PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor on Sunday, 17th of May congratulated via a press statement all telecommunication sector workers on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), which is being internationally observed today.
The theme for WTISD is “Telecommunications and ICTs: Drivers of innovation.” 17th of May has been identified as a day to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all telecommunication workers as well as all those working in ICT in this WTISD message. The work that you do on a daily basis is critical to our economy. Many systems are dependent on telecommunications and ICT, and both are indeed the drivers of innovation.
“All our telecommunications and ICT people have been at the forefront witnessing the technological changes and innovations that have taken place within the past 20 years. Sint Maarten has gone from the days of the telegraph to the internet and mobile broadband. The 17th of May is a day to reflect upon where technology had brought us and what the future may hold for us as country and as a people,” Minister Hon. Claret Connor said on Sunday.
The purpose of WTISD is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This year marks the 150th anniversary of ITU.
World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of ITU and the signing of the aforementioned convention in 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973.
In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called upon the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day, and to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the information Society raised by WSIS. The General Assembly adopted the resolution in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May.
