Infotech experts hold forum
Information Technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and Belize has only in recent years begun to see it’s potential. The Belize Information Technology Professionals Association was recently formed by computer experts who had worked together in 1999 on the Y2K task force. BITPA has organized a forum for tonight to facilitate discussions between industry experts and the public about the future of I.T. in Belize’s economy. BITPA’s Secretary, Sean Fuller, says that it’s time for businesses to decide where they want to go with technology.
Sean Fuller, Secretary, BITPA
“This forum is basically to facilitate discussions around the issues that can impact information technology in this country. We’ve invited four panelists to discuss and to field questions from the audience about the future of information technology in this country. These four panelists are Belize Telecommunications Limited, DataPro, or the DataPro Group, the government of Belize and the University of Belize.”
Jose Sanchez
“What are the issues?”
Sean Fuller
“Some of the issues that we want to discuss is the future of telecommunication in this country. We know that B.T.L.’s exclusive telecommunications license expires in 2002. We want to know what the government is planning on doing as far as re-issuing that license to B.T.L. or opening that market to anyone that wants to compete as far as telecommunications. Other issues involve the educational system in this country as far as far as information technology. What is the Ministry of Education doing, what is the University of Belize doing to enhance and to promote information technology as a curriculum in those organizations?”
“Additionally we want to know what the two major players: B.T.L. and the upcoming company DataPro is doing as far as promoting telecommunication, networking, computer networking, pretty much data communication between different companies.”
The forum is being held tonight at the Princess Hotel’s stateroom at seven-thirty. Fuller says that anyone interested in information technology should attend.
