IN a rapidly advancing technological world that is spreading beyond urban settings, the small interior community of Moruca is benefitting from a $800,000 information and communications technology (ICT) hub and 12 computers provided to them last year by the government.The 12 Dell computers which are currently being utilised to train 12 persons were donated by the Basic Needs Trust Fund to the community last year, after the ICT hub was built with an $800,000 grant.
Those being trained at present are underprivileged persons in the community, including single parents and persons who were not fortunate enough to complete their schooling, says Councillor Eleina La Rose.
However, what is needed at this point, according to her, is the Internet connection that will expand the scope of knowledge for those currently being trained.
This is also the view of Graham Atkinson, another councillor, who conducts the training sessions.
According to him, the Internet will not only be used for training, but to upgrade outdated software on the computers.
Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, during a visit to the community last week, committed to providing Internet services by year-end.
In addition to the Internet, the ministry last year had also promised to provide 20 additional computers for the hub. This is likely to be presented to the Region 1 community next year.
BECOMING COMPUTER LITERATE
Atkinson also related that the training three days per week had proved fruitful from the inception since persons had responded positively and were willing to become computer literate. Initially, he had started the second phase of training with 15 persons, but three of them had left to pursue training in other disciplines.
However, the other 12 have committed themselves and are at a point where they know the basics about a computer. Additionally, Atkinson disclosed that he is in the process of setting up email addresses for his students, since he sees this as a necessary tool for them to network in an evolving world.
“I have committed to setting up emails for all of them, if we get the Internet by year-end or not. If we don’t, then I will use my phone and set it up for them,” he said.
In the meantime, his training sessions are supported by an ongoing Information Technology (IT) programme, which is being done by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in Moruca. This programme is one which allows students to access resources provided by BIT to help with academic or other endeavours.
The ICT hub is one of nine currently existing in Santa Rosa, which was constructed to the tune of $800,000 each.

By Ravin Singh