The distribution of laptops free of cost to the homes of mostly less fortunate families under government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme is likely to reach 55 percent this year. The OLPF, pioneered by President Bharrat Jagdeo, is being undertaken at a cost of $1.8B and will be implemented over two years, benefitting a total of 90,000 families and communities across the country.
At a press conference on February 11, the Guyanese Head of State reiterated that the criteria for distribution will depend on several factors, including an income test, among others, for families to fit the classification of less fortunate.
He also announced that a public tender process will be applied for the purchase of the devices for which engineers have already attached an estimate.
“We are hoping that they (targeted families) all get their computers over the next two years. We have enough money now, if the Chinese resources kick in, to get over 50,000 of the 90,000 delivered this year to people,” President Jagdeo said.
The Guyana government has solicited the support of the Chinese government for the supply of devices for the programme and the move may ultimately result in a Chinese company being a supplier of laptops.
At the press conference, President Jagdeo said the Chinese component, if successful, will augment the programme.
“For the Chinese component, this is outside the $1.8B, that’s another US$8M. If we pursue getting computers from China, we will have to use a Chinese brand,” President Jagdeo said, noting that no money from the $1.8B has yet been spent on the computers for the OLPF.
At the official launch in January, 142 laptops were handed over to several youths; but President Jagdeo later revealed that these computers were gifts from Hauwei, China’s largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier.
The company is offering technical support in the stringing of a fibre optic cable along the new transmission across Guyana’s coastland.
Speculations surrounded the recent procurement of laptop computers at the Office of the President after Kaieteur News had published purchase documents; but President Jagdeo said that these laptops were for use by the administrative staff of the OLPF project and are not part of the lot for distribution.
The OLPF is part of government’s vision for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, which it is optimistic will lead the way forward for Guyana and will be one of the new sectors to generate greater disposable income and create thousands of jobs.(GINA)