Definition of Data

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Main Focus of Document

Strategy to ensure the development of ICT to improve the country and citizens' lives

Target Beneficiaries or Sector

citizens

Key Elements

The main objective of the policy is to set a roadmap for economic growth and social development in Guyana through the promotion of ICT development, to improve access to government services, to create a new generation of citizens who can use ICTs and to ensure that access to ICTs is reliable and affordable for all. 

The overall objective of the Strategy is to accelerate economic growth and social development in Guyana. The specific objectives include:
- To promote the development of ICT services and businesses to increase job opportunities and generally to improve the economic and social well-being of Guyanese.
- To improve the delivery of government and other public services and ensure they can be accessed by all citizens, This includes information on government activities and opportunities, public health, education and social development services.
- To improve the competitiveness of existing industries and to facilitate the sustainable development of new enterprises, thereby supporting economic diversification.
- To increase Guyana’s international competitiveness in the delivery of goods and services to the global marketplace.
- To develop pertinent, strategic and focused network infrastructure to enable access to information and knowledge.
- To support national programmes and initiatives which foster social cohesion.
- To ensure access to reliable ICT at the lowest sustainable cost so that all Guyanese have the opportunity of participating in the information and knowledge society.
- To create a new generation of citizens that can use ICTs to leapfrog Guyana’s development.
- To develop and implement the necessary policies, laws and regulations that support the sustainable development of the ICT sector.
- To modernize Guyana’s Public Administration, Industry, Commerce and Communications sectors.
- To support initiatives to encourage innovation and creation in the ICT sector.

The overall policy environment, the degree of transparency and inclusion, and, more specially, the regulatory environment, can all have a major impact on the development dynamic. In addition, the implementation of the key strategic actions identified under each of the thematic areas considered – human capacity, content and applications, infrastructure, enterprise – as well as policies supportive of fair competition, are important to harnessing the potential of ICT in Guyana and to achieving the country's development goals.

The ICT Strategy presents the results of the deliberations. The strategic objectives identified for each thematic area are as follows:
 
Capacity Building
1. Develop and implement policies to integrate ICT into the education and training system.
2. Develop and implement an effective scheme for skill retention.
3. Encourage partnerships to facilitate effective knowledge management.
4. Develop programmes to strengthen human capacity of the broader society.

Development of Content and Applications
1. Encourage and promote development and dissemination of local content.
2. Improve the public’s access to content.
3. Develop and implement appropriate applications.
4. Encourage partnerships among community networks (public, private and citizens in diaspora) in order to facilitate bottom-up approaches and inclusiveness.
5. Develop and implement an e-government strategy.
6. Develop and implement programmes geared to enhance delivery of health, education, tourism, commerce, banking, environmental services etc. using ICT.
7. Enhance Guyana’s disaster preparedness and mitigation capabilities through the application of ICT.

Infrastructure and connectivity
1. Promote ubiquitous access to information and knowledge.
2. Promote access to reliable and advanced information infrastructure and internet access services at the lowest sustainable prices in all regions of Guyana.
3. Develop adequate infrastructure for Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Recovery.

Legislative and regulatory regime
1. Develop a legislative and regulatory framework to support a robust ICT infrastructure.
2. Develop a legislative and regulatory framework to foster and support utilization of ICT.
 
IT enterprise development
1. Establish IT Parks with adequate, robust and redundant infrastructure
2. Use of current IT technology platform for niche enterprises
3. Promote the development of software

Strategic actions
1) To develop and implement strategies to integrate ICT into the education and training system
a) Develop strategies for continuous ICT training for teachers at all levels and relevant to subjects
b) Adopt and adapt standardized ICT curricula across all training institutions
c) Promote the increment of learning opportunities by facilitating distance learning
d) Promote the development of basic ICT skills workshops for all students. All primary, secondary and university graduates should be ICT literate.
e) Include open-source in the ICT curriculum.
f) Promote ICT-related courses at university/tertiary level and specific teaching in highly advanced areas, such as GIS, to better serve industry and expand the base of supportive certificate and diploma level at college level.
g) Encourage and support the University of Guyana to enlarge the scope and depth of ICT in all areas of study.
h) Create the establishment of specialized ICT centres in institutes of higher learning. Provision of affordable ICT equipment for public training institutions.
i) Encourage the interconnection of schools, universities and research centres to national and international distance education facilities, national and international databases, libraries, research laboratories and computing facilities.
j) Subscribe to agreement with Partners in Learning Programme (Microsoft) to reduce the cost of licensing in the education sector.
k) Promote linkages to other relevant international learning institutions

