In 2001, the Neal and Massy Group engaged in a comprehensive restructuring exercise of its communications and information technology components in Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Envisioned to improve customer responsiveness, capitalise on economies of scale and augment shareholder value, this move resulted in the cessation of operations of CCS in Barbados, Cayman and Jamaica, the Office Centre Limited in Antigua, and Borde Communications, CCS Technology and Management Information Systems in Trinidad and Tobago in favour of the formation of a new company with streamlined operations, enhanced customer service and the value-added benefit of being a ‘one-stop’ IT and communications shop.

Born was ILLUMINAT, an organisation with a name reflective of exceptional knowledge and enlightenment, and the rapid convergence of the Information and Communications Industries. Our organisational strength, expertise, resources and regional coverage are derived through the synergy created by the merge, and the recognition that the whole, ‘ILLUMINAT’ is now greater that the sum of the parts.

As part of the strategic restructuring exercise, Neal and Massy formed the ITC Group – a solidification of its Information and Communications Technology Business Units – to support and oversee the transition. The Group acts as the parent company to ILLUMINAT and one other related Trinidad-based Neal and Massy subsidiaries, Nealco Datalink.

Borde Communications

From the time of its formation in 1957 to its incorporation into ILLUMINAT in 2001, Borde Communications pioneered radio communication in Trinidad and Tobago as one of the leading privately-owned telecommunications companies in the Caribbean.

The company served a diverse cross-section of industries from the Government Sector, Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries, Security and Banking/Finance, to Insurance, Transportation and Construction, and Manufacturing and Retail Industries, spearheading major telecommunications networking projects in Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia and Barbados.

Given the dynamism of the Telecommunications Industry, Borde Communications was called upon to continually revise its position to ensure that customers' needs were met. Consequently, the company developed core competency in network solutions, and was involved in the local development of products and services which catered to the needs of industries. To this end, alliances were struck with international manufacturing companies – including Motorola, Alcatel, AT&T, General Datacomm, Liebert Emerson, Plessey, Tripp-lite and Hewlett-Packard – a position sustained in its new embodiment.

Other services offered by Borde – and now through ILLUMINAT – were the installation and maintenance of Private Voice and Data Networks utilising microwave radio links via its own central repeater site, nationwide paging, cellular phones retail, trunked radio systems and Helios (a Digital Wireless Broadband Data Network using an innovative design in wireless technology from Spike Technologies Inc.).

CCS Technology

CCS Technology was established in April 1980, as a member of the Neal and Massy Group of Companies to market, service and support of a full range of computers and office equipment. As a major Information Technology solutions provider, the company enjoyed the widest geographic coverage for IT services in the English-Speaking Caribbean.

Professional services offered by the Company included: Internet Services, Network Services, Data Centre Outsourcing, Enhanced Imaging Services, Consultancy Services, Customer Support, International Software and Training.

Its relationship with traditional well-known international brands such as Apple, RISO and Uniwell, was strengthened through the establishment of global partnerships with Cabletron Systems, Liebert, Micron, Kronos, Intergraph, Sharp, Axent, Lucent, Transector, Cisco Systems, Compaq, DK, VTEL, Citrix, the Siemon Company, RSA Security, NCR, CCCnet, Tripp-lite and Lotus.

Today, ILLUMINAT boasts over 50 strategic alliances and partnerships with global leaders in information and communication products, services and solutions development.

CCS was incorporated in Jamaica on June 10, 1993 as a result of the Neal & Massy acquisition of NCR Jamaica Limited. NCR started operations in Jamaica in 1956 and over the years developed an extensive range of computer systems, applications and services for various market segments in Jamaica, Belize and the Cayman Islands. In acquiring NCR Jamaica, CCS absorbed the staff and committed itself to the continued sale and support of NCR products and services.

The scope of CCS's operations broadened with the merger of Island MicroSystems Limited (IMS), Firgos Converters Limited and the Office Equipment Division of  T. Geddes Grant. CCS became a provider of not only Information Technology solutions but also office technology products and services, office furniture, security systems, stationery and printing services.

CCS (Jamaica) Limited, then streamlined its operations focusing on those areas in which it had the most strength and opportunities. To this end, the printing, security systems, office stationery and furniture components of the company were divested and the organisation dedicated itself to providing quality Information and Office Technology products and services.

In January 2001, the Neal and Massy Group integrated CCS (Jamaica) Limited, and its sister companies, with Neal and Massy's other technology divisions operating across the Caribbean. The new company began trading under the ILLUMINAT name in March 2001.


Management Information Systems

In 1974, Management Information Systems (MIS) was established as the Information Technology service organisation for the Neal & Massy Group of Companies. Its role entailed providing support for over 40 companies on two large mainframe computers supporting more than 250 on-line devices. As the technology changed, support was also provided for the numerous networks and personal computers which were introduced at the various companies.

The organisation eventually provided Information Technology for non-group companies in the areas of software systems design, development and general IT consultancy, and extended its activities to become the first ORACLE distributor in the region.

In 1993, the decision was taken to form a new company to deal exclusively with the Group's business and MIS was chartered to continue providing services for the public at large. ORACLE, as the flagship product of this new MIS, helped to propel the company as the leading supplier of relational database technology in the region, a position which it has sustained throughout.

MIS had been the only authorised ORACLE Distributor in the region since 1988 for the ORACLE family of software products for database management as well as tools for CASE, application development, decision support and office automation – an arrangement maintained by ILLUMINAT.

Today, through the efforts of MIS and ILLUMINAT, there are over 100 satisfied major companies/organisations using ORACLE as their database of choice. The software is being used both as a development platform and as an application execution platform. The success of the relationship spurred MIS to expand its offerings through the addition of a number of key and strategic applications.

In Latin America, MIS marketed and supported the mass merchandising system ("Retailer and Autobank") – a complete banking system. A similar Oracle-based accounting and inventory control system, SYSTEMS DYNAMICS, was used in Trinidad.

Other services offered by the company included training, technical support, software systems design and software development, and general consultancy.