| By Latoya GilesPresident Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday handed out the first batch of netbook computers under the One Laptop Per Family Programme at the National Cultural Centre.In his feature address to the large gathering of invitees/recipients, Jagdeo said that the new initiative offers great hope for the transformation of Guyana.The intended recipients in the audienceAccording to the President, if one is to fully understand the context of what the government is trying to do, one would have to look at the experience of the world.For the past 20 years, he said, mankind has witnessed a global phenomenon, a rapid growth in income as evidenced by growth in the stock markets around the world.He said that the world has seen a significant change in the way people relate and do business with each other.“If one was to examine the biggest companies for 20 years back today, the biggest companies that are worth billions are the ones existing in virtual reality,” he noted.He added that this translates to the creation of ideas and the ability to express those ideas through the internet would be important for future development for any country, especially those such as Guyana.“The world has seen this change globally, where goods and services move seamlessly across borders and we have seen the development of technology, where physical borders between nations are virtually non-existent. People in Guyana can communicate with their counterparts…technology has opened up this.This technology has been used widespread, in the developed countries, that got wealth from colonialism….that generated a lot of wealth on the backs of countries like Guyana.”Jagdeo said there is much need to close the technological gap,Cheap Jerseys From China Outlet, and this new project would close it significantly.Today, he said, many persons will be closer to transforming Guyana and their own families, and their children are equipped with it to better their knowledge base.“This is why I cannot view the computer as a piece of equipment, but as a partnership between government and citizens. The dream is that we ensure that every single household in Guyana has access to a computer.”Some 90,Cheap NHL Jerseys China,000 families will receive a laptop from the government, and the president stressed that if the PPP presidential candidate Donald Ramotar is elected following this month end’s elections,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, he would continue the programmeBy the end of the year 57,000 additional laptops are scheduled to arrive, and the administration has already secured additional funding from the Chinese government for another 33,000 computers..Some of the laptops on display on the NCC stageJagdeo said that the immediate goal of the government is to ensure that every Guyanese is computer literate and he noted that most persons have placed the focus on the young children where technology is concerned, adding that indeed they are the future and should be given a good education which their parents may not have had.But he noted it is not primarily for the children, but for all Guyanese, and he opined that making the nation computer literate can be done within the next three years.In this regard, he said that he wants Guyana to be “the most computer literate country in the world” and he charged all who collected computers to train the members of their family.The head of state noted that the project would allow the government to modernize services in Guyana. Relative to this, he explained that there are two projects that they are working on to get everyone internet connected.“The first project is laying a high capacity fibre optic cable from Brazil that would bring capacity bandwidth to Guyana. That cable will be completed next year and would connect our hospitals,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, schools and police stations.In the cities and populated areas they would use the wimax system, and about 80,Jerseys From China,000 people would have connectivity through that project.”In addition, he said that a Chinese company has been contracted to lay a fibre optic cable from Crabwood Creek to Charity and the president further told the gathering that the government would be working along with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company in a partnership to help with the connectivity. He explained that it would not be broadband at the beginning, but it would change from time to time.The president noted that the government would be able to deliver education and other key elements related to Health, Security and E-Government applications. There would be computerized records for people.“Doctors stationed in outlying areas can communicate with their counterparts aboard,” Jagdeo stated.He said that they plan to have an online degree and once persons have access to the computer they would be able to complete their degree.Applicants will also have access to an “E Library” where they can read books without stepping foot into a library.The security sector he said would be helped in terms of modernizing crime fighting. Jagdeo expressed that he was very happy that his government had fulfilled this promise.He urged the recipients not to sell the computers, because they would be giving up something of value. He explained that they have 18 months warranty and a 24-hour support centre, whereby if there is a problem people can call and get information.The first batch of 5,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap,000 laptops arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on October 28. |
