 ?? |
| ?? |
Equipment that will form part of a special Information Management and Technology Training package will be handed over to the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) as part of the Canadian National Defence Military Training Cooperation Programme (MTCP) this week.
Canadian High Commissioner, Ruth Archibald, will hand over the equipment to Chief of Staff of the BDF Colonel Alvin Quintyne, during a ceremony tomorrow, Wednesday, November 16, at the BDF’s Paragon Base, Christ Church, at 2:00 p.m.
Originating in the early 1990s, the MTCP was mandated to provide military advisors and training assistance to selected and newly independent non-NATO Commonwealth nations.??
Since 2000, the programme has sponsored the delivery of a special Information Management and Technology Training package for the Caribbean Defence and Security Forces, which has also included some member states of the Regional Security System (RSS). This phased train-the-trainer package has been designed to meet specific training needs, beginning with basic Computer Systems and Networks to such courses as Data Communications Management and most recently, Information Technology (IT) Security, Cyber and Forensic training.??
Through the collaboration and efforts of the Canadian Forces and the BDF, the existing network servers and infrastructure have been redesigned to create a more robust and scalable configuration.?? The improved network design, rationalisation and life-cycling of IT equipment will now meet the growing needs for bandwidth, data growth capability, mobility (WiFi and ship to shore), and security. ??It has addressed the current connectivity links between all bases and will allow for seamless future expansion of the BDF network as demand grows.
Today, the Directorate MTCP facilitates the Canadian Forces’ point of contact with developing regions in the world, promoting Canadian bilateral defence relations, democratic principles, human rights, international stability, and the development of peace support capacity among Canada’s partners.?? These objectives are achieved in the provision of a variety of IT management technical training programs, IT Security, Cyber and Forensic and professional development.
In parallel, the establishment and continued life cycle management of IT training facilities has enabled the BDF to offer IT training to members of the public service, RSS and family members of the BDF. A significant amount of IT equipment (workstations, servers, networking infrastructure equipment) has been donated by the Canadian National Defence over the years to support these IT training classrooms and to ensure continued IT education.