Thanks for the informative note. Have you had any recent conversations with either Greg Stewart (Jamaica) or Terence Phillip (Trinidad) about Microsoft's rather engaged interest in working with the Caribbean region?
While I am admittedly unaware of the NGO meetings to which you refer below, our group has been included in many different discussions pertinent to the continued growth of community computer technology centres in Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Nevis, Dominican Republic, and Haiti to date, and we have participated in several stateside and regional IT conferences specific to growing the Caribbean region through technology.
In any case, we would love to become more involved in the regional mailing lists to which you refer. Our admittedly boutique working model has resulted in several successful public/private sector business development initiatives, since its launch in 1999.
Regards Kimberly
At 03:01 PM 5/16/2005, Taran Rampersad wrote::
> It should be noted that as far as the Caribbean region goes, the Bahamas haven't been involved in any of the regional meetings with NGOs. Further, the regional NGOs are not leaning toward Microsoft in the Caribbean region, instead looking for more cost effective and locally controlled software - which bodes well for Open Source and Software Libre. If Microsoft wishes to help fund that, I'm sure that their money would be welcome. IBM has already assisted in endeavours in the region.
This does not mean that the Bahamas would not be welcome to the regional meetings. But I find it odd that someone as tied into regional issues in the Caribbean and Latin America as I am has to hear about this here, instead of the regional mailing lists. Working together in the region is the ultimate goal of the region, and while I do not have the authority to speak for the region I would find it difficult to believe that further cooperation would be frowned upon.
I'd certainly like to hear whether the Rotary Clubs wish to work with regional NGOs. I'd certainly put them in touch with regional institutions and email lists if they so desire.
-- Taran Rampersad Presently in: Panama City, Panama [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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