Governor Goedgedrag receives Open Source Yearbook from Ace Suares

Open Source Yearbook 2009-2010

In the Netherlands Antilles, another part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, endorsement came from a much higher level. The Minister of Telecommunication, Maurice Adriaens showed himself to be an advocate of free and open source software by his contribution to Software Freedom Day. In his Christmas Message 2009¹, H.E. Frits Goedgedrag, Governor of the Netherlands Antilles (and in this capacity representative of Queen Beatrix), referred to the development of open source software and open content as shining examples of selfless contributions to a better world:

“The reality is that selflessness does work! Recently it has been established that it is actually in our benefit if we cooperate and share, instead of only thinking about ourselves and refusing to help others. An example of this can be found in the computer world. Certain software developers do not keep their information a secret, they do not scrupulously protect their discoveries and insights, but they freely share their information and make their programs available at no cost whatsoever, in order for others to use it and even make improvements.

A press release of the University of Dartmouth confirms the strength of selflessness in regard to Wikipedia, the ‘open source’ encyclopedia in which the public makes contributions, without personal gain. This is yet another example that shows success is reached by not only being focused on survival.”

The statements made by the Governor were reason to talk to Ace Suares, president of OpenSourceCuracao and tireless advocate of free and open source software. What is the situation in the Netherlands Antilles in regard to the promotion and use of free and open source software and open standards?

One Kingdom, but independent countries

The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of three independent parts: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba. On October 10, 2010, if all goes well, that is about to change. The islands of Curacao and Sint Maarten will then obtain the status of autonomous country within the Kingdom. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the BES islands) will enter into a new association with the Netherlands and will obtain a status comparable to that of a municipality. This will effect the scope of Dutch legislation towards the six islands.

The action plan Netherlands in Open Connection (NOiV), that provides a framework for the public sector in The Netherlands, does not apply for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The public sector of the Netherlands and thus also the municipalities of the Netherlands are to take the National Implementation Program e-Government (NUP) into account. As yet, however, the NUP will not apply to the BES islands. In short, the developments in regard to open source software and open standards in the Netherlands can perhaps be a source of inspiration for the other territories of the Kingdom but the six islands are completely autonomous in their decision what to do with this inspiration.

Promotion of open source on Curacao

Ace Suares mainly works on Curacao. Since 2002, he has made an effort to stimulate the use of free and open source software. In his efforts, he has worked closely with Stimul-IT, an independent foundation established by the Curacao Department of Economic Affairs, that gives support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and targets the development of Curacao as ‘Information Society’. In 2004, the first open source conference was held with speakers from the Netherlands and the United States. The then minister of Education, Omayra Leeflang, opened the conference. One of the speakers, Robin Miller, was surprised about the level of acceptance of free and open source software:

“I was warned that Linux and open source were not well-known here. This was not true, but most of Curacao’s Linux and open source software users thought they were alone. Indeed, it turns out that almost every major IT-related business here was already using Linux, and that most plan to use it more in the future.²“

In addition to regular lectures, new conferences took place in 2006 and 2008. “From 2004 to 2010 we have organized an average of three lectures a year on free and open source software,” according to Suares. “With those lectures we have reached the educational sector, ICT-professionals and managers.”

But hardly an organized community

Setting up a local user community or a more formal alliance of open ICT-companies has not been successful. Ace Suares: “We did try to get it off the ground, via meetings as well as via mailing lists and Google Groups, but it seems as if it does not fit into our culture.” Linux Users Netherlands Antilles (LUNA) did manage to organize a number of meetings on Curacao and Bonaire, but interest in it rapidly declined. In practice, Open Source Users Curacao seems to remain limited to a group on Facebook (with some 216 members).

Curacao does have a number of companies that offer services based on free and open source software. “My company, Suares & Co, is the only company that exclusively offers FOSS-services,” Suares says, “and there are five companies that offer it in addition to closed solutions.” Those companies are Artificial Intelligence Systems, Bi-Hive, Digital Communications Solutions BV, Envision and FIT-IT Solutions. The six companies offering open solutions have tried to set up a professional association, the Curacao Open Source Association, but it has not materialized.

Open source in practice

Ace Suares can give several examples of real use of free and open source software on Curacao. Dutch Antillean Airlines (DAE) has been using open source software on its servers for five years already. The waste management company Selikor uses Linux as platform for its roster software. The program ASYCUDA³, short for Automated System for Customs Data, and developed by the trade organization of the United Nations (UNCTAD), is in use by the Customs of the Netherlands Antilles. Suares on this: “ASYCUDA is preferably used on servers with Red Hat and that is also the case in the Netherlands Antilles.” One of the bigger car dealers on Curacao, Caribbean Motors, has opted for OpenOffice.org, Thunderbird and Firefox. A full switch to open source software is not possible because of specific software in use for the car dealer sector. Stimul-IT is leader where the use of free and open source software is concerned. In the area of office automation, this organization has practically completely switched to open source and serves here as an example to the SMEs.

