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Deputy Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister, Hon. Fred Fono was present today at a meeting of stakeholders who had gathered to discuss a draft discussion paper prepared by Professor Martin Hadlow on "A Strategic Framework for Government Communications and Information Development in Solomon Islands".  The objective which was to develop a policy framework to govern Information Communication Technology in the country.

Hon. Fred Fono who delivered a short address to the stakeholders and focused on 3 main aspects of communications in the country.  Deputy Prime Minister Fono claimed that there has been no significant changes in communications since we gained independence.  However, he admitted that times have changed and that the expectations of people have also changed.  This places an important onus on stakeholders in ICT to respond and fulfill these expectations.

"We are a nation of more than 700 dialects," said Deputy Prime Minister Fono, complimenting our unique diversity as a challenge that government faces.  However, he recognizes the need for government to respond to these challenges thus placing an important emphasis on helping those in the stakeholders meeting come to a consensus on the framework for ICT in the Solomon Islands.  The government is committed to ensuring that this process will produce a ICT Policy framework that best represents the interests of all Solomon Islanders.

He closed his remarks with a humorous twist, "this is an election year, so it would be great to have something we can campaign on to our constituents" much to the delight of those present at the meeting.  The stakeholders represented individuals, government and corporate bodies from the private sector.  Foreign governments and donor agencies were also represented at the meeting with the British High Commissioner, H.E Timothy Smart being the highest dignitary present.