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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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BOPA News on 17 November 2005

This follows the recent abolition of the visa requirement by the two governments. As a result, nationals of the two nations will only need passports - and this might be a gateway to Mozambican beaches for Batswana tourists.

Talks over the abolition of visas had been on-going for sometime. Currently, Batswana do not need visas to travel to most Commonwealth member countries except, Nigeria, Ghana and India.

Officially opening the 34th annual conference of senior officers of the Botswana Police Service in Gaborone on Tuesday, Skelemani said while there had been improvements in combating crime, the new phenomenon of passion killings had emerged as a new threat.

The most worrying trend is that our society is increasingly becoming more violent with no respect for human life, he said.

He called for a multi-agency approach in regard to passion killings, which he described as an illustration, that our society is running short of sound value systems, which are an essential element for relationship survival.

Skelemani urged police officers to work with professionalism and use the best ethics in their daily duties.

There were however, some police officers who tarnish the image of the country by engaging in acts tantamount to unethical conduct.

These individuals do not belong to the Botswana Police Service, he said.

Skelemani said a task force had been established to undertake studies on the possible merging of Botswana Police Service and the Botswana Local Police.

In addition, he said the merging of organisations with such history was a delicate undertaking.

I am pleased that the government is engaging a consultative process towards achieving this end, he said.

Edwin Batshu, the commissioner of police, said he was concerned about the level of indiscipline in the police service as a number of officers were involved in crime.

The level of unethical behaviour amongst police officers is worrisome, he said. Our manpower availability is negatively affected due to people on suspensions, interdictions or being expelled from the organisation.

He promised to crack the whip, saying he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the police service was made up of professional men and women who live the values of the force.

In regard for officers who had been convicted by the courts for violating the Maintenance Orders Act, Batshu called upon them to pay as ordered by the courts, saying failure to do so was a criminal offence punishable with immediate dismissal.

Any police officer who finds himself in jail whatever reason, will not find their way back into the fold because the law says so, he warned.

Batshu said the police was concerned with the rate at which Batswana misplaced their licenced firearms leading to theft, saying it has led to unfortunate deaths of children and such fire arms falling in wrong hands.

Another concern was the increase in organised and crosses border crime. He said proliferation of guns and car-jacking incidents had risen sharply.

Our crime intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination, including surveillance and undercover activities need to be intensified, he said.

Cyber crime and money laundering were some of the thorny issues that had begun to emerge, he said.

He said any unexplained wealth must be traced and investigated.

Addressing heads of department meeting in Molepolole, Ongadile said he had observed that some heads of department did not attend activities in the district even though they had been officially invited.

I have been to various activities but I have seen only a few of you at such activities, which needed your presence. Some of you do not attend other departments activities but you expect them to assist you when you have one, he said.

Ongadile also expressed concern about officers late coming to meetings, adding meetings never start on time because officers had developed a habit of late coming while some did not attend at all.

He said meetings such as those of heads of department were important because they offered officers an opportunity to be in a better position to know how other departments operated and share ideas on government policies and directives.

We should be united and work as team to overcome problems that may crop up in our district, he said.

It will be difficult to achieve our development goals if we work individually and do not ask for assistance from our colleagues.

Ongadile briefed them on the World AIDS Day and Kweneng District Road Safety commemorations at Shadishadi on November 18 and Lentsweletau the following day.

He said there would also be the Africa Industrialisation Day in Molepolole on November 18 and asked them to delegate their subordinates to other activities.

On the other hand, he said, he was unhappy with the way departmental heads handled complaints raised during kgotla meetings addressed by MPs.

He said on several occasions departments and their head quarters had failed to respond to such complaints brought up by administration officers from MPs offices.

From now on I am going to call the affected officers to my office to respond to such complaints as well as to direct them to accompany the MPs during tours of their constituencies so they could help respond to complaints, said Ongadile.

On other issues, the district commissioner said the planning management committee, which is responsible for the implementation of development projects in the district, would from next year monitor plans earmarked for departments and seek progress reports from heads of department.

Ongadile said this would help them to know what was delaying the completion of some development projects.

He gave an example of a department in the district which terminated the services of a contractor in 2003 and it took the department three years to evaluate how much money would be required to complete the project.

This was a great embarrassment to us and have realised that there is laxity among some senior officers, he added.

