Households
As discussed in the Internet section, PC penetration in SVG is approximately 2%.  Although the interviewee from Cable and Wireless stated that approximately 1300 of his 1600+ customers are individual accounts, I would tend to believe that most small businesses sign up for individual service (which comes with 5 free email accounts), due to the pricing structure.  (See Internet and ECommerce for more details) The average individual, with a yearly income of US$2500 can not afford a personal PC, which tends to be more expensive by about 50% in comparison to US prices.  This would lead me to make the assumption that PC use is most prevalent among the educated elite and small businesses.

Businesses and Government
 In formation technology seems to be gaining momentum in the SVG, at least with large businesses, banks, offshore banks, internet casinos and travel agencies.  Most smaller businesses continue to restrict their use of computers to applications like word processing and email. The government services have varying levels of computerization, most operating on a windows NT platform, and again mostly  used for word processing,  spreadsheet, and database applications. 
There are some other projects in information technology that are happening at the present.  Because SVG is a small island highly dependent on an agricultural base, a Geographical Information System is being developed, which was the recommendation made by Janice Pichinini in her study “Creating Opportunity in the Windward Islands.” (1)   The management information system, which would include new computer equipment, marketing software and access to the internet,  could aid in identifying marketing opportunities for produce as well as tracking produce production. 
At the moment, the most sophisticated use of IT can be seen in the banking and financial  industry.  For example,  Barclays Bank has equipped branches with a VSAT satellite system which feeds a regional processing center in the Bahamas via a main BT hub in Britain which interfaces with an Intelsat satellite.  (2)  This allows individuals to access funds and account information  region-wide Barclays is just one example.   C&W facilitates linking local branches of banks in SVG to their external data centers via leased circuits. 
Another area which seems to be rapidly promoting the deployment of information techolgy is the tourism sector.  Until recently, most hotels of St. Vincent had a web presence, but used technology merely as a form of advertising to the outside world.  However, some IT projects have been launched such as the Small Hotels Project by the Organization of American States (OAS).  This project is trying to promote IT and its benefits in the tourism sector , which along with agriculture sector, supports the economy.  Small hotels are the backbone to building a tourism future for SVG, whose largest hotel on the mainland has 30 rooms.For many years it has been recognized that the smaller hotel properties were having increasing  difficulties competing for customers and maintaining their properties to the level expected by international markets. This intense competitive environment requires levels of investment in product and marketing that is beyond the means of many small  hoteliers. The project has implemted a Walk-in technology Center at the Ministry of Tourims, that enable small hotels to access international tourism information and as well used by small hoteliers to show them how PC/internet can help to increase business manage operations etc. (3)  There is also aso another program spnosred by the OAS which is the Caribbean Destination Management System Project, a regional project for the OECS.  This project  has been designed with the purpose of designing and implementing destination management systems in participating countries providing internet web based access to country information, call canter and fulfillment services, reservation capabilities for accommodation, events, festivals and attractions, and ongoing research support to monitor marketing effectiveness and product inventory information (4)

Academic networks 
Although SVG does not have any higher institutions of learning, it has had the ability to participate in an academic network, the Hemisphere Wide Inter-University Scientific and Technological Information Network (RedHUCyT) and the Caribbean University Network (CUNet).  CUNet was formally launched in September of 1991.  During Phase I the program facilitated access to e-mail for the first time to many universities throughout the caribbean. To see network map of users connecting to the server at UPR (University of Puerto Rico), go to http://www.redhucyt.oas.org/webing/e-cunet1.htm.   With Phase II, the OAS is providing significant funds to Caribbean countries for technical assistance and training of network manager to facilitate the interconnection of universities and academic institutions throughout the region to the internet (http://redhucyt.org/webing/cunet.htm).  Specifically in SVG, this program has provided modems, serial cards and additional hardware and software for the implementation of an electronic node at the Ministry of Communications and Works, to facilitate electronic mail exchange via dial-up to the server in Canada.   Furthermore, the program also provided computer equipment, modems, and software to expand electronic access to the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Education and the School of Continuing Studies at the University of the West Indies (5)

What areas could use IT more efficiently
There are many areas that could use IT more efficiently.  Many offices of the government such as customs could benefit from the implemtation of some type of information system.  The hotels,although  benefitting already from the OAS project, could implement systems to increase effeiceny of operations at each property.  The banana industy would surely benefit  from the use of IT in increasing the efficiensy of operations and management of farmers.  Retail establishments could implement bar code and inventory systems.