By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter

jasmin@nasguard.com

The country is suffering from a shortage of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experts according to Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Speaking at a seminar on GIS, Mr Christie said GIS expertise is "sorely needed" in The Bahamas. He added that currently, the government is seeking GIS professionals to fill several vacancies.

"Right now the government needs GIS professionals in the areas of development planning, environmental and marine conservation, agriculture development, disaster preparedness and many other areas including land information management, which is the mandate of the Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems (BNGIS) Centre that falls under my ministerial portfolio," Mr Christie explained. "So you can see the market for GIS professions exists."

The nation's commander-in-chief added that he believed GIS is the way of the future for the government.

"GIS is one of the leading technologies of the 'Information Age' [and is] used by thousands of people all over the world and in the wider Caribbean region to help solve real world issues," said Mr Christie.

"Access to and analysis of spatially inherent data on countries, people, places and spaces that make up our world is no longer something expected for the distant future," he added. "It is here right now and in this place. Clicking around the world and around The Bahamas is a reality helping us to explore where we live, how to get there, what's next to it, where are our resources and how can we better manage our environment right at our fingertips using GIS."

Local experts indicate that GIS was first introduced to The Bahamas more than a decade ago. But according to Mr Christie since then its uses have grown.

"When we first started using GIS technology the reaction was total disbelief that GIS can do so many things; rhetorical questioning, ridicule of this new tool, potential use and abuse and ongoing issues related to privacy, accuracy and liability," he said. "However through reading about GIS and understanding its benefits and implications of its use, we have come to appreciate the importance of this technology."

Meanwhile, more than 20 countries including those in the Caribbean community, the United States and even as far as Kuwait are in New Providence this week to discuss the benefits of geo spatial technology.

The group will be attending the third Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) GIS conference, which is being hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister. According to organisers, the four-day conference is designed to inform local and international users about GIS technology and its many applications and developments in the region.

For weeks leading up to the event, government officials have been publicly campaigning for the use of GIS technology. Some even called for GIS to be implemented in the country's educational curriculum.

Carolann Albury, director of BNGIS, made the comments while speaking at the official launch of the Geographic Information (GI) Education project last week. BNGIS partnered with the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to hold the programme.

Ms Albury told guests of the 3-day workshop: "There is a vision and as such we must continue to make steps towards embracing the benefits of utilising GIS technology and getting it into the main stream of our educational system. [Monday's] launch of the GI Education Project marks a very important step towards our goals. The professional commitment is there."