De Graaf lashed out at Corry in Parliament during his contribution on the state-of-the-nation address.

He was worried that the government was being too kind in dealing with Corry while he was uncompromising in denting Botswanas image internationally.

The Gantsi South legislator lamented that: Corry is an educated man but he encourages our people to remain in the midst of darkness despite governments efforts to educate them. I think we must just keep him out of this country.

On other issues De Graaf called for more sport facilities to cultivate and nurture talent countrywide. But admitted that at times an over supply of facilities would not remedy the situation.

Is that not going to be a white elephant, De Graaf, asked referring to the Maun sports complex, which has four tennis courts.

He also called for the revision of labour and immigration laws especially issuance of professional hunting licences.

De Graaf further urged that civil servants transfers be done in the best interest of the family to reduce societys moral disintegration.

In support of the envisaged re-introduction of school fees next year, De Graaf suggested that the funds generated must go towards maintenance of existing structures as opposed to building new ones.

Rakwadi Modipane of Kgatleng West complained of several relocations that always involve Basarwa.

Modipane said despite legitimate reasons that government advances, the worrying thing is that Basarwa are always the ones being relocated. These people also have a right to own land and it should be respected.

MP for Kanye North, Calvin Batsile called for an overhaul of the Independent Electoral Commission Act with a view to remove all possible hurdles.

He said the issue of vote-transfers should be examined because in most instances it enhances voter trafficking.

Batsile also lambasted the BDP for claiming credit for upgrading the quality of brigades to enhance youth empowerment.

Debating the state-of-the-nation address, Kgathi said now that the leader of the opposition, Otsweletse Moupo is an MP, he will find out for himself that opposition MPs engage in what he called street politics instead of debating issues of national concern.

Kgathi said it was surprising that the very people who talk cooperation did not practice what they preach, once in Parliament. Instead of making contributions towards national development, he said, the opposition dwelt on the negative.

You should assist Moupo in giving alternative solutions to the concerns of the nation, he said. If the presidents speech is not inspiring tell us what should be addressed.

While we address problems in our constituencies you fail to address issues of concern such as traffic congestion, potholes, unemployment and congestion in clinics, he added.

You have failed to come up ideas on how these problems can be addressed.

You just make blatant criticisms.

Robert Molefhabangwe of Gaborone West South MP objected asking Kgathi if he was aware that the Gaborone City Council was responsible for road maintenance.

Kgathi said the very council that is led by the BNF should come up with ideas on how the situation can be dealt with to help develop Botswana.

He said while it was obvious that President Festus Mogaes speech could not covered all the concerns of the nation, opposition leaders should recognise strides made by the government.

The MP cited efforts towards poverty eradication, accessibility to CEDA and the envisaged rise to 83 per cent by 2009 of the number of students progressing to senior secondary schools or vocational training centres.

The ministries of education, local government and labour and home affairs must collaborate and work together to address the plight of the youth.

The Bobirwa legislator said sport is a powerful tool that can assist to build a nation. There is need to revisit the report on how the national soccer team has faired and brainstorm on ways to improve its performance.

He advised the Ministry of Local Government to consider the gravity of the problems in districts when allocating funds for projects Peter Siele, the assistant agriculture minister who is an MP for Ngwaketse South, said a report from Botswana Institute of Development and Policy Analysis regarding suspended agricultural related citizen empowerment schemes is expected at the end of this month.

Siele assured Parliament that the Livestock Identification and Traceback System (LITS) has been a concern but new machines have been bought to facilitate the the implementation of the system. Also, the second phase of NAMPAAD will soon be extended to other districts, he said.

Frank Ramsden, the MP for Maun East, commended the president for addressing the concerns of youth but said CEDA should not be restricted to unemployed college of agriculture graduates.

Ramsden, also an assistant minister of Works and Transport, said most of the youth in his constituency are interested in tourism-related careers hence the need to give them an opportunity to establish such businesses.

He said while the ministry of education is making an effort to provide schools with computers, amenities like electricity should be a priority.

Trevor Mmopelwa, principal scientific officer (fisheries division) in the Department of Wildlife and National Parks said the project has been retendered after the first bidders demanded more money than was budgeted for.

Mmopelwa said the project would help stock school dams and make it easy for fish farmers and everyone else to get fish stocks. He said they intend to stock half a million fingerlings annually.

