Dr. Neville Ying

The advent of the Information Age, the development of large repositories of databases worldwide, and the need to access information in a timely manner for decision making, was the catalyst which prompted the establishment of the National Council on Libraries, Archives and Information Systems (NACOLAIS) in 1990.

As the co-ordinating body for the sector, the Council was mandated to advise the Government on the use and direction of Information Technology in national life," according to Dr. Neville Ying, Chairman of NACOLAIS.

The preparation of a National Information Policy for Jamaica, as well as, a draft Policy completed in 1992 are among the major programmes undertaken by NACOLAIS since its inception.

"The draft policy addressed such issues as human resources, publishing, libraries, archives and information centres, science and technology, media and communication," Dr. Ying noted. "This was followed by the 1996 Report on "The Creation of a National Information Infrastructure: A National Policy, "compiled by NACOLAIS Information Technology Committee."

According to the NACOLAIS Chairman, the 1996 document sets out recommendations for IT policies, based on technological standards which now exists. It also focused on the use of Information Technology by public sector administrators. The document also highlights ways which the Government can harness IT to facilitate economic and social development, Dr. Ying pointed out.

"The Creation of a National Information Infrastructure: A National Policy," will be the basis for a symposium, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister and organised by NACOLAIS. This will take place from Thursday, October 2 to Friday, October 3, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Kingston.

Dr. Ying said that "Jamaicans must develop, and sustain the notion, that information is a national asset, and so the need for individual participation is imperative to reaching this milestone of developing a National Information Policy."

"Discussion papers prepared by the World Bank highlight the importance of IT in national development, especially in developing countries which often lack the necessary resources to properly harness modern technology and achieve fast-track development," he noted.

To underscore the concern of The World Bank in this matter, Dr. Ying pointed to the fact that a representative from that institution, Mr. James Bond, division chief for Telecommunications and Informatics, will lead a session on "National Information Infrastructure and its Role in Development," on Thursday morning, immediately following the official opening by Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson.

Dr. Ying, who is a group vice president in charge of Human Resource and Development at the Mechala Group, will also present a paper on "Education and Training for Now and the Future," scheduled for Friday, October 2 , when the session will be chaired by Mr. Robert Gregory, Executive Director, of the HEART Trust/NTA