New technology to be
made more accessible
MARIGOT--Making computers more affordable to low income families, reducing costs for internet access, and increasing availability of computer access in schools and youth centres were issues elected officials were in general agreement with, during a discussion forum at the second Internet and New Technologies Show held in Marigot over the weekend.
First Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Hamlet and General Councillor Guillaume Arnell took part in the forum together with invited businesses on Friday. Also attending was leader of the MAP party Alain Richardson.
“The discussions were very constructive in the sense of realising how the Internet impacts our daily lives and how it changes the way we do business,” noted show organiser Christophe Hénocq from Calypso Events. “There was positive feedback from businesses on finding ways to reduce costs in St. Martin to make new technology available to everyone. The politicians also indicated they would be willing to pick up part of the costs of computers and underprivileged persons in the future may be able to apply for financial assistance from the Mairie.”
The two-day show held in the Beach Plaza Hotel was fairly well attended by the public. Hénocq added some 70 students from three classes of the Lycée had also visited the exhibition. He said this type of show is designed more to create awareness rather than being a vehicle for businesses to sell their services.
“We had a better turnout on Saturday than Friday, and that prompted us to think about holding the show on just one day next year instead of two,” he said. “We also want to work on how we can get the Dutch side involved.
Most exhibitors were happy with the interest shown by the public.
Pierre Brangé, a partner in Neostream, a company that develops Websites for Docktalk and the Heineken Regatta, among others, was there introducing a new social networking MySpace-type concept for St. Martin called SXMone.com where individuals can post a profile, post pictures, videos, blog, and meet people through a messenger service.
“The difference between My Space and SXMone.com is that MySpace has millions of people from everywhere whereas SXMone.com has been developed for and with people on St. Martin,” Pierre explained. “It’s an interactive site showing the diversity of St. Martin on the web, and not aimed just for tourists.”
The site also has a community groups section where NGOs, associations, foundations, can have a presence on the web.
“We were very pleased with the interest in our stand,” Pierre added. “We registered about 40 people ourselves and another 20 who registered themselves, probably through word of mouth.”
Other companies exhibiting included Dauphin Telecom, Domaccess, WESA Informatique, Canal Sat Caraibes, SXM Web, Teledom, Videotex Studio, SXMsaintmartin.com, Digicel, SXM.online.com, and Techzone.
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