The Letsibogo Dam fish hatchery project would be operated by government and would breed Catfish and Breamtilapia, which were indigenous species.

Mmopelwa said farmers would be given some demonstrations and briefings on the different stages of fish development so that they would know what to do when they get to their farms.

Regarding the Gaborone Dam situation, Mmopelwa said the closed fishing season at the dam started late last month and would end in January next year.

However, the department had proposed that the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) should evoke suspension of commercial fishing at the Dam in February.

Mmopelwa said if allowed when the water was low, commercial fishing would increase dirt which was expensive to clean. Fishnets could also get sucked by WUC pipes, which was costly.

The Gaborone Dam has 15 fish species, but only the Catfish could survive in muddy water, while the other species may die because of poor water quality.

If the dam dried up, the fish would die or be eaten by other predators.

Mmopelwa said they might save some of the fish in the Gaborone Dam by transferring them to areas where there was water. Also, people may be allowed to harvest them.

This shows that you are innovative, imaginative and talented. Only BDP youth can do that, he said.

Mogae, also the leader of the BDP, was speaking during the partys national music competitions and beauty pageant in Jwaneng last weekend.

The BDP Youth Wing organised the contests.

This year, the BDP youth changed their style at the national music competitions by first staging their different choice songs, which they initiated before they sung a competition song, Seretse Khama.

Mogae said the BDP is the only party out of the 12 in the country whose youth were talented and committed to singing.

He said singing has also become part of the BDP tradition.

This is one of the BDP gatherings I enjoy the most. Music competition is a great tradition which I am part of. If I miss one, it would be due to other work commitments, said Mogae.

Botlogile Tshireletso, the chairperson of theBDP Womens Wing, said when officially opening the music competitions that BDP music competitions started in Serowe in 1985.

She said music could help mobilise people, citing music by some local artistes such as Culture Spears of the Selonyana fame.

Music entertains and relieves stress, she said. It can be used as a campaign tool as well.

MP Tshireletso cautioned the youth that these competitions were not like a game between two soccer teams, emphasising that the competition was different because the choirs belonged to the same party.

She urged them to accept the results, adding that those who failed to win should try again next time.

Earlier when welcoming guests, Cllr Michael Tshipinare called on the BDP youth to be to their party, adding that the recent win by the opposition in the Ramotswa and Gaborone West North by-elections should be taken seriously and serve as a lesson to them.

A statement from the Office of the President says no directive or instruction from it was ever issued with respect to the Matlho-a-Phage programme in question.

We have been further informed that the matter was an internal one within the department and the ministry responsible, the statement says.

The statement also says the Office of the President was not aware of Mmegi newspaper having made any effort to contact it regarding the Matlho-a-Phage allegation in accordance with good practice provision of the Botswana Media Code of Ethics.

We note that this was the case not withstanding the fact that the press secretary was contacted by a Mmegi reporter at 18:59 yesterday evening on an unrelated matter.

The Mmegi story says the television station had recorded a debate among the MP for Gaborone Central Dumelang Saleshando, the chairperson of the Southern District Council, Kentse Rammidi and another person, Anthony Morima.

Morima says in the newspaper artcile that he learnt that Btv received a directive from the OP that the recording should not go ahead.

Some feel that the play has to be rescheduled to a later time in the night just as it was done with the American soapies of Passions and The Bold and the Beautiful because of some sexually explicit scenes.

The local drama, they argued, is a Setswana version of the two soapies, which now shows late at night at the insistence of the public.

Onkabetse Nchochi, a Form Five student at Gaborone Secondary School feels that Re Bina Mmogo is the same as Passions and the only difference is that it broadcasts in Setswana.

Nchochi said the drama has up to now only shown the problems and not the solutions and he hopes with time, there will be solutions to the problems shown in the previous episodes.

Modise Tsitsi, who said the drama was becoming the opposite of what he had expected, shares the sentiments. He said the drama was not informative.

I am a follower of the drama ever since it started because I was expecting a lot from it, especially after the criticism the American soapies got from the public, he said.

But to my disappointment the drama is just encouraging an increase to the existing problems where the youth engage in love affairs with elderly people for material gain.

A woman, who identified herself only as Segametsi, told BOPA that as a mother of five teenagers, she has a problem with the drama.

