Barbados...Free Wifi access for allSource Click HereBRIDGETOWN, Barbados Thursday, April 14, 2011 – It’s on! The goal to make Barbados the first country in the world to provide 100% free Wi-Fi access to all of its citizens is gaining major traction.
The Wi-Fi project, branded “11:11:11ON”, is designed to position Barbados as a world leader in the global marketplace. It is widely believed that Information Technology capability and capacity is the single most important transformational force that a country can harness.
This point was reiterated by Britain’s most successful black entrepreneur, Piers Linney as he spoke at the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation’s (BEF) Monthly Entrepreneurs’ Forum held in March. Piers noted that a successful entrepreneurial economy could not be build without decent connectivity. “In the old days you built roads, canals and railways. Now you’re building information superhighways, internet connections,” the entrepreneur had noted.
“The people who contribute to the realisation of these goals will create a vastly better life for our children and their children. ” --Melanie Jones
This month the Entrepreneurs’ Forum will focus entirely on the “11:11:11ON” initiative. The bold and ambitious initiative was endorsed by our late Prime Minister David Thompson who coined the phrase “from rum shop to bus stop” as he described the level of wireless connectivity he envisioned for his people.
“Having completely free wireless access across Barbados will be a significant turning point in our history and in the way we do business as a jurisdiction. This is absolutely essential if Barbados is to become the “The #1 Entrepreneurial Hub in the World by 2020,” said Chairman of the BEF, Peter Boos. ”
The Wi-Fi project falls under the BEF’s Business facilitation pillar which is spearheaded by Partner at LEX Caribbean, Melanie Jones. Melanie and her Wi-Fi Team will be presenting the concepts, philosophy and business models to the public. There will also be a panel discussion where the members of the public will be given the opportunity to question the Wi-Fi Team and offer suggestions on the way forward.
“The people who contribute to the realisation of these goals will create a vastly better life for our children and their children. Future generations will look back at this legacy and herald its champions as great leaders and visionaries,” explained Melanie Jones.
The Monthly Entrepreneurs’ Forums hosted by the BEF are designed to educate and inspire entrepreneurs and business professionals, as well as facilitate networking opportunities. This month the forum will be held at The Plantation Garden Theatre, St. Lawrence on Thursday April 21st from 6:00-8:00 pm
About Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation Inc.
The Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation is a non-profit organistion founded in 2010 with the vision of making Barbados “The #1 Entrepreneurial Hub in The World by 2020”. Led by its Chairman Peter Boos, CEO Damian McKinney, and a group of local and international entrepreneurs as its board, the goal of the Foundation is to create an enabling environment for sustainable business development through advancing best practices in the areas of Finance, Government Policy, Education and Skills, Mentorship and Business Facilitation. For more information please visit
http://www.barbadosentrepreneurshipfoundation.org.