ICTs for development

Over the last decade or so, there has been massive development in information and communications technologies (ICTs) worldwide. Almost the entire developed world is rapidly moving towards a generation of advanced technology, and most would agree that the results have been tremendous. In addition to job creation, ICTs have been used for boosting education delivery and enhancing the health and security sectors, among other applications. While the authorities in Guyana, having decided to go this route, have had the correct vision for a very long time, they have been somewhat tardy in doing what was necessary to take advantage of ICTs. This could have been a result of lacking the massive finance necessary to invest in establishing the required infrastructure to take advantage of ICTs.

However, there is now evidence to suggest that the government intends to fully utilise ICTs to advance Guyana’s development. Over the last five years or so, the country has been on a continuous path to progress, and this is happening in spite of the challenges both at the national and international levels. The administration has invested millions of dollars in fibre-optic cables to boost Internet connectivity, since this is certainly an area that needs to see significant improvement. Boosting Internet access is important, and fully complements the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project, in which it is expected that 90,000 families will receive laptop computers. Not only would ordinary Guyanese be able to own computers, but, more importantly, they would be equipped with the necessary skills to operate the systems. It is expected that persons will be contracted to provide the necessary training, and beneficiaries of this training would return to their communities to train others.

The laptop programme is the first component of the ICT strategy that the government has embarked upon, and a significant amount of money has been spent on the new fibre-optic cable from Brazil, which is expected to double current capacity. This does not only mean that Guyana will have redundancy in fibre-optic connectivity with the rest of the world, but it will also have significant capacity on which we can build Internet access. The cables are an important part of the overall ICT strategy, and without them, it would be more difficult to connect people.

While the sceptics have used the OLPF project for political grandstanding, raising issues relating to procurement procedures and so on, the OLPF programme is indeed a worthwhile one; and it is certain that, once properly implemented, there would be positive results. This is not to say that government does not have an obligation to ensure transparency and accountability. In fact, we believe that even though the administration meant well, they should have, from inception, been more open about the process, so as not to give politicians and certain media houses known for being sensational and scandalous any opportunity to speculate.

That aside, the authorities have said that the OLPF project is just a stepping stone for the development that will take place after the programme has been fully implemented. It is expected that the project will foster greater connection between classrooms and homes, and will get parents more involved in the education of their children. The project will make education and information accessible to the entire family, so the family can now access information and communicate with people across the world.

Finally, the only way our country will move forward is for citizens to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to operate in a world that is continuously changing. The ICT strategy and, more specifically, the OLPF project, are directly aimed towards achieving this objective. ICTs are creating opportunities for many people across the world, and it is important that our people are not left behind.