I used to have a problem with my children watching Passions and the Bold and the Beautiful because of their sexually explicit scenes and I thought this will be water under the bridge after they were rescheduled to later hours, she said. Now comes this local drama.

However, Mpho Keboatlholetswe said the play was good because it is a local production, which deals with issues happening in Botswana. He added that he could identify with the drama.

This is a good drama, give it time and you will see where it is headed, he said. You cannot expect it to be perfect the first time it airs. Btvs commissioning editor Raymond Tsheko said it was too early to judge the drama as a failure.

He said people should understand that Re Bina Mmogo is a 13-episode drama, which has the beginning, middle and an ending.

He stated that the first seven episodes are mainly the beginning and from now on it will focus on the solutions and we expect the message will become clearer.

Tlou said in addition, some of the nurses who left the country for what they regarded as greener pastures overseas had started returning home and were being re-absorbed into health structures.

Once back they are more patriotic and dedicated to their duty than ever before, she said in an interview with BOPA after a tour of the Maun Hospital project this week.

She said the shortage of medical doctors in Botswana would be alleviated soon as Batswana medical students complete their studies start trickling back into the country.

Training of other health professionals was also being intensified, she said.

Two institutes of health sciences, Molepolole and Serowe were being expanded to accommodate more trainees in the nursing and midwifery fields.

Minister Tlou said the problem of shortage of nurses was not as big as it used to be because the burning issues such as appalling conditions of service and work environment were vigorously being addressed.

She also said contrary to general belief, only eight per cent of Batswana nurses actually left the country while a good number was absorbed locally by the private sector.

I have no problem with those who choose to stay home and work in the private sector because after all they are serving the nation equally as those in government, she said.

She expressed happiness that the Maun Hospital project was well on course.

The project manager, Dieter Pickharot, said his company was working around the clock to meet the August 2006 deadline.

He said the project had created job opportunities for about 800 people, 87 per cent of them from Maun and the surrounding area.

The new Maun Hospital would boast of a modern structure with rare features including a thermal energy storage system, which, through insultation material in every wall, stores cool air during the night for use during the day.

It is a new and unique concept that has not been tried anywhere in Africa as far as I am aware, he said.

The building, he said, was compartmentalised into zones to prevent fire, in the event it broke out, from spreading through the building.

Tumelo, who is also the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, was addressing a news conference at the ministry on Tuesday.

The court action started on August 9 when the registrar obtained an interim court order interdicting the BBS from redeeming permanent shares held by the government in the society.

The BBS had applied for a court order to restrain the registrar from querying issues of non- compliance, citing matters of sub-judice.We waited because we did not want to be seen to be acting in bad faith.

He said the court order was applied for after all means of communication and consultation failed to bring an amicable conclusion between the office of the two parties with regard to the societys past non-compliance with the requirements for liquidity and capital under section 42 of the BBS Act.

In his judgement, acting Judge Abednigo Tafa was able to find out that the BBS admitted on September 14, 2004 to be trading in contravention of sections 41 and 42 of the Act and that the registrar had granted the BBS a conditional exemption from compliance with the sections, which expired on August 31, he said.

Tumelo said consequent to its findings, the court made an order confirming the interim order issued by the court on August 19, interdicting BBS from redeeming government shares until such time that the society had been able to demonstrate to the registrar its compliance with the provisions of the relevant sections.

He said the intention to seek the assistance of the court was to ensure that the protections provided by the law in the interest of BBS, as well as those of all its stakeholders and the general public, were secured.

The need for government to regulate the financial sector was more imperative to insure and to protect the image of the country.

He dismissed an earlier statement by the BBS that it had complied with the contents of the judgement delivered last week.

He added that the cheque redeeming government shares to the value of over P113 million was delivered to his office on Tuesday, saying it was inconsequential as he still had to sit down with his officials to study the documents to ensure that indeed the BBS had complied.

In response to a question, the secretary for financial affairs Wildred Mandlebe, said the registrar had no capacity to conduct regular inspections of the banking sector, hence it outsources the job to the Bank of Botswana.

Tafic is expected to increase its wins to maintain the lead, but Stonebreakers manager Ranko Kegolotswe has vowed that his squad would not be push-over as it would fight to the end as it aimed to get the top prize at the end of the season.

We know that Tafic got unexpectedly relegated and are under pressure to rejoin the top league, but our aim is to get first prize money at the end of the season, so they will have to fight hard to beat us, Kegolotswe declared.

