By: Indrawattie Natram

RESIDENTS living in the Lower Pomeroon River, particularly in Marlborough and Hackney, are calling for the establishment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs
in their communities.

This call was made during Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s visit to the community recently.

During their interactions with the minister, the residents openly said that children in the community do not have internet access. They urged the minister to make the necessary recommendations to the Ministry of Education on their behalf.

Amidst tears, cash farmer Garraway (only name given) said that children in the community are at a disadvantage when it comes to their education. He explained that the school has laptops but no one is trained to use them.

He added that the children of the Lower Pomeroon do not have internet access and as such they are at a great disadvantage, especially now with the pandemic.

“The children in this community are left back big time. The computers are at the school but no one teaching the children. I feel so sorry for them especially during this pandemic,” Garraway said.

The father of three, whose farm was recently flooded resulting in his livelihood being affected, said that many children do not have access to e-learning, which is being promoted by the Education Ministry, due to the lack of internet connectivity.

“We getting signal little, but we can’t afford data for our children. When we hear the news, we hearing all the other children getting things. What happen to Lower Pomeroon?” the farmer questioned.

This newspaper understands that the Upper Pomeroon River has connectivity, especially at the Jacklow Primary School.

Residents are therefore calling on the Ministry of Education to prioritise the Lower Pomeroon River so that learners can have access to education and could keep abreast with the information technology world.

In responding, Minister Mustapha told residents that he will forward the issue to the subject minister and have it addressed.

This newspaper understands that photocopying machines were sent to schools in the Pomeroon River by the Department of Education so that worksheets can be photocopied and learners can have access to educational material during the pandemic.