President Bharrat Jagdeo has confirmed that government has not yet bought any of the computers for distribution under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative. He made clear that the administration has spent less than Gy$1 million to purchase five laptops for the administrative staff of the OLPF secretariat. In recent weeks, Kaieteur News and several politicians have criticised the manner in which the project was being executed, suggesting a lack of transparency and claiming the government had bought laptops without the necessary budgetary provisions.
“The 142 computers that we distributed at the launch we got as a gift from Huawei,” Jagdeo told a news conference at State House. “So, for this entire programme, all we’ve spent on computers was less than a Gy$1 million for the staff of the One Laptop Per Family.” Huawei is the largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier in China, and the second largest in the world.
Jagdeo further explained that the administration has already made clear that it will go to an international public tender for the purchase of the laptops, noting that they could not specify a brand, since the process is still to be completed. Some Gy$1.8 billion has been set aside for this purpose.
The netbooks must meet certain specifications, which include black in colour with memory 1.0GB DPR 3, Hard Drive 160GB 5400 RMP SATA 1.5 Gb/ s, built-in camera above screen with 0.3 mega pixels, and one year’s warranty.
The government is expected to go to tender within two weeks.
Jagdeo also made it clear that since the remaining systems will be purchased through a US$8 million grant from China, it is only fitting that these be sourced from that country.
According to President Jagdeo, engineers have estimated, based on the required specifications, that each netbook would cost some US$300. “We don’t know yet what it’s going to be, because it’s going to be through a public tender,” he said.
Income test
Meanwhile, the head of state declared the government may have to conduct an income test to determine those who are going to be eligible for the laptops. He asserted that the poorest in society must be the beneficiaries. He explained that any project of this magnitude will attract problems with persons trying to cheat the system, but this will not deter the government from proceeding with an initiative to help thousands of Guyanese.
He opined that the critics will not be affected if this programme is not undertaken, since they and their families have access to such facilities.
“Don’t they care about poor people’s kids who will never have an opportunity in their homes?” he questioned.
“I find this utterly selfish and disgusting.” As reported in the Kaieteur News, 20 other laptops were purchased; but, according to Jagdeo, these were bought for the Office of the President, and not the OLPF. He confirmed that it was done at a competitive rate at US$100 cheaper than another provider.
“Yes, you may be able to get it cheaper online, but we don’t buy that way, we don’t give a government officer and say go and shop online, because if we do that we won’t be able to get a competitive process,” he outlined.
Jagdeo said a problem with online shopping is the after-sales service, which is guaranteed when purchased from a reputable organisation.
“Where is this big hullabaloo? What is this problem with the OLPF? Why are so many people opposed to something that would help poor people’s kids have a chance in this world?” he asked.
