Saint Lucia is now moving at light speed towards faster Internet service through much improved availability of Fourth Generation, 4G, wireless broadband.

The point was made emphatically as local telecommunications providers launched their 4G services. Minister responsible for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Hon Dr. James Fletcher said at Digicel's 4G launch, the government is determined to close Saint Lucia's digital divide.

The 2010 Census revealed significant disparity in Internet penetration between the north of the island (Gros Islet - 47.9% and Castries - 36%) and the penetration rates in Canaries, Choiseul, Dennery, Anse La Raye and Laborie (13.2% to 23%).

It is for this reason, said Minister Fletcher, the Cabinet of Ministers provided concessions to telecommunications service providers to encourage an upgrade in wireless broadband to 4G.

"Cabinet’s granting of these concessions was part of a deliberate strategy to improve the economic competitiveness of our island and broaden the opportunities available to our citizens for learning and working," the Minister said in his remarks at the launch.

In 2014, the government took decisive steps to develop the environment that will allow Saint Lucia to take advantage of the benefits that should accrue with the advent of wireless broadband. These steps included a new government web portal – Our Government; a new digitization centre; the launch of the Saint Lucia Internet Exchange Point – SLIX; and the recent launch of the $2.5 million ICT Business Incubation and Training Grant funding facility that provides grant funds for ICT business start-ups and training, of up to $100,000.

"Soon, we hope to evolve this into a virtual ICT academy, where we will team up with local training providers and the private sector to marry training in ICT, business, and soft skills with the funds to allow the trainees to take their newly-developed talents to another level," Dr. Fletcher said.

According to the technology minister there is a new government initiative on the horizon - GINet, or Government Island-wide Network. This, he says, will allow the government to use the ubiquity of the mobile device, the presence of wireless broadband, and an expanding range of government online services, to deliver m-Government, or mobile-government to citizens.

The full text of the Minister's speech can be found at the bottom of this article - just click to download.