Man-in-the-street…
-will help families bond more
GOVERNMENT on Friday rolled out its ‘One Laptop per Family’ project at the Guyana International Conference Centre, on the East Coast of Demerara.
The project aims to bring 90,000 laptops to the poorest families across the country as part of a wider ICT initiative that the Government is confident will open up a range of business and investment opportunities, e-government and e-commerce, and enhanced learning. While the laptops will be provided free of cost, those receiving them must commit to learning the computer, and then teaching others around them when they would have attained a suitable level of competence, which an assessment test will determine.
This being the case, the Guyana Chronicle’s CHEVON SINGH, with photographer ADRIAN NARINE in tow, took to the streets yesterday to find out from  members of the public what they thought about the project, and how they felt it would benefit them and the country as a whole. 

Gillian Thompson: Chief Librarian, National Library:
In my opinion…. the ‘One Laptop per Family’ initiative, which was introduced by President Jagdeo, is a great idea, because it will help those persons who are not only illiterate, but  also those persons who are not familiar with the computer. When it comes to the training that those who receive the computer will undergo, that, too, is a good move, since persons will be better equipped to use the instrument, and will be in a better position to help others.
Overall, it will benefit the country tremendously, by providing citizens with the necessary skills to find jobs, and the most important aspect, to me, would be the follow-up to see if the initiative is having the intended effect, or serving the intended purpose.

Michael Francois: Systems Development Officer
The fact the training programme will be incorporated into the idea is great. Many persons will benefit from this scheme, especially from the educational aspect. It will also put our country ‘out there’, in terms of accessibility to the Internet, as we become more informed about the world; and the world will become more informed about us. In addition to this, the children will be the ones to benefit the most, in terms of their education. With information so easily accessible, there is no limit to what they can do.
Despite the fact that this may be so advantageous though, parents need to be extra vigilant and careful of the dangers of the Internet, and I think that persons should also be sensitized about this aspect of the initiative. Apart from this, it is a welcome idea that will create jobs in the end, which will help to make our country a better one; a more developed one.

Sharmilla Dorma: Business Owner
This idea that President Jagdeo came up with is a great one, not only for the children of this country, but for the adults as well. Families will now learn together and spend more time together, which is always good. When this happens, this country will benefit in many ways: Persons will learn a skill to become employed; they will be able to help others along the way; and families will eventually move closer together as a unit. When I heard about what the President was telling us he would do for us, I was shocked! And I did not believe that it would happen. Now that it has, I know my children will benefit from this. I wish when we were growing up we had the opportunities that are available to the children today, since my family could not afford one for me when I was young. I am a mother, and I am happy that we could live in a country where we have these opportunities.

Abigail McGarrell: Student
The Government is really doing something good for the people, especially the young generation, who will have to become tomorrow’s breadwinners; they are equipping us to be more productive individuals.
I attended the launching of the programme, and listened to what our President said about the whole project, and what will happen in terms of training, and I was moved by this, because I come from a poor family, and even though my parents wanted to send me to computer classes, they could not afford it. If I should benefit from this programme,  I know it would change my life  forever,  since  I will then be  able to get a good  job, earn enough money, and make  myself a better person.
I would like to say ‘thank you’ to President Bharrat Jagdeo for what he is doing for all the people of this country, especially the poor families, and we are lucky to have him.

Elizabeth Andre: Waitress
I think that this government has a good plan, and  if they are  giving  us computers and providing training  for  us to use those computers, what is to say that we cannot find good jobs  and  make a better  life  for ourselves. I come from Gunns Strip in Region Nine (Upper Takatu/ Upper Essequibo), and we did not have this opportunity when I was growing up. So now that I have a daughter, she will be able to do so much more with her life, if she can get the chance.
What they are really trying to do is educate the people of the country, so that we can get better jobs. And better jobs mean more money, which will make everyone happy: We the business people, and eventually the country. I think the ‘One Laptop per Family’ is a good thing.

Shirley Floris: Dispatcher
First of all, I would like to say that this idea which was introduced by President Jagdeo is a very wise one, which will benefit everyone. What the Government is doing for children and families is very important, in terms of preparing us to take advantage of all of the opportunities out there. It was said, too, that training will also be provided to those who get the laptops. What more do we want than that? I have three children, and if they can have access to this offer, they will be able to do better in school; they will have more time to study at home, instead of going to the Internet café, and we will save a lot of money, too.
Even the older people can get a lot out of this, too. Our children can teach us about the Internet, and we will see places we have never seen before, and learn things we never knew. I hope our family will get one of those computers, and I can tell you, if we do, it will be used wisely.

Kwame Richmond: Miner
I am a father, and this idea is the best I have heard in a while. For poor families to get computers is a good thing. Imagine all of the good to come out of that for them. I am a poor man with a family, and I want my children to have the best in life. So, if we can get a computer and training, that will be a start to a different life for us; a better life.