Still no open policy frameworks

In 2009, the ‘Curacao Knowledge Platform’, commissioned by minister Adriaens, worked on a master plan for ICT on Curacao. The ‘Master plan Curacao Information Society⁴‘ has come about through various open work meetings on telecommunication, government, education, job market, and daily life. The plan forms the basis for a new policy. Open source takes a modest place in the master plan, but Stimul-IT, who holds the secretariat of the Center , intends to set this right in 2010.

Prospects

The Christmas Message by H.E. Frits Goedgedrag, with its positive assessment on open source and open content should be considered a personal message and not an expression of government policy. However, it does show us that the essence of ‘open’ has already sunk in with Antillean administrators.

Stimulating an increased use of free and open source software and open standards is a matter of long term goals and perseverance. Stimul-IT plays a central role here. In addition to its own exemplary role and introducing open accents in the master plan, the organization assists in the implementation of OLPC-laptops in three schools. A seminar about Education and ICT, with special attention to the electronic learning environment Moodle and the OLPC-laptop, is planned for the end of 2010.

Furthermore, via the Fundashon Kòrsou Habri (Curacao Open Foundation), another attempt is being made to establish a more formal organization, aimed at the promotion of open source and open standards.

One can think of many reasons why it would be wise to have ‘open’ play an important role for Curacao, and its social, economic, and cultural development, however, the governor may have pointed out something that lies much deeper, and that stands quite apart from any interest whatsoever:

“One of the most beautiful expressions in Papiamentu is ‘di nada’ meaning ‘it’s nothing’ or ‘you’re welcome’. Let us work together to promote the spirit of cooperation and collectivity by helping each other, without merely thinking first ‘what’s in it for me?”

Excerpt from: ‘Open Source Yearbook 2009-2010, fourth edition, June 21, 2010′ – Chapter 14: Organizations in the Picture by Jan Stedehouder. Translation edited by Ace Suares.

1 Governor’s Christmas Message 2009, December 25, 2009, http://www.gouverneur.an/index.php?p=42&lang=en&item=209

2 Robin Miller, How an open source community gets built, Linux.com, November 18, 2004, www.linux.com/archive/articles/40335

3 www.asycuda.org

4 Master plan Curacao Information Society, December 17, 2009, www.bantraha.com

This edition of the Open Source Year Book includes an article about Curaçao, which will be translated and published on this blog in about two weeks.

This session is organised by Media Update, the publisher of the Open Source Year Book, in collaboration with the Internet Society Netherlands.

More info (Dutch): http://www.media-update.nl/vakpublicaties/te-verschijnen/open-source-jaarboek-2009-2010-4de-e.html

Some Language Students from Jamaica visiting Curaçao

Every year for the past four years, a group of about 25 Language Students from Jamaica visits the Netherlands Antilles. This year, Monique Raphaëla and Ace Suares gave a lecture on OLPC and Open Source to the students, who reserved time for it on their busy schedules.

The lecture of Mrs Raphaëla (Stimul-IT) about OLPC (a project initiated by Minister Adriaens in 2009) was received with great interest. As it turned out, one of the students was involved in a similar project in Jamaica. Watch the videos here and here and here. Ace Suares (Suares & Co) held a lecture about using Moodle (a Free and Open Source Electronic Learning Environment).

Kids in Jamaica holding their OLPC laptop computer

Governer Mr. Frits Goedgedrag praises Open Source

In his Christmas Speech, Governor of the Netherlands Antilles Mr. Frits Goedgedrag, praises Open Source as being non-egoistic and altruistic. The Governor finds Open Source to fit into the desired behaviour of the people of the Netherlands Antilles, as he states that giving without the need to receive is much better then giving while expecting something in return. He also sees sharing as a neccesity for our society.

http://tinyurl.com/goedgedrag (Dutch)

We are a young, informal and dynamic company. Professionalism, career opportunities and collegiality are key words. We work in a casual atmosphere, without losing track of deadlines and quality of development. We do not hesitate to share our knowledge, so there is always someone to help you.

Job requirements

The senior must have outstanding written and oral communication skills. They must fulfill the following requirements:

- Detailed knowledge of PHP, MySQL, CSS, Javascript and HTML;
- Minimal 5 years experience in PHP and MySQL;
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- Strong analytical and problem solving skills, and the ability to apply these in a team;

- Experience and Expertise with OO development in PHP is required;
- Experience and Expertise with Linux / FreeBSD, (Shell scripting) is preferred;
- Knowledge of jQuery is a plus.

