·        The Chairman of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Professor Bernd Michael Rode; 

·        The Officer-in-Charge of UNCTAD, Mr Fortin; 

·        The Director – General of the Centre for Technology Information (CTI) of the Canton of Geneva, Dr Jean – Marie Leclerc; 

·        The Nobel Laureates, Professor Jerome Karle of United States of United States and Professor Richard Ernst of Switzerland. 

·        Honourable Minister and Chairman of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Professor Atta -ur-Rhaman. 

·        The Secretary of the State of Tunisia and member of the MDG Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Kamel Ayadi. 

·        The facilitators of this 8^th Session from various International Organizations. 

·        UNCTAD Secretariat 

·        The State Members of the Commission. 

·        Distinguished delegates. 

·        Ladies and Gentleman. 

It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me and my country, the kingdom of Lesotho, one among least developed countries in Africa, and elsewhere. My gratitude goes to UNCTAD for enabling me to participate in this Eighth Session of the Commission for Science and Technology Development. 

Mr Chairman,

The theme for this session is; “Science and Technology promotion, advice and application, for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration.”

I find the topic timely and appropriate, particularly because the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to us, the last beacon of hope in our struggle to face the challenges of Poverty, hunger and disease including the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the context of the Least Developed Countries, the MDG`s can only be achieved through a clearly defined, albeit determined policy to adopt pragmatic strategies and including, where applicable, “leapfrogging” certain stages in our development processes, through employment of newly emerging technologies such as Information and Communication Technologies  (ICTs).  It becomes inevitable therefore to enhance the role of ICTs in economic and social development as a new and strategic tool. We feel that this path has the possibility to guarantee us the results we need within a reasonable space of time. After all, the world is not waiting for us. 

I have been informed that issues related to ICT have been discussed at length in the previous sessions, of this commission. However, allow me to refocus on the reality of the prevailing digital divide that currently exists, between Developed Nations and Least Developed Countries (LDC’S).  It is only realistic to admit that most LDC`s, will not meet the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015, under the prevailing circumstances.  It is necessary, to reopen the dialogue between ourselves and the developed countries on how fast ICTs can be fast tracked into centre stage.   

This dialogue must not be clouded by references to the past, where we all, to my mind, equally share blame, for failed policies of lending monies to unrepresentative regimes that were not accountable to the people. I find it ironic that instead of developing a new regime of cooperation that must be characterised by generosity of spirit and mutual trust among democracies (today we are all democracies) we continue on the one hand to complain about colonialism while on the hand the former colonial powers burden us with debts committed by Governments we had not elected.  If it is difficult for the rich countries to give us more money as grants, I find it not unreasonable to request them to allow us to spend the little monies we raise today from our local resources on development rather than what I have already described as indefensible debt repayment.

ICTs require investment in money and knowledge. These two can be transferred to LD’s with the very advantage of mutual benefit. The need for the tools and transfer of skills is in the Developing Countries, while the need to sell the tools is in the developed world. To me, this is such a far-reaching benefit, that the finance houses and the Governments in the developed world would look upon as the partnership of the future.  It would be the biggest investment in people and tools that would result in one sweep, immediate lessening of poverty levels and reduction of ignorance and dependence on others, eradication of curable illnesses, including elimination of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

The digital divide does not only exist between the first world countries and the third world, but in Least Developed the gap continues to widen, internally, between urban and rural communities.  The challenges emanating from this abnormality include:-

§         Inadequate infrastructure for ICT development.

§         High cost of ICT products and services.

§         Inadequate human resource capacity (low ICT literacy).

§         Inadequate legal and regulatory framework. 

As stated before, the road is long and the obstacles are many. One can, therefore, not but continue to emphasize the critical role played by international development partners.   In this case, Lesotho is fortunate to be a pioneer to benefit in tripartite collaboration between, herself, UNCTAD/CSTD, and the Centre for Technology Information of Geneva.  

• At this juncture, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to UNCTAD and (CTI) for the initiatives undertaken towards areas of cooperation in the field of ICT.  These include articulation of clear strategies towards the implementation of our national ICT policy, which has been adopted recently, by government after wide consultations with all stakeholders in the country.  It is envisaged that, above support, help us in achieving the national goals and objectives as stipulated in our National Vision, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Millennium Development Goals. 

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho remains committed to align itself with the global pursuit of an information society and we are committed to achieving the MDGs by 2015 as globally envisaged. 

Allow me once more to heartily thank UNCTAD and the Commission for Science and Technology Development for inviting me to participate in this important meeting, I wish you fruitful deliberations in this eighth session. 

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.