A team led by Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn distributed 737 notebook computers in Linden on Thursday, bringing the total to almost 1000 handed out in the community under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.
The computers were distributed at three locations: 30 at the SOM Skills Training Centre in Watooka – the first batch of 75 got theirs from then president Bharrat Jagdeo last year at the National Cultural Centre when the first set of persons across the country were given.
One hundred and twenty notebooks were distributed at the Linden Salvation Council at Silvertown.
The first distribution at Wismar was done at the Young and Thoughtful Youth Club where 228 were handed out. On Thursday, 45 computers were shared out at the Region Ten Business Centre/Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) along Republic Avenue in Mackenzie after an initial 239 were distributed at that location last year.
More than 3000 persons had registered for the programme and 95% qualified. Though residents continue to respond positively to the programme, some said that the selection process was flawed. Some Lindeners claim that based on the initial information published, they believed that those most in need and others who fell into specific categories would have been given first preference. “That’s not what I am seeing happening, some people who even got computers in their house and they doing better than me got theirs a long time ago and only now I collecting,” a recipient said; however, she added that “All in all the main thing is that the government keeping their end of the bargain and we are getting it. In the …end everybody is going to get a laptop in their home and it is so good.”
During the distribution process on Thursday, Benn reiterated that the government intended to fulfil its commitment to citizens and he urged recipients to ensure that they discharged their obligations in community service and training at the various internet hubs scattered across the town. Hubs are located in Watooka at the SOM centre, the New Silver City Secondary School in Canvas City and at LEN in Mackenzie. Hubs are also located at Amelia’s Ward and the Wis-Roc Housing Scheme.
Benn also encouraged parents and caregivers to capitalise on the opportunity to have their children trained in IT and make full use of the notebooks, both at home and at the established hubs. The minister told recipients that President Hugo Chavez had started a similar programme in Venezuela two years ago and “It is also interesting to see that in Uganda and Rwanda similar initiatives are on the way.”
Public Relations Consultant Dario McKlmon said the OLPF Secretariat is currently working at coordinating the community service component of the programme.
