Internet hubs taking shape in Region 10

The setting-up of Internet hubs in communities across Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) under the E-Governance Project is moving apace, as more areas continue to be identified to benefit.
Deputy Director of Community Development Councils and Regional Councillor, Sandra Adams said the e-governance team recently conducted visits to several communities in the Region to ascertain connectivity. Already, numerous areas have benefited from the project, while for others, the possibilities are yet to be explored.
“Discussions are moving apace with the E-Governance Department and so, places have been identified. Works are afoot in terms of setting up the 15 hubs that we plan to do within three months,” Adams indicated.
She said visits were made to some of the communities identified in the Region, which include Syberian/Old England and Coomacka. However, she explained that there was an issue which was not detected earlier, as it related to e-Governance connectivity in Linden.
“When the system was handed over in 2015, it was handed over that all e-governance connectivity was in place, just to realise that it wasn’t. So, what we’re doing is trying to find places where we can get the DSL hard line – the GTT hard line connectivity. In some cases, E-Governance will have to take over the payment of a DSL if it’s close to a residence that it can be connected, just for us to have the Internet hubs up and running,” Adams said. She noted that Wisroc, at Wismar, Linden has been identified as another area to benefit, but explained that a suitable location was yet to be highlighted.
“What we have to identify in Wisroc is where to put it,” Adams said.
Areas in Linden such as Block 22 and Victory Valley at Wismar have so far benefited, as well as Bamia along the Linden-Soesdyke highway. Meanwhile, Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward will soon be connected. Adams also pointed out other areas which are scheduled to benefit from the project.
“Kwakwani is in – both the Park and Waterfront…We did look at 47 Miles, Riversview and at least two for the Berbice River. The ones that we can reach quickly with the line, for instance Old England and Coomacka, they’re talking already with GTT to deal with land lines to those locations. We need to do at least three riverine communities,” she stated.
The Internet hubs are offices with computers, which are equipped with Internet connections to aid residents with research.