Free Govt internet service launched in Swan community

In an effort to bridge the digital divide, the Government recently extended its free internet services “WifiGY” to the Amerindian community of Swan on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Speaking at the launch last week, the Manager of Hinterland Community Relations within the National Data Management Authority, Romanus James commended the work of the Government to put systems in place to bridge the digital divide between the coastal and hinterland communities through the provision of free internet.

“The office of the Prime Minister, through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) continues to make strides in bridging the digital divide between the coast and the hinterland. One way NDMA has sought to bridge digital divide is through the provision of free internet, through the WifiGY initiative. So, when we think of WifiGY let us think of this place where we could make our important call, send that urgent message, do our research or help our children with homework [and] access the news,” James told residents.
Meanwhile, the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, shared that the Government is committed to bettering the lives of all citizens, as he pointed out that internet connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a basic necessity.
According to McCoy “You can gather so much from the use of the internet. And that is why it is useful, it is not a luxury, this is a basic necessity that we in the Government is trying to play catchup with because people have been without it for a while. Your Government is concerned and will forever be concerned about your welfare, about how you advance, about how you are made to become equal with every other community, and every other aspect of life in your country. [As well as] how the children of this village access education and can be made to access the best education.”
McCoy also unveiled that several other communities along the highway are set to benefit from this initiative in the coming weeks.
Chairman of the Community Development Council, Fenton Ragnauth expressed gratitude to the Government for their intervention as he pointed out that access to the internet will greatly benefit the youths as well as the elders within the community.
“That will bring a difference for you the youth and for us the elders also, because we are not too young to learn and we are not too old to learn. I believe this service that we [have] received here will bring a difference to the community of Swan,” Ragnauth remarked.