http://finance.gov.tt/documentlibrary/downloads/6/budget_2006.pdf
(PDF ; 380K)

Page 16 under Education :

"Mr. Speaker, under the Secondary Education Modernization Programme
there is a magnet school programme, now piloted at 16 secondary schools.
This programme allows students to pursue special concentration in areas
such as Business; Visual and Performing Arts; Science; Information
Technology; Physical Education; and Languages."

Such training will meet their particular talents and better equip them
for the world of work and afford them technological empowerment which is
critical in the fast paced, changing global economy. Given the benefits
to be derived through the magnet school programme, it is envisaged that
more schools will introduce this programme. The additional specialized
teaching resources and specialized equipment which would be required
will be made available by the Government.

In keeping with the technological requirements of a knowledge based work
force, the Government has embarked on an extensive programme to
integrate Information and Communications Technology into the primary and
secondary schools curricula. In this regard, computer labs will be
established, on a phased basis in clusters of 60 schools."


Page 33-34 under Telecommunications :

Telecommunications Liberalization Initiatives

"Mr. Speaker, Trinidad and Tobago has made significant progress in the
liberalization of the Telecommunications sector. This is critical to our
industrial development since telecommunications infrastructure is key to
increasing profitability and competitiveness in the global environment.

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has made
significant advancement in its operations. The Authority has issued two
concessions for Mobile Services; and seven concessions for International
Telecommunication Services, Fixed Wireless Access Networks and Cable
Television.

Mr. Speaker, accessibility to the technology for all citizens is a
principal objective of our National Telecommunications Plan. This is
being achieved in a very significant way through our now liberalized
telecommunications sector. Improved service and lower rates in high
speed, business and residential Internet service are already producing
increased usage. Homes with Internet access have risen from 8 percent to
17 percent in the past two years and we expect this figure to
increase significantly in the near future.

Broadband Programme

Mr. Speaker, broadband is a crucial infrastructure for achieving
economic, social and scientific goals for the development of a
knowledge-based society. The Government has an ambitious action plan to
provide broadband coverage throughout the country and our aim is to
achieve ‘on demand’ availability to at least 80 percent of our
population at the lowest unit cost in the Caribbean region by March 2008.

Mr. Speaker, the Broadband Services being provided at present in
Trinidad and Tobago are very expensive and out of the financial reach of
most of our citizens. Further, the broadband services are not available
in all areas across the country. The plan is to provide cheap and easy
access to wireless internet nationwide."


Page 49 under Technology :

Technology

Mr. Speaker, to reduce the cost of broadband service and to make access
to the wireless internet cheaper and more widely available nationwide we
propose that telecommunications equipments required for roll out of
internet and broadband services be exempted from import duties and VAT
for an initial period of two years commencing January 1, 2007. This
measure will require amendments to the VAT and Customs Acts.

In addition, we propose to exempt from VAT and Customs Duty all computer
peripherals including cables, speakers, mouse pads and anti-glare
screens. This measure will come into effect from January 1st 2007 and
will require amendments to the VAT Act and Customs Act.



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Dev T
Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society at http://ttcsweb.org/
"networking local computer users!"