In addition to having mastered the above languages, the senior also has to be familiar with working on the console (Linux), CVS and Subversion.

Are you interested in this vacancy and your CV matches with the required profile? E-mail your CV and motivation to sollicitatie@asd.an.

For more information, please contact Frija van den Hout on phone number +5999 4659950.

Minister of Telecommunications Mr. Maurice Adriaens received the First Curaçao Open DVD from Ace Suares. The DVD contains Open Source Software, Open Content (Free video, music and e-books) and some readers (pdf) about open source and free software.

Photo: Max Martina

About 20 people attended the event, mostly people from local and national government. One guest came from Bonaire, a neighbouring island and part of the Netherlands Antilles.

• 15:00 Opening by Minister of Telecommunications Mr. Maurice Adriaens
• 15:20 How can software be Free? by Ace Suares, Suares & Co Open Source Solutions
• 16:00 OpenOffice – how to save money and be more productive, by Ricardo Lochan, Stimul-IT
• 16:20 Break
• 16:35 Short film/documentarie about Free Software.

More info on Software Freedom Day International
SFD in The Netherlands
SFD in Trinidad & Tobago

More info: TUSOTRA,
T. 5999 465-6914 of 465-6915
F. 5999 465-6916
W. www.tusotra.com
E: info@tusotra.com

Measure your performance with open source

Every businessman or woman cherishes his or her best clients. No matter the size of the company, it is of the greatest importance to know who they are, what their needs are and how to keep them satisfied. BI-Hive provides software that help businessman and woman achieve this. And because the Business Intelligence tools of BI-Hive are based on open source, they are affordable and reliable. “With the touch of a button, you get an overview of your performance in the past year, financial reports or best client top ten”, says Kencurth Richardson, founder and owner of BI-Hive.

Data warehousing

The company name refers to a beehive that is swarming with Business Intelligence expertise instead of bees. The letters BI stand for Business Intelligence. Richardson: “We help other companies to develop, implement and manage software solutions for information processes. We are also involved in quick scans, audits, training, testing and web-based software development, but our core business is business intelligence data warehousing.”

A data warehouse basically is combining data from multiple and usually varied sources into one comprehensive and easily manipulated database, Richardson explains. “Companies use a lot of applications that are not linked to each other. Plain text documents or excel spreadsheets and not linked to other information systems within the company. By making a copy of all this information structuring it an integrating it in a data warehouse (centralized database) companies could obtain a bigger picture of their business and users could have easily access of this information if they are authorized.”

The next step is using Business Intelligence Tools to extract information from this data warehouse, such as information about the best clients or the performance during the past six months – basically anything that is measurable. “A phrase I often use is If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it’‘, Richardson says. “When you measure your performance, it is easier to manage your business by taking the right decisions.”

Lower treshold

BI-Hive uses open source Business Intelligence Tools. “These open source tools make it easier for small and medium sized companies to compete with larger companies. Large companies often use licensed software, proprietary software, that can be expensive. With open source the threshold has become lower. Smaller companies now can use these tools to manage their companies. Imagine you launch a campaign. With a touch of a button you will know whether you had some benefit from this campaign.”

BI-Hive’s website gives further examples. Depending on which information is stored in the data warehouse it is even possible to monitor sector development, economic trends and consumer behaviour. “It all depends on what is useful for the company, what it needs now and what it needs ten years from now. There are small and medium sized companies that don’t use any tools, because they have no need for it. They have not reached that stage and want to keep information unstructured. Although that will be very time consuming and there are tools to improve efficiency for those companies as well. People often don’t know that efficiency can be improved.”

Richardson doesn’t only offer open source and open standard software, but also licensed software. The reason for this is that he used to work for two international companies, being Oracle Netherlands and Logica. “I can offer Oracle based services because I have the knowledge. And I don’t ask my customers to choose exclusively for open source software or for licensed software. Companies can also decide to use open source for only some applications. Open source and licensed software can co-exist in harmony. Most open source software is based on Java, which is platform independent (and became Open Source in 2009). In the end, the return on investment (ROI) is the most important for the client. But the investment in open source is always less, so the return comes sooner.”

Misunderstandings

Richardson says that one of the issues about which there still is a lot of misunderstanding is the compatibility with other software. “I’m not saying that all open source software is mature. Some programs are still being developed. But there is a lot of software that is solid, reliable and useful. There might be a million pairs of eyes all over the world looking at the code, trying to fix bugs. This in comparison to a group of employees in the research department of a company that sells licensed software.”

