PPP spreading fake news
Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes
Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

— says public telecommunications minister

PUBLIC Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes on Tuesday lashed back at the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for spreading “fake news” about the progress made in her sector.

During her address on the second day of the Budget 2018 debate, Hughes told the House that the country’s ICT sector could have been way more advanced than it is today, but the previous PPP administration squandered some $2B on the fibre- optic cable project.
“We could have been further along the way if we hadn’t thrown $2B down the drain,” declared Hughes, much to the satisfaction of the governing side of the House.

The minister’s remarks came in response to statements by opposition Member of Parliament Gillian Burton-Persaud, who on Monday criticised the pace of ICT development in the hinterland regions.
“Mr. Speaker, today we pay a premium price to connect these regions… that is our commitment. The PPP’s commitment was to build a fibre, instead, our indigenous residents and all of us saw over one billion dollars go down the drain. Nothing but damaged cable to show! Where did those billion dollars go? And you talk about corruption,” said Hughes.

Her response saw members of the government benches thumping their desks in approval.
“Mr Speaker now they shout in the usual abusive way – you’re in power now, fix it… yes, we are fixing it. We are going across the country, across all sectors… picking up the pieces and fixing it. It is taking longer than we thought, but we will fix it,” Hughes continued.
She also responded to Burton-Persaud’s claim that ICT development has been “marking tim.”

“But I will remind my colleague that she got her years mixed up… yes… in 2012, the government fibre-optic network — through which we are increasing Internet connectivity – was completed but lay dormant or dead for three years… until this government came along and operationalised in latter 2015,” said Minister Hughes.

Meanwhile, this year, she said a number of initiatives were the focus of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) while pointing to the operation, expansion and security of the national eGovernment Network, which provides Internet connectivity.

PROGRESS
Thus far, free Internet access has been provided to 53 government ministries and agencies; more than 95 secondary schools; the University of Guyana campuses and the Cyril Potter College of Education; to over 37 technical/vocational institutions, including the Carnegie School of Home Economics; to the offices of Regional Education Officers, and several NGOs.

“Mr Speaker, I am excited to boast that the NDMA has worked closely with communities and villages in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and 10 and has set up 86 ICT hubs [and counting] with computers donated by government, thus providing nearly 200,000 citizens with access to the worldwide web,” said Hughes.

“Drop in to any of these hubs and you will see a flurry of children and teenagers rushing to complete homework or just to play. So rest assured this was achieved in 2017 and is not fake news,” she declared.
Regional offices, public hospitals and airports, along with the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Defence Force and other service organisations are now connected to the Internet and to each other via 23 virtual private networks.

“Mr. Speaker, finally, after some construction delays, the NDMA has completed the rehabilitation of the Centre for Excellence in Information Technology with support from the Government of India to the tune of $70M.”
The centre is located on the University of Guyana campus and is slated to be commissioned in March, 2018.

It is expected that the Centre of Excellence in IT will bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing specialised ICT training to develop competencies among Public Sector ICT professionals, the public telecommunications minister stated.
Though not commissioned, it has begun to fulfil its purpose. So far, three training courses have been conducted. Over 100 students are expected to graduate in 2018.

The NDMA is simultaneously providing technical support services to almost all the ministries, especially Education, Finance, Health, Infrastructure and Social Protection, while spearheading the expansion of the national e-Government fibre- optic network from the coastland (Charity to Skeldon) to inland areas.

EXPANSION
“While we await the commencement of a nationwide expansion programme as part of a National Broadband Expansion Project (to be executed by Huawei Technologies of China), the networks have been expanded to inland/hinterland locations via private lease-circuit agreements with two providers – Digicel and Imon Wireless Solutions,” said Minister Hughes.

Additionally, Digicel’s lease this year has provided Internet services to Linden, Bartica, Kwakwani, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa, Matthew’s Ridge, Baramita and Mabaruma, along with satellite services to nine hinterland locations – Waramadong, Masakenari, Aishalton, Annai, St. Ignatius, Iwokrama, Sand Creek, Karasabai, and Paramakatoi.

“Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that contrary to the fake news disseminated by my misinformed, honourable colleague MP Pauline Sukhai at a recent press conference, places like Masakenari have never had Internet connectivity before …never… so this is not some recycled, failed PPP project,” Hughes remarked.

Hughes called on Sukhai, who at a recent press conference said the 2018 budget included nothing to bridge the gap between the hinterland and the coast, to speak the truth.
“I want to reassure my indigenous brothers and sisters that we are committed to you, we have come to several of your villages providing sustainable Internet access that will allow you to sell your hammocks, tomato ketchup, tourism services, to participate on line, to learn and grow,” she noted.

“Well I have informed you to the contrary, so spread the word. Next time honourable MP on the opposition side, just the facts please, the facts,” said Hughes.
Some $50M has been allocated for improved solar solutions for the ICT hubs in hinterland regions, while $15M to procure more fibre-optic cables, $16M for more Internet access points and $20M for power redundancy at the data centre.

“We have provided Internet to your students at the Bena Hill Institute and to St. Ignatius High School, both of which I visited personally; you are now running six of your own stations that inform, educate and entertain your communities… these are all new! Delivered by the same AFC+APNU government that those on the other side love to hate!” the public telecommunications minister stated.

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