PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Gillian Burton-Persaud said while progress has been made in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), much more needs to be done.

She told the National Assembly during the budget debates on Monday that ICT is critical for the country’s development and job creation. Young entrepreneurs, she posited, can utilise the Internet to market their products, produce and services, emphasising that the wider world should have a taste of Guyanese food, culture, goods and services. To allow for effective marketing, the PPP Parliamentarian made a case out for faster Internet speed and a reliable supply of electricity.

With such systems in place, Burton-Persaud argued that mothers would be able work form the comfort of their homes, especially in the evening, in their quest to acquire additional finances to complement their regular jobs.

“Many of us know that persons work night duty to get their lil overtime, to pay Courts and Singers, to pay their light bill, to pay their children school bus fee, to pay for after care and even day care, how can they get that extra money if they don’t work night. So they might very well want to utilise their skills work the day and work from the comfort from their homes,” the PPP MP contended. Burton-Persaud opined that major emphasis was not placed on ICT in the 2018 Budget.

However, contrary to Burton-Persaud’s position on the ICT Sector, Government just last week disclosed that it is in the process of securing funding of US$37.6 million, to implement the first phase of its Smart Guyana programme-a national broadband initiative to expand the e-Government network come 2018.

As part of the programme, the administration will upgrade the existing LTE network, and construct data centres, provide capacity building, outfit smart classrooms and eLibraries, launch eHealth solutions for remote health care services, and increase closed circuit television capacities towards a Safe City solution. Some $2.3B has been set aside in the 2018 budget for the Safe City Solution initiative.

In addition, a further US$17 million has been earmarked to ensure that vulnerable groups and far-flung hinterland communities are provided with the necessary infrastructure, hardware and software that will enable access to high quality ICT, training and e-services.

Implementation of this project is anticipated to commence in 2018 and, on completion, will see over 89,000 residents, in approximately 170 communities, having access to over 200 eGovernment ICT hubs.

Hundreds of jobs
Meanwhile, also joining the debate was Minister responsible for labour Keith Scott who said that hundreds of jobs will be created this year. With youth development in mind, he said, Government in the 2018 Budget has allocated $1.7B for a number of initiatives that would either create much needed jobs or equip the young population with much needed skills to be job-ready. These programmes include the Youths Involvement Project of Guyana (YIPOG), Youths Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) and Hinterland Employment and Youths Scheme (HEYS).

“The budget provides for the unleashing of the energies and creativity of the youths on whose shoulders the development of this nation rests. A variety of programmes were crafted to ensure that youths attain the relevant skill sets required for the job market,” Minister Scott told Parliament on both sides of the House.

It was revealed that the sum of $150 million will be allocated to the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme to further promote and develop co-operative societies in Hinterland regions. Additionally, a sum of US$12 million will see four Co-operative Societies being established in the Buxton, Ithaca, BV/Triumph and Mocha areas. This, he believes, will lead to the creation of over 160 jobs on a sustainable basis.

Jobs for sugar workers
With the Opposition Members of Parliament bemoaning the scaling down of the ailing Sugar Industry, Minister Scott assured that the workers will not be left out in the old. It was on this note he disclosed that the Social Protection Ministry, Department of Labour is currently in discussion with the Guyana Sugar Company (GUYCUCO), which has retained the services of Norbac Consultancy, to find alternative employment for workers who will no longer be employed in the sugar industry.

He said the international consultancy firm will soon conduct a study to determine the best options for alternative employment. “Now is the right time to accommodate some of those employees who will be better off with opportunities provided beyond cutting cane,” said Scott.
Additionally, in responding to criticisms from Opposition MP, Neil Kumar in relation to Old Age Pension, Minister Scott explained that the pension was raised by 49 percent over a period of five years. He revealed that with plans to improve the quality of life for the senior citizens, a sum of $50 million has been allocated to upgrade the Palms Geriatric Home.