He said his team was ready and would treat the Tafic game like others it has played and the best team would emerge at the end of the game.

Communication breakdown in our last game against Motlakase cost us victory and we would avoid being the second to the ball in this crucial game, he said.

On the hand, Tafic coach Godfrey Tamireti said though he and his players dont know much about their opponents they would like to maintain their top spot and would rely on Kato Dlodlo and Obvious Ntaise to score more goals.

Our preparation is on course, though we have two injuries in the likes of Safie Sibisibi and Philemon Ofaletse who were unable to feature in our last game, but we are sharpening Ntaise and Dlodlo as replacement strikers in case they dont make it again, he said.

In other games, Great North Tigers travel to Orapa for a date with fourth placed Boteti Young Fighters who have promised to do much of the talking on the ground.

This game will be an indicator of the direction the team is taking, so we need to win it. Any away win and we would have eliminated another obstacle to winning the first position, which is our aim. We believe that if we can beat big competitors in first round, in the second round everything will be easy, Edward Leposo said.

He said the squad hoped for the best as its Zambian striker Jerry Phiri was back from injury.

The other games billed for Saturday include Chobe United against Mahalapye Hotspurs who drew 1-1 with Sua Flamingos last weekend while Chobe was still to register a win in three games.

Motlakase FC travel to Sua Township to play Sua Flamingo.

Second placed Orapa Wanderers will host Mahalapye Highlanders on Sunday.

In the Southern zone, Gaborone Young Strikers will host Maletamotse at the Naughty Boys ground while Jwaneng Comets will host to Red Sparks.

The Saturday programme will be climaxed by a Killer Giants-Mochudi Buffaloes duel at the Siga ground in Ramotswa.

On Sunday, Blue Diamonds will welcome Cosmos Blizzards at the Galaxy Stadium in Jwaneng while Masitaoka will engage Sharps Electrical in Molepolole.

Lands and housing minister, Ramadeluka Seretse told Parliament Tuesday that some structures in the village, developed cracks, which was a sign that soils were deficient to support development.

Seretse said as a result, the Letlhakeng Sub-Land Board decided to suspend allocations pending technical guidance on land condition.

MP for Letlhakeng East, Gordon Mokgwathi had asked if the minister is aware of the suspension, which has negatively affected development. He also asked when the freeze would be lifted Seretse said tenders for a geo-technical survey to determine soil condition would be awarded before month end.

The study, which will cover village growth points, is to be completed in six months.

Completion would provide his ministry with sufficient information to prepare lay out plans, which will form the basis for land allocation.

Mokgwathi also asked whether Khudumelapye was the only village in his constituency that has been covered under the rural electrification project.

He also wanted the minister of minerals energy and water resources to state when some of the villages such as Moshaweng, Mantshwabisi, Ngware and Botlhapatlou would be covered.

The minister, Charles Tibone, explained that selection of villages for electrification is on a district by district basis not on constituency basis.

He said 20 villages in the Kweneng District have been electrified, five of them in the Letlhakeng Sub-District.

Tibone said his ministry plans to electrify 105 villages during NDP 9 and Moshaweng and Botlhapatlou would be considered.

Parliament also heard that the Tonota- Francistown road is approaching the end of its design life and needs to be reconstructed.

Though reconstruction design to a dual carriageway standard was completed in June 2003, construction could not start due to financial constraints.

The Assistant Minister of Works and Transport, Frank Ramsden was responding to a question from Tonota South MP Pono Moatlhodi.

Moathodi was concerned about the bad state of the road and wanted to know when it would be repaired and constructed into dual carriageway.

Ramsden said construction was now planned for the 2007/08 financial year.

Currently routine maintenance is being carried out.

Labour and Home affairs minister, Moeng Pheto told Parliament that a number of meetings on the Abolition of Marital Power Act have been held.

They attended the show as part of ongoing efforts to promote Botswana as a tourism destination.

Air Botswana, Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana and Okavango Horse Safari were among tourism operators who included travel agents, lodges, hotels and airliners at the show.

It was one of the biggest shows of its kind in the world. It offered tourism players from around the world to showcase their services and promote their countries as tourism destinations.

Wazha Tema, the deputy director of tourism, told BOPA that they promoted Botswana as a destination of choice.