BI-Hive for instance uses the Business Intelligence Tools developed by Pentaho. About 8.000 people contribute to the development of Pentaho’s software, which generates revenue by offering technical support on a subscription basis. ”Matured open source software is reliable and has good support. The availability of support is very important when choosing all software, licensed or open source. The difference is that with licensed software you will have to pay for support in addition to a license for every employee that uses the software.”

A second myth is that people need to know much more about computers and have more technical knowledge when they use open source software. This indeed is a myth, Richardson says. “Open Office is almost similar to Microsoft Office. Any document from Microsoft Office can be read with Open Office. Open Office is also compatible with both Microsoft and Apple. Some features might be different, but using them can be learned easily. Once you have taken that step, you will experience that Open Office works perfectly. Furthermore, Open Office uses open standards, which means any document you write can still be read ten years from now. Because Open Source won’t disappear and is here to stay. We can choose to resist and struggle for some time, but in the end we will have to deal with it.”

Caribbean Motors is using Free Software

Caribbean Motors Company is one of Curaçaos largest car dealers and importers. It has sold Mitsubishi cars since they were introduced on the island in 1973. In 1998 a new office and showroom were build at the Jan Noorduynweg. Four years later service stalls, tire sales, a computerized wheel balancing service and a auxiliary generator were added. It currently employs about fifty people who sell and service all the latest Mitsubishi models. Sedans as the Lancer, the Galant and the Eclipse, but also SUVs, trucks and buses.

From Commodore 64 via IBM S/36 to Linux Terminal Server

Mr. Edwin van Bochove, the Parts & Information System Manager, has worked for Caribbean Motors Company BV for more than twenty years. He studied car mechanics rather than IT, but became fascinated by computers en programming. When his brother bought a Commodore 64 in the early eighties, he soon recognized the possibilities to use it for an electronic filing system. Eventually, in 1986, Caribbean Motors Company BV decided to replace its paper filing system with a so-called minicomputer, the IBM S/36. “I saw the potential of the minicomputer but also the limitations. It could perform a lot of things, but somebody had to write the necessary programs. I took several training courses and was able to write some add ons for the existing software.” In 2001 Van Bochove was involved in the process of switching from the old system to new Dealer Management Software running in a Unix-environment with pc clients. Eventually a terminal server based system was introduced.

The current system is based on two large linux servers, stationed in Van Bochove’s office, and about thirty terminals. Van Bochove was already familiar with open source software for quite some time. Ten years ago, he was looking for a email program that could be used by everybody in the company and he chose the program that is currently known as Thunderbird. “It is free and comes with features comparable to those of Microsoft.” Then, a couple of years ago, Van Bochove realized that the computer network of Caribbean Motors needed a major update or full replacement. He got into contact with Edwin Constancia of FIT-IT Solutions. “I was impressed because he was talking about a lot of issues I was familiar with and wished to implement. Constancia had a professional experience with these issues and had done a similar project at another company. Our decision to close a deal turned out to be a good decision.”
Van Bochove is happy with the so called thin client system that has been in place for about a year now and in which all software is running from a server. “Every new employee, every new user, can start working within minutes. We just place a thin client. And we can easily replace a broken machine with a new one. Also, the terminals are more durable and they hardly require maintenance. In the past I was trying to keep up maintenance on many computers, something that really wore me out sometimes. Now, only the server and the backup server have to be updated.”

Power Failure doesn’t mean loss of work!

There are more benefits from the current system. Power failures do occur on regular basis on Curaçao. Two large batteries keep the servers running and give Caribbean Motors enough time to start their own generator. “As soon as the power has returned, everybody can continue where they left off. No data has gone missing.”
There are also some disadvantages. For some employees it takes some time to get used to open source programs such as Open Office, Van Bochove says. “It is no problem for people who only used the basic features of Microsoft Office, but there is a problem for the real power users – the people who linked all kinds of data and sheets in Excel, the people who used shared workbooks possibilities. They really had to get used to Open Office. The same happens with new employees who are not familiar with Thunderbird. People who used to work with schedules and other features of Outlook need some time to find and use the same features of Thunderbird. It would be great if there was some temporary support by professionals, who could help us with the transition to Open Office. Help with problems for which solutions have already been found.”

But on balance, the benefits are far larger than the disadvantages. The largest benefit might be the lower costs. “Most software we use is open source. We only need a licensed Window 2003 server for some software people still use.” Another licensed software package Caribbean Motors uses is designed specifically for car dealers and importers. “Since we are on an island, Caribbean Motors is not large enough for the software used by large importing companies, but we are too large for the software used by most car dealers. A English software house has exactly what we need. But it is expensive licensed software for which there is no alternative yet. We are glad the costs for the other software is limited.”

Interview by Otti Thomas