PRIME MINISTER, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday, officially declared open a two-day ICT training course for Community Development Officers (CDOs), urging participants to take the lead in advancing Guyana’s digital transformation, particularly in rural, hinterland, and riverine communities.

The training, held at Cara Lodge in Georgetown, is part of the Office of the Prime Minister’s ICT Access and e-Services for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project, a flagship initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusivity in the information age.

Addressing CDOs from across the country, Prime Minister Phillips highlighted the critical role they play as digital leaders within their communities.

“You are the leaders that will take ICT to greater heights in your communities. When you leave here, we want you to not only do, but speak ICT to everyone in your community, including the smallest child,” he said. “Every Guyanese must become computer literate, ICT literate. This is the information age, and no one will be left behind—it’s non-negotiable.”

The Prime Minister praised the project team for revitalising the ICT programme and executing a strategic plan targeting the development of 200 ICT hubs across Guyana. So far, 167 hubs have been fully established and are actively providing internet access and digital services to underserved areas.

Recalling the lack of connectivity prior to 2020, Phillips noted the transformation under the current administration:

“We spent hours in some villages but never got connected. Now, when you open your phone, you’re already connected. That is what we did as a Government—removed you from connecting to being connected.”

Emphasising that ICT access should serve more than just entertainment, he urged participants to promote its use for education, government services, and personal development.

“Entertainment is important, right, but it must also be there for education, and it must be there for making your life easy—to apply for Government services, etc.”

The training includes interactive sessions facilitated by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), the Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit, and other key stakeholders in Guyana’s digital ecosystem.

Also in attendance were Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Hon. Pauline Sukhai; Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr Alfred King; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Mr Ryan Toolsiram; and Project Head Ronald Harsawack.

The Prime Minister concluded with a call for digital leadership:

“As Guyanese, we have to grab at all these opportunities. As a Government, we will continue to invest in ICT technology. In fact, as I speak, we are crafting our ICT strategy—a document that will guide us to further development over the next five years.”

The Community Development Officers’ ICT Training continues through Wednesday, May 29, as Guyana accelerates efforts to build a digitally inclusive future for all its citizens.