Letters
3000 New IT Jobs for Cayman?
Dear Sir,
I wish to highlight a number of issues regarding the IT market in Cayman, from a technological and consumer viewpoint.
Over the past 10 months I have been involvedin several technology discussions, and have worked on a numberof technology projects in the Caribbean and Central America. Ifeel obligated, as a resident of these blessed islands, to voicemy concerns, which may also affect many others.
I am a tech person by nature, maybe notthe best by some folks' standards, but I have 15 years experienceworking in the field, and 10 years experience lecturing in tertiaryinstitutions, and feel that I possess a certain authority on technologyissues.
One of the main issues that troubles meis the global increase in demand for IT workers, (web developers,software and hardware programmers, trainers, operators, etc),and the lack of these qualified persons in Cayman.
There is absolutely no reason why the CaymanIslands should not be at the forefront in the Caribbean in havingan environment that encourages the development of a high-techfocused job market.
This would mean that high tech industrieswould find it favorable to set up business here, and locals wouldhave full and unrestricted access and support to set up theirown high-tech businesses, enabling them to produce goods and servicesfor the global market.
Due to technology, we no longer need tofocus our business activity solely on the Cayman Islands, butat the global market. We are but a mere dot on the globe, butour tech products and services can be as far-reaching as thatof our banking industry consumers.
The world is shrinking, and accessing customersall over the globe is becoming easier. Granted, there is currentlyunrest in the international IT markets, with some large corporationscutting thousands of jobs, but other companies are taking on manyof these persons.
I believe that, given the right environmentin Cayman, 4,000 brand new IT jobs could be created here thisyear alone. If you look at the overall increase in IT positionsin other countries in this region, you will see that this is actuallya fairly conservative estimate. In some countries there are over 40,000 new IT positions, and in the region as a whole it is considerablymore.
I know that the Cayman Islands does nothave an immediate labor source to fill 4,000+ new IT positions,and I am not advocating a one-time opening of so many positions. However, when you consider that in five months time, severalhundred young people will leave high schools, for the job market,one has to be concerned.
Many of them already have a keen interestin securing positions in the technology market. Not everyonewants to go into tourism, banking or farming. In addition, thereare many people who would like a career change, and are more thanwilling to train for a new job. But we have some problems herein Cayman.
The Main Problem
One major problem is our telecommunicationsystem and its current structure, which:
- Restricts access to key information andsystems.
- Has a rate structure that it is costprohibitive for users to be able to seriously utilise the Internetfor anything much more than e-mail.
- Prevents small and medium size businessfrom establishing and maintaining a profitable e-commerce business.
- Prevents the setting up of IT researchlabs by private businesses. This in itself is a very importantand necessary facility when a local business wants to produceand or sell on the international market.
- Has a billing system that overchargescustomers.
Are you really surprised?
I think many people know about this already,but it is very difficult to prove. Our research on actual billssent to customers by the Telco (for dedicated fax, mobile, businessand residential lines) found serious overcharging .
These findings mean that the business communityalone could be paying anywhere from $600K to $1.4M per year forcalls it did not make. A serious allegation? No, I am simplyproviding information based on our analysis, which was based ondata from the actual bills, nothing added, nothing removed.
This issue was brought to the Telco's attentionback in December 2000, but was not taken seriously.
Very little community concern
We are all very aware of their Cancer Awarenessand Cricket activities. But what I am concerned about is the telecomcompany's scare tactics used to secure its position, such as therecent threat to pull out of St. Lucia, if liberalisation issueswere not addressed in a way that was acceptable to them.
Any company that uses such tactics, or anyother type of scare tactic, has very little interest in the countrywhere it is doing business. Their position is to secure profitsand keep shareholders happy at all costs.
There will be heavy promotion, directedat teaching consumers how to save, but this will be nothing morethan a promotional gimmick to increase revenue, consumers wouldnot need to be taught to save if competition provided a fair pricingstructure.
The Time Problem
Another problem is time. There are certainopportunities that other islands are currently capitalising on,whilst Cayman looks on. The increase in Internet-based financialcompanies in Bermuda, and in call centers in Jamaica, are buttwo examples.
The first ones into these markets are goingto have an edge. Bear in mind that the cost of labor is muchhigher in the Cayman Islands than many other places, so time isof the essence.
We have to be very proactive and make thenecessary adjustments now. Not next year, now! Although theTelco Company has indicated that it is ready to accept competition,we have seen several options region wide on how this competitionshould be developed. It requests a gradual change, not to ourbenefit, but 100% in its favor.
To me a gradual change only means givingtime to a company to secure and strengthen its position, bringin all the experts for various types of analysis and businessplanning to prepare ourselves, and when we have taken all ourtime to do that, then we can talk. Realistically, in a businessenvironment, who has the luxury of time and gradual change? Andthe consumer does not benefit in any way while we wait.
Other Problems
The telecommunication infrastructure inCayman is holding back the technology advance in a major way andpreventing the economy from embracing the Internet and new technologywith more confidence.
I am deeply concerned about our young peopleand the development of their high technology skills.
I have heard talk about their problems andwhat should be done to correct them. I am also concerned aboutmy child and the edge I want her to have at her current age andat every other stage of her life. Should I work with her to developJava scripts at age nine, or should I wait until she leaves highschool?
Should I leave that kind of work to collegestudents, or should I encourage her and those much older to usetheir young, sharp minds to create the leaders and innovatorsof tomorrow's technology.
I think my five- year-old should know howto start and shutdown the computer properly, know how to loadand start her own CD programmes and games, and master the useof the mouse and keyboard.
I feel that 12 or 14-year-olds should bediscussing and developing techniques to write useful Java scriptswith colleagues over a high speed Internet or other network connectionafter school, instead of hanging out on the streets.
Fifteen and 16-year-olds should be in trainingto develop and create web sites. They should be assisting 10and 11-year-olds in constructive areas and helping them to utilisetechnology effectively, whilst at the same time re-enforcing theirown learning. By the time they are ready for graduation, collegeor work, these children should be masters themselves.
But, can we as parents really afford tohave our kids working in on-line Internet workgroups (monitoredof course) each evening after their chores, without worrying aboutthe high bills we must face at the end of the month?
So while their overseas peers are spendingtheir time mastering the technology, our kids have to find somethingelse to occupy their time and young minds. They may, later inlife, be forced to take second place to their co-workers who nowhave to be brought in from overseas by the employers because theydo not have the relevant skills, hands-on experience or qualificationto do the job.
And what about people my parents age, whonever had access to the technology until much later in life? Whyshould they not seek the opportunity to re-train and change career?
What about those persons working here, bothlocal and from overseas, in non-skilled areas who see the technologyas a way to improve themselves and improve their standard of living,and provide them with an edge when they return to their homecountry or move on somewhere else?
What can we do?
I will start by offering my expertise inthe field to six children, giving them the chance to learn moreabout IT. Any child who is interested in technology, not afraidof challenges and hard work, is willing to work as a group toachieve objectives, and of course interested in developing skillsthat will put him or her ahead of the competition, can come tomy place of business two evenings each week for one month whereI can teach them about a variety of technology-related subjects.
You may think this is a small offer, butit is a start. I will make known findings and issues that arisein the course of my teaching.
Howard Peterson
PS: Children aged between 12 and 15 whoare interested in joining Mr. Peterson's free workshop, may contacthim at 945-4533 on Monday 19 March only to sign up. Places arelimited to 6 persons at this time, and on a first-come-first-servebasis. Only those with a genuine interest in learning should apply.