Damage to fibre optic cable far worse than we expected –Project Manager
By Kiana Wilburg
The coalition administration was hopeful that all was not lost on the controversial Fibre Optic
E-Governance Project Manager, Floyd Levi
Cable Project which collapsed under the former regime.
In fact, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes had revealed in 2015 that plans were in the pipeline to revive the project. Money was set aside for this purpose.
However, recent inspections of the Brazil to Georgetown cable by the E-Governance Unit revealed that Government may now have to consider whether it is even feasible to continue with the venture.
The Minister informed this newspaper that the administration is still researching all viable options. She noted, however, that it is clear that some parts of the cable are simply beyond repair.
Providing more supporting details in this regard was Project Manager of the E-Governance Unit, Floyd Levi.
He said that a thorough check of the cable has been conducted so as to ascertain what could actually be salvaged. He noted, too, that the checks on the cable showed clearly that taxpayers did not get value for money.
Levi said that the assessment of the cable project is in the final stages.
“What is evident from our inspections is that what was damaged in 2015 became more damaged. Upon completion of this project we will determine whether we will go forward or not,” the E-Governance boss noted.
He said that the monies which were allocated for the resuscitation of the cable have not been
Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes
touched “…and with the damage we have seen we are wondering whether it would make sense going forward at all”.
Levi stressed that the damage to the cable is far worse than they anticipated.
In keeping with the thrust to expand broadband connectivity and the integration of Ministries, Hughes had said that Government would invest $240M to resuscitate the troubled Fibre Optic Cable Project.
She explained that $140 million has been allocated to consolidate, monitor, maintain and extend the existing eGovernment Fibre Optic and LTE Network around Georgetown and along the coast from Moleson Creek to Charity.
Government will spend a further $100M to repair and upgrade the Georgetown–Linden Fibre Optic Cable, Hughes said.
She recalled that this project was abandoned by the previous Administration after it had spent $1B. Hughes said that the lack of a feasibility study, poor planning, absence of effective project management and the use of inexperienced contractors are some of the major contributing factors that led to the failure of this project.
Hughes said that Government will move to correct all this so that the people of Guyana, regardless of their socio-economic status or remoteness, will be digitally connected and socially included.
Another part of the expensive cable.
The Parliamentarian asserted that the strengthening of the eGovernment system is critical in imparting added value to processes that characterise good governance. She said that improved connectivity within government will permit joint planning and assessment resulting in Government’s business processes becoming more efficient.
Minister Hughes noted that the eGovernment expansion will also serve to facilitate connectivity between Government and citizens, thereby strengthening accountability, connectivity between government and citizens, and connectivity between and within communities, thereby building social cohesion and economic development.
She highlighted government’s tangible commitment to the ICT sector’s development which she revealed will benefit from a whopping $1.9B investment catered for in the 2016 budget.
She said that in achieving greater collaboration among Government Ministries and Agencies, $80 million is budgeted to acquire Office productivity, email and collaboration software for the Public Sector.
Additionally, $105 million has been allocated for the creation of an off-site data centre and secure electronic document storage solutions for Ministries and Government Agencies.
A section of the billion-dollar fibre optic cable exposed.
The Minister said that this combined system will serve to enhance Government business processes, improve service delivery in terms of timeliness and heighten document security.
She said that $326M is also earmarked to design and implement interconnections among Government Ministries, Agencies, State buildings and educational facilities, and to pilot interventions to support access to ICTs in hinterland, poor and remote communities.
The Minister explained that this amount will fund the setting up of ICT Hubs in communities which will be identified on the following criteria: level of poverty, remoteness and social vulnerability. This sum will also fund the provision of Internet access to hubs set up in the indigenous communities.
