The Linden Business Centre was a hive of activity yesterday as hundreds of Lindeners and residents of other sections of Region 10 turned up with the expectation of walking away with their netbooks under the government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project.
The first phase of distribution to Lindeners saw a large turnout of women and senior citizens while a number of differently-able persons were also present to collect what they said was rightfully theirs.
The men who turned out were, however, the smallest group.
Most persons expressed gratitude after receiving the computers, saying that that it was a long-awaited moment for them. According to one woman it was the first time in her 48 years of life that she had laid hands on a computer.
“This is totally new for me, I don’t even know what you call a mouse or what is a key, this what they are telling me is all new to me but I am willing to learn.” She said that during the registration process several of her peers attempted to discourage her with claims that it was the government’s way of bugging person’s homes.
“I am glad today that I didn’t listen to them and that I went ahead and did what I had to do.” But like many others who would have already gone through the process of verification and receiving their notepads and to the point of orientation, were ignorant to the clauses enshrined in the contract.
“Girl look I just sign and collect meh thing yeah, wah ever it is I gon work with that,” said one man. Another said that he would take the time to read later while at home and if he finds the terms and conditions are not to his acceptance, “I will honestly bring it right back to them and move on.”
They were those who were familiar with the process and what was expected of them in return. Several senior citizens said that it was their entitlement despite their age and they were prepared to learn, “but mainly this is going to be for dem lil ones in the house.”
Some persons said that though the distribution was in the pipeline for some time now, the sharing out of the laptops got caught in the middle of the campaign season. “I hope that this is something that is done with a genuine objective and not in any way designed to coerce persons to one party or another. If that is the case it is really sad,” said Marlon Washington, a resident.
Community Liaison Supervisor for Region 10 Kelly-Ann Bovell-Reid said that she was pleased at the process yesterday. She said that her team was particularly happy that most persons who turned up walked out with a laptop.
According to Bovell-Reid in the initial distribution over 500 residents of Linden are expected to receive their laptops. She noted that the largest number of persons registered to benefit were from Amelia’s Ward as opposed to Wismar which has the largest concentration of persons in Linden.
Bovell-Reid said that as the programme gets underway additional hubs would be established in Linden including at Amelia’s Ward to facilitate easy access by residents. She said that the distribution will continue today and tomorrow while training and orientation will be an ongoing process at the various hubs.