It was the sixth time that his department was attending the annual show to let the worlds tourism industry know more about Botswana.

Tema said his department assisted new local lodges and tour operators to market themselves overseas.

This was to indicate that the package goes beyond wildlife attractions to all other sub-sectors of the tourism industry, including conferencing, tourism and culture.

We are marketing Botswana as a destination place that offers everything when it comes to tourism, he said.

He said a large numbers of people visited their stall to enquire about Botswana. He added that those who came to their stall were some of the people who book in advance to visit Botswana through different travel agents who were also at the show.

Tema said that the figures of tourists who were visiting Botswana were growing due to the promotion efforts by his department and others.

He added that they were promoting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park as a tourism destination this year.

He said they invited local companies interested in marketing themselves and the country at international show by placing adverts in the local newspapers. Established companies are charged P6 500, while small-scale business are charged P2 000.

Tema said his department provides the companies with space, while accommodation, transport and other necessities rest upon the companies concerned.

Nora Mohwasa, a representative of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana, said her organisation often attended the London the show, adding that they kept going back because of the number of tourists they attract, as well as the contacts they developed.

She said during the show HATAB educated more people about products available in Botswana and explained that the Okavango Delta was not the only place of interest in the country.

Another exhibitor from Okavango Horse Safari, Barney Bestelink, told BOPA that she enlightened the people who visited the Botswana stall on what the country had to offer.

She said the opportunity enabled her to establish new contacts and to remind tour operators from other countries to send tourists to Botswana.

Last year, the Young Zebras bowed out the tournament under controversial circumstances after it emerged that the circumstances favoured Botswana team but the organisers insisted that there be a toss to determine which team should progresse to the semi-finals between the South Africa and Botswana.

This year 13 countries - Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, the Seychelles, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi will participate in the annual competition.

Three friendly games have been lined up before Isaiah Mogwadis boys leave for Durban.

The young Zebras are expected to square up against the senior national team this week, and then the Lesotho Under 20 in Maseru sometime next week before returning home for a date with the Namibia Under 20 towards the end of the month.

By the end of today, all the 30 players will be expected in camp as more and more complete their final year examinations. However, only 20 players will be selected for the Durban trip on December 1 for the December 3-12 competition.

Among the players already in camp are: Mmusa Ohilwe, Tumisang Sekanonyane (BMC), Lesego Molemogi (Township Rollers), Gobonyeone Selefa (Notwane), Kemmy Gweru Pilato, and Kgosiemang Venture Ngwako (Lobtrans Gunners).

Most of the players in last years team have since graduated to the Under-23 but unfortunately since last December they have never been assembled and played as a unit.

In the coming year the Under- 23 will play the qualifying games for the All-Africa Games and the Olympics but at present not even the coach has been appointed, something which might be defining the attitude of the BFA to the junior teams and the competitions they participate in.

Only the Under-20 team has been consistently effective.

Yoshio Utsumi, the secretary general of the WSIS told journalists Tuesday that delegates had agreed on the establishment of a forum to continue to discuss the issue.

We will not get a concrete agreement on the control of the Internet now, he said, adding that the creation of a forum to continue to address it with all governments on an equal footing is a welcome development.

Utsumi, who is also the Secretary General of the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU) however regretted lack of headway in the implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action.

He said negotiations were so hot that he did not see a compromise on who should spearhead the WSIS follow-up mechanisms.

The ITU holds the leading role in the organisation of the summit, whose second phase, which started in Tunisia on Tuesday ends today.

The issues of the implementation of the WSIS plan and the control of the Internet divided the nations during the first round of the summit held in Geneva two years ago.

Both the developing and the developed worlds have for two years failed to reach a compromise agreement on them.

Developed nations opposed the developing countries call for the ITU, UNESCO and UNDP to direct the plan.

The latter wanted concrete implementation mechanisms because they were worried the spirit of extending the benefits of the new telecommunication technologies to all might die after Tunis.

Utsumi said 800 000 villages, which were unconnected to the Internet, needed only P5.5 billion to join the rest of the world.

He believed the goal of connecting the people in the world by 2015 is attainable, especially that political leaders from developing countries speak more about the importance of ICTs now than ever before.

He described the Tunis WSIS that is the phase for solutions, as the biggest event in the history of the UN, which differed with other UN conferences in that it focused on the future of the information society while others focused on the current global threats.

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