THE APNU+AFC Coalition acceded to government in May 2015, and by July 2016, Guyana’s long-awaited Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill was passed into law. This piece of legislation indeed liberated the telecommunication system throughout Guyana.

Since then, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoPT) continues to work assiduously to maintain the given mandate, which is “…to develop an enabling environment for the increased use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across all sectors within Guyana.”

So far, over 100 ICT Hubs connected in all of the 10 administrative regions countrywide are in place. The MoPT reported that this is helping residents, including school and university students within the various communities, to have free access to the Internet to do research, conduct business and surf the Internet for a variety of reasons.

ICT OF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September last year by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP), paved the way for persons to access free technical online training. Training began in early November 2019 after it was launched at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Fifty participants were able to take full advantage of courses in repair and maintenance of heavy duty machinery. These courses were facilitated by MACORP under its Caterpillar ‘Technicians for the Caribbean’ programme, while the ministry provided support through access to computer systems and the Internet.

GIRLS IN ICT DAY
The Ministry of Public Telecommunications in collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) in 2017, offered girls from several schools from across Georgetown, the opportunity to explore the various fields related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This was in observance of “Girls in ICT Day,” which was held at the North Ruimveldt Secondary School on Mandela Avenue.

CAPTIONS: ICT Hubs moving through every part of Guyana

1. Bygeval Secondary School students a young listener about their project. Supriya Jagdeo, one of the students from the school said that their soil moisture sensor could greatly assist farmers

2. A student of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School explaining to Minister Cathy Hughes how her game works

Code! Create! Conquer!
Code! Create! Conquer!
Girls in ICT Day Mini Expo 2018 held at the Giftland Mall, Turkeyen.

Minister Hughes commended and encouraged the young girls saying, “You have created some deliverables that traditionally are being created in developed countries, where students have so many more opportunities so I’m glad that we were able to bring a new vision of technology.”

Minister Hughes commended and encouraged the young girls saying, “You have created some deliverables that traditionally are being created in developed countries, where students have so many more opportunities so I’m glad that we were able to bring a new vision of technology.”

3. Alicia Layne, lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Guyana. Her hope is that with this project diabetic patients will be able to save their health charts, medical history, daily medication reminders and be in contact with their doctors. For her project, Layne conducted a study on 45 persons and now planning to broaden her research, with the hope of having it implemented in hospitals across Guyana

4. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes addressing residents at the commissioning of the Leguan ICT Hub Centre in April, 2018

5. Here Minister Hughes demonstrates to a resident of the Leguan community how to use the system

6. Some of the residents of the Sophia community, along with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes at the commissioning of the Sophia ITC Centre in May 2018

7. Some of the Sophia residents are being introduced to the new systems at the ICT Centre

8. The Bamia ICT Hub is housed within this multi-purpose centre. This is located on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

9. A few of the children in Bamia actively engaged with their computers. At the same time two other ITC Hubs were commissioned in Region 10 in November 2017. One at Victory Valley and the other at One Mile Wismar.

10. Young residents of the Crabwood Creek ICT Hub actively involved in what they are doing

11. Agricola residents having interactive sessions at their ICT Centre within the community

12. Young residents of Albouystown community sitting before the computers in practice session

13. Children within the Melanie Damishana demonstrating much enthusiasm as they ustilise their ICT Hub Centre

14. Minister Cathy Hughes is having a very interactive session with the young residents of the West Ruimveldt community working out of the ICT Hub Centre there

15. A child cuts the ribbon at the commission of the ICT Hub Centre for the Black Bush community, while Minister Cathy Hughes and other officials look on

16. Eduation Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry and Head of Management Information Systems (MIS) Unit, Mr. Yoganand Indarsingh at the commissioning of two new $12M ITC laboratories at the Eccles and Tucville Primary Schools. These were opened in October, 2018