E-Government “catastrophe” now a success story– Minister Hughes

May 11, 2017 News

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During the previous administration, the eGovernment Network project was fraught with troubles pertaining to management, misappropriation of assets and various forms of corruption. It was often described by the

APNU+AFC Party as a “catastrophe”.
It appears now that this project will turn out to be a rather useful initiative for the nation.
According to Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, this new state of affairs did not come by any stroke of luck. Hughes stressed that it took months of review, the implementation of crucial changes and much needed repairs.
Hughes indicated that the administration was able to consolidate the eGovernment Network constituting the Fibre Optic backbone around Georgetown with a LTE network stretching from Charity to Springlands.
She acknowledged that this network was first established in 2012 but was only operationalized last year. She said it is now the basis for interconnecting Government Ministries and Agencies.
To this end, Hughes disclosed that the Government has connected and provided secure, controlled internet access to over 140 locations.
“With this level of interconnectivity we have equipped 86 secondary schools, three Regional Education Officers’ locations, three Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) locations, two University of Guyana (UG) locations, and six technical and vocational institutions with reliable high-speed access to educational content in their computer laboratories, as well as advanced the effectiveness of law enforcement,” Hughes shared.
For this year, Hughes said that Government will assertively pursue the development of a Guyana ICT Platform that shall be manifest in the form of an ICT ecosystem.
“As the ministry began to build out its operational capacity during 2016, we recognized that a major priority was the creation of an open, liberalized telecommunication sector.
“To this end, we laid before Parliament and passed the 2016 Telecommunication and amended Public Utility Commission Bills which have now been assented to.”
The Telecommunications Minister said that the passing of these Bills established the framework and conditions under which the telecommunications sector will be liberalized.
“As part of this framework, we also completed the eight sections of regulations as required by the new legislation and sent them out for public consultation and comment. To come are Electronic Transactions, Data Protection, and other relevant legislations,” expressed the Minister.
Hughes noted that $1.58 billion is budgeted for investment in eGovernment initiatives. Of that, an estimated $114 million is allocated for the provision of public Internet access at over 600 Government buildings across the country.
The politician said that these Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs) will increase the opportunities, and channels through which thousands of individuals will access online resources as part of Government’s aim to reduce the digital divide and increase digital interaction with Government.
Hughes said that key to this initiative is the transformation of strategically located post offices into comfortable, refurbished ICT hubs which will provide opportunities for citizens to visit these hubs to access the internet free of charge to receive government services.
The Minister said that all Post Offices within reach of the eGovernment Network – especially those located in digitally excluded communities such as Lethem, Linden, Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma will become community ICT hubs.
The Minister said that an estimated $90 million will be used to provide ICT access for hinterland, as well as poor and remote communities throughout Guyana.
“We intend to expand the reach of Government services to the hinterland. Community ICT hubs and PIAPs will be established in Masakenari, Annai, Lethem, Waramadong, Paramakatoi, Aishalton, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Linden, Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, and Kwakawani, in addition to at least 24 more pilot communities across Guyana.”
Hughes said that the aim of this initiative is to improve the livelihoods of persons in these regions and to reduce the digital divide that exists between coast and hinterland.
A further $674 million has been allocated towards the provision of connectivity and Internet access to the over 140 Government locations already connected to the eGovernment Network; and the more than 600 Government locations planned for 2017.
Government has also recognized there is a need to boost ICT human capacity. Approximately $160 million will be spent on the delivery of specialized ICT training, in collaboration with the Government of India, through the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT).

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