Public Telecommunications Ministry transforming Guyana into a digital age
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfcmQGd7NZw” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ ensuring every region has access to ICT
─ Code Camp 2019 to be taken to Hinterland region
DPI, Guyana, Monday, January 14, 2019
The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is on a mission to transform Guyana into the digital age by ensuring every region has access to Information and Communication Technology.
Earlier today, Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes reiterated that one of the ministry’s main goal is to educate and train citizens across the country in the use of Information and Communications Technology.
“Our goal is to reach into every single region not only to bring the internet network to their homes and schools but also to train residents up close and personal in the computer age and in using the internet to improve their daily lives, whether it be for business or for pleasure,” the Public Telecommunications Minister said adding “our overall goal is to transform Guyana into a fully digital nation.”
The minister said the tremendous response to ICT camps last year came as no surprise as the children participating took to ICT “like ducks to water”.
While echoing Minister Hughes’ sentiments on transforming Guyana into a digital nation, Information and Communications Technology Ministerial Advisor, Lance Hinds remarked that an ICT workforce has to be built at a national level.
He said that while there are persons who have an interest in ICT, it is up to the ministry to facilitate and nurture those interests.
“That was the reason we began to have these kinds of programs… One of the things in our discussions is to make sure you find the gems, make sure you find the talent because we got to identify them and begin to think about how we take them to the next step,”
The Ministerial Advisor emphasized that regardless of the circumstances, “we have to find a way to get them out of there and help them take that next step.”
Based on the findings of an in-depth analysis conducted on two main projects last year, Guyanese Girls Code and the regional Code Camps, it was found that the overall response to the initiative was positive as it fostered an environment of collaboration and communication. The analyses were done by lecturers attached to the University of Guyana’s Computer Science Department and the findings were presented to the Ministry of Public Telecommunications this morning.
Hinds disclosed that under Code Camp 2019, training will be taken to the Hinterland region. He explained that the ministry is currently engaging Iwokrama as a prospective catchment hub, to train persons from surrounding communities in ICT. It was also noted that the ministry is in the process of securing equipment to give to the participants once the training has been completed, so they can return to their communities and teach other residents.
Anara Khan.
Images: Giovani Gajie.