THE distribution of laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative resumed in Berbice on Monday, when residents of East Canje received 584 instruments at the Cumberland Primary School.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, OLPF Supervisor Ms. Archana Sawh stated that applicants from the villages of Seawell, Palmyra, Cumberland and Canefield, among others, benefited from the exercise.
“It should be ongoing now for Region 6 until September; we have scheduled dates and will be targeting the different areas,” she revealed, adding, “OLPF will be moving to Port Mourant, Corentyne in July where more laptops will be distributed.”
Ms. Sawh also encouraged more Berbicians to apply for the Government laptops. “Government has an obligation to the people and we want to reach our target, which is 90,000 laptops.”
So far, 3,000 laptops have been distributed in Berbice and the application process is simple, where persons can visit the OLPF Regional offices in the county, either at New Amsterdam or Skeldon.
“Eligible persons have to fill up an application form and return it to us, and there are verification officers who will visit their homes where another form has to be signed before it is sent to Georgetown for processing,” she explained.
Once the verification process is completed, the waiting period between application and distribution is not an elaborate one.
A number of persons who received laptops on Monday were grateful for the gesture of the Government of Guyana, which was mooted by former president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. They expressed relief at having their applications acknowledged and are now required to attend training sessions at established OLPF Hubs in East Canje, where they will acquire skills in computing.
The OLPF programme was launched in 2011; the objective of the venture is to equip 90,000 families with laptops and to expand the use of ICT across the country.
Up to May of last year, a total of 28,000 laptops were already distributed to families across the country.

(Michael Khan)