfer the islands’ connectivity from satellite to submarine fibre optic cable?

“Cost is irrelevant, but speed not!,” cautioned VCS Chief Executive Mark Hoaureau. With the increasing number of users among the younger generation especially with the recent introduction of Internet in all secondary schools, one way or another, the fund will have to be raised.

"Seychelles geographical isolation means that it can benefit very highly from the Internet which will facilitate very cost effective communications and accessibility to the international market," expalined Tessa Siu from the Social Development Department.

The CBA assignment concluded that the business community finds it economical in terms of cutting down on some operational costs, the growing tourism industry sees it as a direct access to once inaccessible markets and traders likewise approve of its marketing potential.

But not everyone is buying all these pros. Quoting from Thomas Knowles' song entitled "Konsole" which says, “each time I tried to write, the tears of sadness damped my note pads,” Lina Laurence from the local radio station says the web lacks intimacy. “For me - It can never create this song’s imagery”.

Editor’s Note: The population concerns (from the lead) stamped from the scandal that rocked the islands following the vast circulation of nude photographs of local girls via email.