Gov’t plans to use technology to stimulate growth

GOVERNMENT on Monday night kick-started its Smart Barbados initiative with Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology, Senator Kay McConney saying that the programme intends to put Barbados on a trajectory of transformation and economic growth.

Senator McConney, who gave remarks at the opening ceremony of a week of activities launching Smart Barbados at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, said the programme is about building a strong economy where people matter.

She also told the audience who included Government and private sector officials, that the transformation earmarked will include innovation, technology, and the indomitable spirit of a Barbados that can engage with the world.

Senator McConney said that the partnerships with other stakeholders would also clarify the country’s vision and determine the way forward.

“Smart Barbados then is not just what we do with technology, but more fundamentally it is what we do with our minds, how we create, how we design, how we problem solve, for this country and the world,” she reasoned.

Explaining what this new initiative means to Barbados and the way of doing business, the Minister pointed out that “we have to come back to ourselves with an answer that is more robust”.

The Minister indicated that the seeds for Smart Barbados were nurtured by the Barbados Labour Party which had outlined the plan in its general election manifesto.

She said that this is the first Smart Barbados Week and that her Ministry is proud to partner with such private sector bodies including the Barbados International Business Association, the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Small Business Association and the Internet Society (Barbados Chapter) as the organising partners to bring the event.

“This partnership means a lot to us and we wish it would continue long beyond this week,” Ms. McConney said.

She pointed out that one of the reasons they have gone for the partnership is that it is not simply that people can have a buy-in, but in what can be created for Barbados.

The Minister said there are plans to continue that partnership in the future by bringing along others so as to reflect a relationship which is multifaceted with a diverse perception of all.

She added that as the years go by, Barbados’ smart evolution will not just be a showcase, but such that the week will see the difference that transformation can bring about and how much smart Barbados can mean to people’s lives.