2) To develop and implement an effective scheme for skills retention
a) Provide support to the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions to offer relevant ICT programmes responsive to the needs of the ICT sector.
b) Facilitate the training of a critical mass of skilled ICT professionals and experts to sustain Guyana’s use of ICTs for development.
c) Create a national IT education centre.
d) Develop special programmes for retention of local ICT talent and reduced skilled migration.
e) Encourage the development of basic ICT skills workshops for all public sector personnel.
f) Provide incentives to encourage the private sector to offer specialized training.
g) Develop and approve a national standard for qualification, recognition and qualification equivalence for ICT professionals.
h) Extend the scope of parastatal research institutions such as the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) to include innovations in the use of new ICT for particular sectors.
i) Encourage corporations to appreciate ICT competent staff and conduct ICT training for managerial and staff personnel.
j) Encourage assessment and promotion of public sector personnel to include ICT competency.
k) Ensure the equitable access of disadvantaged groups to ICT.
l) Attract skilled ICT workers from abroad by offering benefits, ease of immigration, quick office set-up, and packages to facilitate participation.
m) Encourage and support IT institutions providing national and international certification of IT.

3) To encourage partnerships to facilitate effective knowledge management.
a) Encourage partnerships at community levels, religious organizations, and schools with the private sector and non-governmental organisations to provide attachment programmes for students and community.
b) Encourage the private sector to persuade students, through media and career fairs, to appreciate and pursue ICT.
c) Encourage ICT research and development and partnership with the private sector and international educational/research centres.
d) Encourage student placements in international ICT corporations.
e) Provide research and development grants to competing research centres in identified specialized areas.
f) Encourage the hosting of conferences, workshops and seminars on the latest technological issues and trends to ensure dialogue and engagement.
g) Increase the awareness of ICT for all administrators and personnel in all sectors of the economy, including public administration; business; education; training; health; tourism; employment; environment; agriculture; and science.
h) Encourage the systematic use of ICT in all sectors.

4) To develop programmes to strengthen human capacity of the broader society.
a) Develop community access points to support community development networks and localized training.
b) Facilitate the development of special multimedia-based training programmes, tailored to local community needs.
c) Decentralize trade shows and ICT training centres.
d) Promote the adoption of ICT among small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
e) Encourage national excellence awards for ICT innovative solutions in selected categories of the economy and social development.
f) Facilitate the issuance of software licences and provide tax incentives on innovative products targeted for development.
g) Encourage acceptance of student placements within corporations and governmental agencies.
h) Develop mechanisms and incentives to ensure technology and knowledge transfer.

1) To develop and implement appropriate applications
a) Encourage decision makers and ICT personnel in government agencies and the private sector to seek new ways of disseminating and integrating digital content relating to their agencies/ministries
b) Encourage ICT projects to consider process re-engineering, not simply process-replication, at the project formulation stage.
c) Implement value-for-money audits of ICT projects and the reengineering process by the Audit Office of Guyana; and publication of findings.
d) Provide support to relevant institutions including, the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) to develop the infrastructure and services to support  knowledge-sharing, particularly for the benefit of Guyana’s educational, industrial and commercial sectors.
e) Develop online databases in areas such as stocks of drugs and medical supplies and information on drugs, local human resources, availability of local facilities, local health care resources, government  tenders and procurement, government jobs, consultancy opportunities and recruitment, etc.
f) Develop Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) to create a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and shift the decision-making and responses in health, public welfare, public infrastructure management (sea defences, roads, water and electricity  utilities), crime, disaster preparedness and other expansive/ important issues towards data-driven bases.
g) The recommendations of the approved National Policy on GIS provide a foundation for the NSDI and shall be implemented by government agencies.
h) The existing GIS systems at the Lands & Surveys Commission, Forestry Commission, Geology & Mines Commission, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Sea Defences Unit, Iwokrama International Centre and in private firms provide a foundation for the NSDI.
i) Develop e-learning platforms to increase the learning opportunities for Guyanese.

