President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday distributed the first 1000 laptop computers under government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project, promising a communication technology revolution.
President Bharrat Jagdeo hands over one of the laptops to a recipient on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown. Looking on are; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar
The 1000 laptops are part of the first batch of 5000 computers that are expected to be distributed this week at Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs throughout the country. The distribution ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre, and a number of recipients were urged by the president to contribute 30 hours of their time towards training others.
Jagdeo stated that the OLPF programme was conceptualised two years ago, with a lot of hard work dedicated towards making the actual project a reality. He reiterated that great opportunities are possible for citizens who now have a responsibility to transform Guyana.
The head of state mentioned that while access to ICTs will create ideas, it is the ability to express those ideas that is key to the future of any country.
ICT has enabled the progress of globalisation where goods and services flow across borders.
Jagdeo stressed that access to technology can remove physical boundaries which separate rich countries from the developing world while opening up a range of great possibilities.
He detailed that government has been working to create an economy where the traditional sectors can still be sustained and effective but new emerging wealth making sectors can be introduced.
Jagdeo listed oil and gas exploration, agro-processing, eco-tourism, and ICTs as some of those sectors that are poised to create wealth in the future.
He noted that government has equipped citizens with the tools to compete in a world which values education and provides many opportunities.
“That is why we have decided to provide 180,000 households with computers; 90,000 of these families will receive their laptops by the end of this year and early next year.” The president said the project will allow government to modernise the entire service sector, and with fibre optic cables creating the infrastructural backbone for connectivity, the possibilities are endless. The cable is expected to run from Crabwood Creek to Charity and from Lethem to the coastland.
The project encapsulates four applications: e-governance, security, health and education. Jagdeo disclosed that People’s Progressive Party/Civic presidential candidate Donald Ramotar has undertaken the establishment of online degree programmes at the University of Guyana, complete with an elibrary which can particularly benefit single parents who are willing to study at nights.
“We will be able to modernise all services, including our crime fighting capabilities, e-governance. People will be able to apply for birth certificates, driver’s licences, passports and other important documents from their own homes.” He added that the project also has the potential to create thousands of jobs with the touch of a button, pointing out that Guyanese will be able to land simple jobs such as processing data for American companies without leaving home.
The OLPF project targets specifically single-parent homes with incomes below Gy$50,000 as well as differentlyabled groups and individuals.
More than 21,000 persons have been verified to receive laptops so far through a house-to-house exercise and 1000 more computers are expected to arrive early next week.
