Jeevan Robinson
Thursday, August 25, 2011
An email was delivered to me two days ago, stating that I may find the contents useful. It was a video informing our news desk about the historic agreement between CKLN and LIME to create C@ribNET.
I already knew of CKLN, which is the Caribbean Knowledge & Learning Network (CKLN), headed by CEO, Ken Sylvester. Having watched the video sent to MNI Alive, I wanted to learn a bit more about CKLN and their deal with LIME. What was it about? What are the benefits and to whom? What sectors and industries will it aid in the advancement of the region? These were but a cross section of the questions that came to mind.
I proceeded to do some research and I am very thrilled to be penning this feature based on the information I have acquired.
The region's telecommunications giant LIME and the visionaries at CKLN, led by Mr Ken Sylvester, must be roundly applauded, for as recently as this summer, signing a US$6.3 million deal to bring on stream C@ribNET. Garnered from statements released by CKLN, C@ribNET will'be a broadband fiber optic network, configured to connect tertiary institutions, hospitals, schools, government agencies and CARICOM institutions together, within the Region. C@ribNET will also seek to connect these institutions to similar institutions in Europe, USA, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
The agreement was signed at the Spice Island Beach Resort in Grand Anse, Grenada, under the patronage Grenada's Prime Minister, the Hon. Tillman Thomas. Their CEO, Mr Ken Sylvester, represented CKLN while LIME was represented by their Chief Operating Officer, Mr David Crawford.
The revolutionary nature of this deal cannot be downplayed and MNI Alive believes that this is the catalyst that will catapult the Region into efficiently utilizing the information communication highway as a major partner in the social and economic advancement of the Caribbean and our people.
CKLN's CEO, Ken Sylvester echoes these views, as he was certain to remind officials present at the signing of the agreement with LIME, that Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in July 2002, noted that Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have real potential to enhance and integrate Caribbean societies in areas such as education, health, poverty reduction, delivery of public services and commerce. The potential to utilize technology to overcome many of the constraints inherent in the Caribbean and other small states is both compelling and challenging.
So what does the deal with LIME aim to achieve specifically in the delivery of services to meet the commendable objectives of CKLN?
MNI Alive understands that the deal as signed, will require LIME, over a two year period, to provide high-end, upgradeable connectivity that will become the network of choice for education and research collaboration within the Caribbean. LIME has also agreed to provide nothing less than the highest quality of internet connectivity that will place the regional network on par with internationally accepted standards. In addition LIME will conduct and facilitate training of technical staff at the respective country network operation centers.
CKLN's role will thus be to provide the administrative controls, monitoring and operations of the C@ribNET network, as well as facilitate the sustainability of the network after the initial 2-year period.
There is an estimate of around 150 tertiary level institutions in the English speaking Caribbean according to information released by CKLN. CEO, Ken Sylvester says, '"A dedicated regional network like C@ribNET enables our tertiary and other public institutions to collaborate and share knowledge, develop courses and programmes and ultimately allow access to learning for the thousands of qualified students that otherwise have no access to advanced education."
There is a host of information that is available about CKLN and the C@ribNET initiative by logging on to www.ckln.org
MNI Alive offers our full backing to this initiative as it further enunciates our mission and vision here at MNI Alive, of creating a globally connected Caribbean utilising the efficiency of Information Communication Technologies. CKLN & LIME have moved towards significantly breaking down barriers of access and connectivity within the region. Now, our human capital within the region and globally can only be enhanced further once this initiative begins to take root.
Jeevan Robinson is Editor-in-Chief of MNI Alive. He can be reached at jeevan@mnialive.com