2) To encourage partnerships that would themselves engender novel applications and facilitate bottom-up approaches and inclusiveness
a) Encourage a forum (e.g. a professional association) and dissemination of information that would help to make developers knowledgeable about standards, interoperability and other relevant considerations in ICT
b) Encourage partnerships with community networks (including those in  the Diaspora) in order to facilitate bottom-up approaches and inclusiveness.
c) Encourage public-private partnerships in application development.

3) To develop and implement a central and motivating e- government strategy
a) Elaborate an appropriate e-government strategy, which would:
i) Increase transparency, accountability and accessibility
ii) Eliminate duplication of efforts
iii) Support sharing of resources
iv) Provide for sustainability
v) Promote and facilitate innovation and development of content and applications at all governmental agencies
b) Establish the government agency that would be responsible for coordinating and implementing the development and implementation of e-government.

4) To promote the development and use of e-commerce
a) Enable legislation to encourage the development of e-commerce and electronic payment.
b) Encourage the development of ‘virtual malls’ showcasing storefronts and products (for domestic and international benefit).
 
5) To  improve Guyana’s disaster preparedness and mitigation capabilities through the application of ICT.
a) Natural disasters have had a far reaching effect on the lives of Guyanese and the national economy, so ICT applications in Disaster Preparedness and Response efforts:
i) Are strongly encouraged
ii) Shall have direct funding for execution
b) To provide early detection and warning of natural disasters, coordinated planning for and management of responses, and mitigation of their effects on Guyanese and Guyana, responsible national agencies will establish:
i) Monitoring facilities
ii) Reporting and early warning routes
iii) Spatial Decision Support Systems for planning and managing the response to natural disasters.
c) To improve Guyana's disaster preparedness, and with a view to ensuring interoperability, efficiency and interagency coordination:
i) Responsible national agencies will put in place automated monitoring devices, with reliable track records.
ii) Responsible national agencies will put in place a reliable reporting and early warning network for point agencies.
iii) Responsible national agencies will put in place a reliable notification network for early responders.
iv) A national Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) will be established to compile relevant data on a routine basis, conduct scenario-estimation and planning functions and actively manage disaster responses from pre- to post-disaster.
v) Responsible national agencies will organize and implement a redundant emergency broadcast system for the public utilizing:
(1) Public radio channels
(2) Public and private television channels
(3) Mobile SMS channels
vi) Use of  telecommunication  frequencies/ bands will be deliberately, sensibly and openly harmonised with countries of the region
vii) The establishment of amateur radio will be encouraged by fiscal and other measures and a management agency appointed to encourage sustained and standards-based growth of the system 
viii) Education/dissemination of information on monitoring systems, responsible agencies and their roles and preparatory advice to the public will be actively and routinely done via:
(1) The print, radio and television media
(2) The primary, secondary and tertiary education systems
(3) An internet portal
d) To build redundancy and increase the probability of useful information flows and responses during and post-disaster, citizens will be encouraged to equip themselves with well-known, alternative means of communication.
e) To leverage the combined analytical, planning and research resources of the global academic and professional communities, data and information generated by monitoring systems shall be suitably formatted and made publicly available via a web portal.

To develop a legislative and regulatory framework to support a robust ICT infrastructure
Development of the Internet and ICTs is highly dependent on the availability and quality of telecommunications infrastructure (or “information” infrastructure as it is increasingly referred to). Efficient ICT applications in general and particularly, efficient e-commerce markets require reasonably priced access to reliable high-speed telecommunications services and facilities. It is evident that lack of such infrastructure has retarded ICT development in many countries.
It is recognized that the requisite legislative and regulatory framework for governing the national information infrastructure must comprise a mix of telecommunications laws and regulations, radio communication (frequency spectrum licensing and management) laws and competition laws.
1. A new Telecommunications or Information and Communications Technology Act will be tabled for enactment to replace the Telecommunications Act, 1990 (No. 27 of 1990). The new Act will establish the framework for fostering the growth and development and regulation of the national information infrastructure and will provide the main rules for activities in the sector; these will include promotion of competition at all levels as effective competition has proven to be essential for increasing efficiency and lowering costs.  This new law will be consistent with international norms.
 2. Regulations will be promulgated to prescribe the detailed rules for activities in the sector. The major regulations will be as follows:
• Authorisation (including licensing) Regulations – clarity, predictability being the principal elements thereof.
• Interconnection Regulations – will provide for interconnection of all facilities-based operators in order to allow efficient communications between subscribers of all networks on a seamless basis.
• Radiocommunication Regulations will establish rules for management of the frequency spectrum, allocation of frequency bands and licensing of spectrum users with a view to ensuring the optimization of the frequency spectrum.
• Universal access regulations will set rules for expansion of access to telecommunications and internet information services by all citizens of Guyana, including the establishment of the new Universal Access Fund.
• Competition Laws and Regulations will establish the fair trading principles to prohibit anti-competitive conduct, such as predatory pricing, unlawful cross-subsidization and horizontal agreements on pricing.
• Price regulations will allow for deregulation of prices for services in effectively competitive markets and possibly for the establishment of price caps and floors for certain key services such as public voice telephone services and leased lines.
• Consumer protection regulations will establish the basic rules for relation between providers of public telecommunications services and their consumers and will relate to payment of bills, disconnection of services, notices regarding rates and rate changes, etc.

