– $1.8B for laptops project
The continuation of infrastructure works for the fibre optic cable from Brazil has been allocated $2.5 billion in this year’s budget for while $1.8 billion have been allocated for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative.
“With these initiatives, government’s aim of making Guyana one of the most computer literate societies in the world would be advanced several steps towards being accomplished,” Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said, presenting the 2011 Budget to the National Assembly yesterday. The minister said that the ICT sector maintained its robust activity of recent years and registered growth of 7% per cent. Investments by telephone companies, increased bandwidth available to consumers, and the impact of competition particularly as it relates to cellular services have combined to generate a continuous expansion of the sector, he said.
The minister said government has devised a strategy that prioritises legislative change to promote a conducive and competitive environment, investment in infrastructure to increase connectivity and reduce cost, promoting Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in schools and improving ICT for all Guyanese since it has long recognised the capacity of an ICT sector to catalyse major transformative change.
The minister pointed out that over the past year, “substantial efforts” have been expended in the completion of the drafting of the telecommunications legislative package.
This package comprises a new Telecommunications Bill, relevant amendments to the Public Utilities Commis-sion Act and Regulations in the areas of licensing and access, spectrum management, universal service/access, pricing, competition and consumer protection.
In addition to the legislative aspects, government has also undertaken investments to address the physical infrastructure necessary for the development of the sector, the minister said.
He recalled that last year, $846.5 million was committed for the 560 kilometre high speed fibre optic network spanning Lethem to Providence. The network is designed to establish connectivity with Brazil and provide an alternate high speed connection to the internet.
A similar infrastructure link is being established connecting Georgetown to Moleson Creek in the east and Anna Regina in the South. $2.5 billion has been budgeted for these works this year. According to Singh, the completion of these infrastructure works will “revolutionise the effectiveness of government service provision and lay the basis for state of the art e-governance”.
This year, the minister said, will see the launch of the OLPF programme for which $1.8 billion was allocated in the budget. “This programme will be implemented over the next two years and will see 90,000 laptops distributed to families and communities across the country.
Relevant training will also be provided on use of the computers to ensure that all of the beneficiaries are able to capitalize fully on the vast advantages that derive from computer literacy,” he said.
