Announcing FLOS Caribbean.

Over the past five years, there has been significant growth in interest
in Free, Libré and Open Source (FLOS) software in the Caribbean. This
interest manifested itself in technical conferences, workshops, seminars
and the formation of various informal advocacy groups throughout the
region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana and St. Lucia.
In 2005, a group of FLOS advocates based in Trinidad and Tobago formally
launched FLOS Caribbean with the aim of fostering growth in the use of
Free, Libre and Open Source Software in Trinidad and Tobago and the
wider Caribbean region.

Free, Libré and Open Source software is a hybrid term. It generally
categorises any software where the complete source code is made
available to all by the author or copyright holder and allowing any
person, group or organisation to use, modify, publish and redistribute
said software and the changes made for the benefit and use by any other
person or group wishing to do so. FLOS software are released under
established and approved licenses, and are predicated on existing
copyright laws.

As a registered non-profit organisation, FLOS Caribbean aims to do the
following:

1.To promote the development and use of Free, Libré and Open Source
(FLOS) software in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region

2.To educate the Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean community on the
value and use of FLOS software as an acceptable alternative to
proprietary software.

3.To promote the professional development of Trinidad and Tobago and
Caribbean persons involved in FLOS software development

4.To maintain a Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean community of FLOS
developers, with a fraternal interest in FLOS.

Annual membership is open to anyone interested in the use, benefits and
development of FLOS software, and is presently available in three
categories: Corporate, Ordinary, and Student. Membership will be waived
for those who register before December 31st 2005.

The FLOS Caribbean Executive is currently comprised of Richard Jobity
(President), Allan Samaroo (Secretary) and Anil Ramnanan (Treasurer).

For more information about FLOS Caribbean, please contact:


FLOS Caribbean Secretariat
Email: info@...
Website: http://www.floscaribbean.org