To develop a legislative and regulatory framework to foster and support utilization of ICT
1. Develop, approve and table for enactment the necessary legislation for e-Commerce
It is recognised that the legal infrastructure is as important as the physical infrastructure in order to fully enable ICT utilization and applications, including e-commerce. Some of the issues that are viewed as critical for the development and regulation of e-commerce include the legal authorization of digital signatures and the enforcement of digital transactions. A draft e-Commerce Bill has been prepared and circulated for public comment. This draft Bill provides, inter alia, for:
 • the legal recognition of digital signatures,
• the legal recognition of electronic records,
• the formation of contracts electronically e.g. by exchange of e- mails,
• the electronic delivery of legal documents,
• the production in evidence of an electronic version of an original document,
• the retention and inspection of original legal documents in electronic format,
• rules relating to attributing an electronic record to the originator,
• rules dealing with the validity of acknowledgments of electronic messages, the time at which the message is sent and received and the place at which it is received,
• the establishment of a code of conduct in relation to e-commerce service providers and intermediaries,
• the establishment of an e-Commerce Advisory Board,
• the making of regulations regarding data protection,
• the making of regulations regarding administration of the country code top level domain name,
The e-Commerce Bill will be finalized and tabled for enactment.

2. Amendment of current laws
Existing laws and regulations will be examined to determine whether amendments thereto are required for the application of such laws to internet usage and ICT applications and, if required, the necessary amendments will be made:
These include:
• Tax laws – including income tax, corporate tax, value added tax, withholding tax, etc. for applicability to transactions of business over networks
• Sales of Goods Act for liability for defective or injurious products sold via the internet
• Public order laws, including, gambling, and lotteries for applicability to such online activities
• Customs Act for applicability to goods and services delivered electronically
• Insurance Act
• Securities Act for applicability to online discussion and trading in securities
• Regulated professions, medicine, law, accounting engineering for applicability to recognition of online training and electronic certification
• Evidence Act
• Banking Act
• National security Laws for applicability to online terrorist activities and bomb making instructions
• Criminal Law (offences) Act and Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act
• Defamation laws to address defamatory statements expressed online
• Intellectual Property Rights laws

3. New laws and regulations
New laws and regulations will be enacted to address other issues including the following:
• Privacy and data protection – including security of the internet and protection of individual’s rights to the privacy of their personal information are key measures for building public trust in utilizing the Internet and ICT. New legislation must address these issues as well as regulate unsolicited commercial messages by e-mail, restrictions on selling mailing lists or using credit card transaction data. Such laws will also address children’s privacy protection (particularly with respect to pornography and violence), and regulation of a web site operator’s collection, unauthorized use and disclosure of personal information.
• Electronic crime – (any crime that in some way or other involves the use of ICT) will address, inter alia, computer related fraud and forgery, child pornography, copyright infringements, unauthorized access, unauthorized modification of data, unauthorized impairment of electronic communication.
• Information Law – explore and if feasible enact an access to information Law.
• ISP Liability
• Domain Names
• Technology Transfer
• Online Dispute Resolution

Efforts will also be made to:
- Develop the necessary legislative support to enable contracts for services over distances, to protect local companies and assure their fulfillment
- Explore the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
- Engage in technology transfer blueprints in partnership with foreign corporations and research centres
- Encourage the development of suitable restrictions on ICT access technologies that facilitate cyber crime and compromise national security
- Establish standards for performance in the ICT sector
- Provide support to the Guyana national bureau of standards to incorporate the relevant standards into their repertoire of standards
 

Policy/Regulation Mirrors

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