PPP bungled fibre-optic cable project …Granger says its dead, waste of money

“Dead; a waste of money,” is how President David Granger described the bungled fibre-optic cable project started under the People’s Progressive Party administration.“We would like to feel that the fibre optic cable we inherited is dead, there is no indication that it could be revived, it would have to be done all over again and we are tendering for that. It is not possible to rehabilitate what we have found on the ground. It is just a bad project; it is just a waste of money,” said Granger when asked to provide an update on the status and future plan for that project.
The project referenced by Granger is the Brazil-Guyana Fibre-Optic cable that commenced in 2011. The aim being to, establish among other things, a database hub for all government agencies. Improved internet access was expected to be part of the package.
In June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told the media that Guyana has accumulated US76, 000 debt for internet connectivity though the country has not yet benefitted from the project. He announced that government would be re-entering discussions with Brazil on the project to see if a better deal can be arrived at. Noting that the project absorbed millions of taxpayers’ dollars, it is expected that over the next few months discussions will be had on ‘value for money’ with respect to that project. The Fibre-Optic cable project falls under the former government’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Initiative.
The US$32M Government’s E-Governance unit is focused on two aspects of ICT namely transmission network which speaks to the fibre-optic cable network that allows for high speed data, voice and video communication and data network where there would be a centralised system that will accommodate government ICT plans, provide internet service and the like. Early 2012, (former) Project head, Alexi Ramotar, who is also former President Donald Ramotar’s son, said that the laying of the 560 kilometers conduit was done and has been hooked up to ‘Oi’, the Brazilian telecommunications provider that was expected to provide Guyana access to the rest of the world.
In November of the same year, it was reported to Cabinet that in addition to the fibre-optic cable, five repeater stations along the Lethem to Georgetown route have been constructed but in September it was reported in the press that Government was experiencing difficulty with the fibre optic cable project.
Since then questions have surfaced about the feasibility of the project and the benefits to be received by the Guyanese people. In April this year, the former government announced that the damaged fibre-optic cable was being rehabilitated by Dax Contracting Services managed by Faisal Mohamed and would be completed six months after. However following the change of government, it was discovered that Mohamed through his company was benefitting from a lucrative deal. Dax’s contract has since been terminated by the current administration.
The US$32M three component project was aimed at connecting government units along the Linden-Lethem road and the coastland with good quality connectivity.
The other two components included a cable from Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, through Georgetown to Moleson Creek, East Berbice, and a data Centre with 54 towers that will create a wireless network.
Meanwhile, President Granger said where other aspects of information technology are concerned, Government has examined the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) located in Turkeyen and is in the process of “creating a new regime, which would probably be merged with the National Data Management Authority”
He noted that “it is too soon to tell but work is being done to improve our bandwidth, our interconnectivity, improve access to the internet countrywide, particularly for education also for business. In fact, there are no limits to information and communications technology.”
President Granger strongly believes that Guyanese need to “get out of this one laptop mentality”.
“We must get out of the mentality of where we give these devices as toys or trinkets at Christmas time and give people wider access. Every single government building must have access, every school, university, hospital, every police station … we just have to catch up with the rest of the world and we are much too slow.”
Notwithstanding the challenges faced, President Granger said a stronger department is being set up within the Ministry of the Presidency that will coordinate the NDMA which has been “reduced, underutilized for the last 20 years.” A “super structure” he said is being created to have a greater impact on business, education and e-governance.”
The entire E-governance structure is currently being revamped.

By Ariana Gordon

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