Leguan gets ICT hub

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DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The Government of Guyana through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, in a show of its commitment to ensuring all citizens have access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT), today officially opened yet another Community ICT Hub, this time on the island of Leguan in the Essequibo River.

Housed at the Leguan Community Centre, the ICT hub is equipped with 15 laptop computers which will be accessible to the public.

This brings the total number of Community ICT hubs across the country to 110. A target of at least 190 ICT hubs has been set for 2018.

Delivering the feature address, Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes said access to the internet can help all members of the community, particularly students and other persons engaged in academic pursuits.

“With this ICT hub, if you do not have internet at home, there is no excuse for you taking a little walk to the ICT hub and using the service.”

She informed that in the coming months, applications will be installed on the computers that will assist students preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Further, Minister Hughes underscored the importance of internet access for entrepreneurial purposes.

The minister noted that “with access to the internet you could meet those same markets that persons in the US access.”

She informed residents that the Bank of Guyana has unveiled its new Financial Payment Plan, which will better position entrepreneurs to buy and sell services online utilising their mobile devices.

Residents were called upon to take advantage of the many opportunities available in several sectors such as agriculture. Reference was made to the Ministry’s plan of offering specialised training for citizens.

Meantime, Director of the NDMA, Phillip Walcott, in brief remarks, commended all those who partnered with the authority to bring the hub to realisation in just a few months, noting that some communities took as long as two years to meet this point.

He pledged the NDMA’s commitment to continuous support in the management of the ICT hub. Training will be provided to all persons requiring basic computer knowledge within the coming weeks.

The proceeding was chaired by Youth, Culture and Sports Officer of Leguan, Harry Gobin, who expressed gratitude to the ministry and NDMA for the initiative, which will benefit the community tremendously.

Also, in attendance were members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the Community Development team.

 

By: Stacy Carmichael