17 Post Offices will be ICT ready in 2017

Seventeen Post Offices will be upgraded to Information Communications Technology (ICT) Hubs in 2017, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes disclosed during her contribution to the National Budget Debate in the National Assembly last week.

The collaboration between the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), and the Public Telecommunications Ministry will see post offices in Kamarang, Acquero, Mabaruma, Ituni and Aurora among others receiving satellites. They will benefit from Internet connectivity that will be made possible through the E-Government Public Internet Access Points.

Minister Hughes said that ICT connections would significantly enhance the Post Offices’ services such as bill payments, same-day money transfer, the envisioned electronic payment of pensions, and online shopping.

The Minister highlighted that there were 64 Post Offices throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, 10 of which were made ICT ready in 2016. She noted that as of November 2016, 47 Post Offices through the country were ICT equipped.

Minister Hughes said that methods of communication have changed, and this particular source of national revenue had to undergo some alterations.

Additionally, the GPOC commenced rebuilding the Kitty Post Office in 2016 and construction would soon conclude to serve the residents of that locality. Hughes said that in 2017, further enhancement would be made to the Post Offices’ premises and security.

This will see the renovation of the Anna Regina and New Amsterdam Chief Post Offices based on the budgetary allocation for capital works in 2017. Additionally, the GPOC will also seek to regularise its properties and acquire land titles which are currently in the name of the Colony of British Guiana. Ownership of land titles will allow the Corporation to acquire funding to improve its infrastructure, Minister Hughes pointed out.