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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013. 3.
News 3
NTRC holds publicity drive
by GLORIAH…
THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY COMMISSION (NTRC) held a Publicity Drive last Friday, 25th, October, under the gallery of the National Postal Corporation in Kingstown. According to Mr. Kyron Duncan, Director of the Universal Service Fund (USF) within the NTRC, the Public Drive was hosted to create awareness about the activities of the NTRC, with emphasis on the seven projects of the Universal Service Fund; to sensitize persons to what the USF does; and to provide information on the NTRC’s “I2 Competition 2013”.
The National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
According to Mr. Duncan, the NTRC is the telecommunications regulators in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the mission to “efficiently monitor the operations of Telecommunications Services under the laws of SVG, while providing an open market to all telecommunications providers, ensuring fair treatment for consumers and providing Universal Service to Vincentians.”
The Universal Service Fund The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a fund used by the NTRC to
The NTRC took to the streets to highlight its work, and the public welcomed the opportunity. compensate any telecom provider who is required to provide or promote Universal Service. It has embarked on a number of projects which include: the Internet Project, providing internet access nationwide at various Learning Resource Centres; the Schools’ Project, providing wireless internet services to 107 schools in SVG’; the Maritime Project that has improved the VHF maritime coverage around SVG; the Police Station and Health Centre Project, which has either introduced or improved wireless
broadband internet access to Police Stations and Health Centres; THE Community Centres Project, increasing access to wireless Internet service at Community Centres; the SMART Project, providing specialized supplementary ICT training capabilities at the SVG Community College.
using their imagination and creativity to showcase their inclination towards innovation. It will focus mainly on the development and presentation of projects in the form of ‘Idea and Mobile Applications’. Participants will be required to provide detailed description of
The NTRC’s I2 Competition 2013
Government’s borrowing limit increased
The I2 Competition has been created to give students the opportunity to change the world
Ray Williams gets kudos VINCENTIAN BORN RAY WILLIAMS, who was honoured with a Technical Grammy Award for Excellence in 2012, came in for recognition last Tuesday, during a House of Assembly sitting. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves pointed to Williams’s accolades as an example of one seizing opportunities to advance. The Prime Minister referred to Williams’s work with world renowned artistes like Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. Williams’s involvement in arts and music as a youth was used as indication of the pattern youngsters should follow. Gonsalves pointed to Williams’s parental
guidance which led him to set up a facility to teach people in 1995. Williams, son of former Police Inspector Claude Williams and Head Teacher Margaret Williams, left here in 1980 for Canada. He fused his foundation in music with technology and was instrumental in the production and promotion of Melodyne Software, which is widely used in recording studios to refine vocal performances to a level of perfection that was not previously possible. Williams set up his own Steinberg Canada Music Software in 1991, and though he has since traversed a distant journey from his hometown of
Chateubelair and honed his skills in Canada, he has not given up his roots. He has helped with the installation of many recording studios here. During this recent visit, Williams worked along with the Information Technology Department in a series of lectures and workshops. Culture and Tourism Minister Cecil McKie acknowledged Williams’s presence at last Tuesday’s House of Assembly sitting. He alluded to Williams’s family connections to Jules and Willis Williams, foundation members of the Band Touch, and proprietors and operators of Windy Recording Studios and WE FM
their idea, what it will do and who will use it. Eligibility is open to all students of secondary schools and all divisions of the SVG Community College. The competition will be held from October 18th, 2013 to January 31st, 2014. Further information is available at: www.ntrc.vc.
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Ray Williams has been a key pioneer of Canada’s music software trade ever since establishing Steinberg Canada in 1991. Radio. Look out for a full interview with Ray Williams in next week’s edition of THE VINCENTIAN.
“We need to put money into banana production,” the former Prime Minister stated. He noted that “we have economic difficulties,” but that not all of the problems were as a result of the international crisis. For Eustace, other adjustments had to be made. He indicated the need to “look more deeply at the finances of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” Opposition parliamentarians St. Clair Leacock, the Central Kingstown representative, Daniel Cummings (West Kingstown), Dr. Godwin Friday (Northern Grenadines) also contributed to the debate. They followed Eustace’s cue in support of the resolution, but their addresses were spiced with excerpts of derision of the government’s handling of the country’s economic affairs. Transport and Works Minister Julian Francis confessed that there were difficulties in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but he rejected the notion of gloom and doom by the opposition parliamentarians. Dr. Gonsalves expressed pleasure with the support from the members of Parliament when he wound up the debate. He described the government’s decision to borrow the money as “a sensible one.” The sitting of the House was expected to continue yesterday Thursday, October 31.