Black Bush Polder goes online!
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, May 27, 2018
History has been created in Black Bush Polder as residents of Yakarasi and Johanna are the first two communities in the Polder to benefit from ICT Hubs. On May, 25, 10 laptop computers were handed over to the Yakasari Community Centre which will house the ICT hub.
Prime Minister Regional Representaive Gobin Harbhajan (second from right) and National Data Management Authority Representative Travis Spelling with members of the ICT management committee.
A group of residents gathered to witness the presentation and to form the management committee to oversee the hub
Among those present was the Prime Minister’s Representative for East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), Gobin Harbhajan who explained that in early April executives from the community centre approached his office in Port Mourant and sought donations for computers. While there they also brought to his attention the challenges the community faces in accessing the internet.
Harbhajan explained that contact was made with the E-Governance personnel in the region seeking assistance. A letter was dispatched to the Minister of Public Telecommunications who immediately approved the establishment of the hub after she learnt of the situation.
On Monday last a team visited the area and within one working day the community centre was connected. The team also noticed the Yakasari Primary School located nearby was equipped with a computer laboratory but had no internet access. The following day Yakasari and Johanna Primary began receiving internet access as well.
Even though, the hubs have not been officially commissioned residents in the farming community are already making use of the facilities and expressed excitement with the availability of internet access.
For 71-year-old Purnamattie Mangra, this was her first time using a computer and she was beaming with joy. “I never do this, before. I don’t know about it but I want to learn.” She plans to attend the computer classes once it begins.
Nine-year-old Jairam Dookram was happy to know there is place in his community where he can access the internet for research purposes.
A formal opening ceremony is slated for June 1, where Minister of Public Communications Cathy Hughes is expected to attend.
The Ministry of Public Telecommunications through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) has been working to create ICT Hubs throughout the country targeting mostly remote areas, thus far 14 communities in the East Berbice Corenyne have benefited.
By: Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur
Images by Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur.
Jairam Dookram attempts to type in the Microsoft Word for the first time.
Purnamattie Mangra as she types her name.