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Ministry of Education and Sports Introduces the Information and
Telecommunication Improvement Project

20 March, 2001 - Belmopan
The Ministry of Education has launched its Belize Information and
Telecommunication Improvement Project that includes the training of
teachers in Information Technology and the donation of 5,000 computers
to various Schools. This initiative was developed to produce an
integrated and sustainable public sector Education and Information
Telecommunication Network.

In addition to this, the project along with the donated 5,000 computers
will increase the access to digital information and its use by students
and teachers alike. This endeavor will increase the capacity of Belize
to successfully participate in global activities and provide more
profitable opportunities to Belizean Entrepreneurs.

In order to do this the Ministry of Education will be implementing the
following project components:
1. Develop integrated and sustainable public IT infrastructure through
the construction of a network of IT towers all over the country.
2. Link Schools, Libraries, Government and other facilities to the
Public IT infrastructure.
3. Increase access to digital infromation and its use to the public by
training teachers, public officers and employees of the Government of
Belize Statutory Boards.
4. Expand the general population's access to the public
information and telecommunication system.
5. Develop a comprehensive public sector information and
telecommunications policy.
6. Strengthen and expand the management capacity of both the Employment
Training and Education Services Unit of the Ministry of Education and of
the Planning Project and Performance Measuring Unit of the Ministry of
Education.

All participating schools will sign a memorandum of understanding for
the School's Computer Wide Area network. This document outlines
the services that will be provided by the Ministry of Education and
Sports and the Responsibilities that each school has upon the acquiring
of the computer network. The memorandum also details the information
needed by the Ministry of Education from the Managing authority of the
participating schools. Each participant will receive a copy of the
document that will be signed by representatives from the Ministry of
Education and Sports and the school's Managing Authority.

Copied from newsletter from the Govt. of Belize

A lot of good it does to beef up computer inventory. Like putting the cart in front of the horse. Better fix the core problem first and get a decent ISP in here. The existing service is taxed enoughed without adding another 5000 computers!

Just a personal opinion!

Please feel free to comment!

Guess you missed this news when it first broke. Gov't. has given the green light to Glenn Godfrey and his companies to develop a whole new telecommunications system to provide high speed access to the internet. As I understand it, he will, in return for this opportunity, provide the 5,000 computers to the schools.
Best part of all this is that he'll be up and running by the time the BTL monopoly runs out, and in a prime position to take over the entire phone system.

From CH5 TV:
Work begins on govt. telecom project

The government today released more information on
its project to bring Belize into the computer age and
at the same time kick our favourite telecom monopoly
where it hurts. A government press bulletin says that
the Ministry of Education has launched its effort to
train teachers to use the five thousand computers that
it is purchasing as part of a twenty million U.S. dollar
scheme to set up its own telecommunications
network. The initial purpose of the network will be to
use wireless technology to connect schools, libraries
and government departments to the internet and each
other, while later the infrastructure will form the
nucleus of a privately owned system that will compete
directly with Belize Telecommunications Limited. Work
will begin shortly on a nationwide network of towers
that will support the wireless system. The hardware
will be supplied by the Korean conglomerate LG
Electronics in a joint venture with the start-up local
telecom ITL, which is part of the Glenn Godfrey group
of companies. The deal with government allows
Godfrey to get a headstart in advance of the
expiration of BTL's private sector monopoly in 2003.
ITL was able to get its foot in the door when BTL
opted for a hardball policy of premium prices, big
profits and gargantuan dividends. The resulting bad PR
has made it possible for a sweetheart deal that would
normally raise more than a few eyebrows to fly
undetected under the radar of a public fed up with
crippling prices for phone and internet service.

Well....that's what happens when you don't have a TV.....LOL.....thanks for that info Jesse. It would be really nice if this plan goes through without a hitch.

I will remain skeptical until I see it happen considering Ashcroft's tight hold on the reins of BTL.

Money talks and seems to rule the world.

Keep me posted Jesse on any TV reports.....LOL

Actually I don't see Belize TV. CH5 is online with the news.

[This message has been edited by Jesse (edited 03-21-2001).]

Actuall

Actually, Glen's company, ITL, is setting up more than it appears at first glance. They are implementing an WLL system (Wireless Local Loop). This is essentially your own telephone/data infrastructure without BTL. It will be wireless, and will provide Internet (Data), Voice, and Cellular services countrywide. In other words - They are getting ready to kick butt. I hope the government keeps the competition open though!!

Does anyone happen to have an addy/phone # for this ITL Company? Just might be my ticket to moving to Belize!!

Dan... I'm in brrrland too... just south and east of you ......

This sounds great! I hope it will get implemented fast.

This is very interesting. My husband works for the telephone company in the US for almost 30 years. I was hoping he would be able to do something to help Belize. He will retire soon and this would allow me to spend time there. I don't know if he can go without working. I heard when I was there that the Electric Company is owned by the Canadians. Let us know if there is something we can do to help. We don't have the money to buy the Phone Company HA HA