43 Region Nine youths completed ICT training

FORTY-THREE UPPER TAKUTU/UPPER ESSEQUIBO (REGION NINE) YOUTHS
graduated from an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training programmes for
hinterland and riverine communities offered under the auspices of the Office of the Prime
Minister (OPM).
The ICT course provided computer literacy training targeted children 10 to 18 years old in
preparation for the country’s shift to modernity.
Director of the OPM’s Industry and Innovation Unit, Mr. Shahrukh Hussain urged the graduates
to use their newly-acquired skills and knowledge as a stepping stone to advance their capacity in
today’s society. He stressed that the training is one of many initiatives the Government has
embarked upon to improve the country’s ICT infrastructure to help bridge the connectivity gap
between urban and rural communities.
The unit’s mandate is to “fill the current human resources gap between the coastal areas and the
hinterland areas in ICT. Added that they are engaged in several training and capacity building
interventions, aimed at different target groups and skill levels,” Hussain explained.
Region Nine Chairman, Bryan Allicock said technology is key in empowering the youths to
achieve their goals in contemporary societies. He also urged them to share their knowledge with
others in their respective communities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, said he has been pushing the
enhancement of access to the internet via the expansion of the fibre-optic network, subsidised
internet access to poor households, and the establishment of ICT hubs among other projects since
taking office in August 2020.

Consequently, this has led to either establishment or refurbishing of ICT hubs in some 200
hinterland and riverine communities under the ICT access and ‘eServices for poor and remote
communities’ project, PM Phillips said.
The Government has distributed some $1.7B to Amerindian communities as a one-off COVID-
19 relief investment fund geared at creating job opportunities, generating incomes and
implementing infrastructural development projects.
Further, several government officials stated that at least $2M from their respective grants can be
utilised to either refurbish or rebuild ICT hubs in communities.
Selected communities are currently being evaluated to determine their readiness to benefit
from the scheme.