Urges Kuru Kururu beneficiaries to use it for intended purpose
THE recently opened Information Communication Technology Centre at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke, was ideally the venue for the distribution of 52 of government’s laptops under its One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme. Thousands of families have already been afforded the opportunity to become computer literate since the laptop distribution began in November.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, accompanied by Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, and Advisor on Community Development, Odinga Lumumba, were at the Soesdyke location to aid in the distribution of the laptops acquired from Haier of China.
Minister Nandlall noted that the laptop programme is a part of government’s initiative to empower Guyanese, especially those of a particular income bracket, so that they are prepared to deal with the world’s technological advances.
He stressed that it is government’s vision to prepare all Guyanese to meet new challenges through education, and empowering people with the technical resources, skills and assets to meet the demands of the technological age.
Minister Nandlall emphasised that the OLPF programme allows beneficiaries access to innumerable opportunities aimed at advancing their educational and economic status.
He indicated that a laptop is an economic and educational instrument and urged that they use it for its intended purpose and care for it.
The minister urged the beneficiaries to notify the OLPF Secretariat if they encounter difficulties with the device.
The first batch of 1000 Guyanese received their laptops from the OLPF’s mastermind, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, in November. The distribution process continued thereafter at 67 hubs spread across the country.
On Wednesday, the distribution process was taken to Regions 3 and 6, with the recipients subsequently commencing their training sessions.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, and Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud, were in Region 3 at the West Demerara Secondary School to oversee the process and offer words of advice to the beneficiaries from Pouderoyen and Versailles.
In Region 6, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy was at Number 54 Village, where he assisted in distributing the laptops.
Beneficiaries at all the locations were effusive in their appreciation of the instruments, noting that they will elevate their status.
One elderly Region 6 beneficiary said, “ I feel great… this will help me know more about what is happening, not only in Guyana, but the world over. I was looking forward for it for a long time and I thank God that it’s come…I want to give praise to the government for making available this laptop.”
The OLPF programme, which was launched in January 2011, targets 90,000 families, and has the ultimate goal of ensuring that all Guyanese have access to ICT, thereby transforming Guyana into one of the most computer literate countries.
The first batch of 5000 laptops arrived in Guyana in October, paving the way for Guyanese to start receiving their laptops and commence training. Over 8000 have already been given out.
The project is the materialisation of a promise made by government to pursue advancement in the ICT sector to ensure that a greater majority of citizens have access to the internet, computers, and become computer literate.
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