First shipment of 27,000 laptops arrive -- another batch expected by year end in OLPF programme
Written by Shirley Thomas
Saturday, 29 October 2011 03:07
Source - Guyana Chronicle
Minister Manzoor Nadir, at right, with Sesh Sukhdeo and Brian James with one of the just arrived Haier laptops
GOVERNMENT’S ‘One Laptop Per Family’ (OLPF) Project, which promises the free distribution of laptops to 90 Guyanese families over a two-year period, is all set for a marathon kick-off within another week, with the arrival of the first consignment of 27,000 laptops in the country yesterday.
According to Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, another consignment is due before the end of the year, effectively taking the number, expected to be delivered in 2011, to 50,000 laptops.
Minister Nadir was at the time heading a team of senior OLOF officials briefing the media, on the OLPF Project, minutes after the computers were off-loaded at the Laparkan Warehouse, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Nadir, who said that the project is geared to deliver 50,000 laptops to families in Guyana by the end of this year, expressed satisfaction that, the first consignment arrived in Guyana on time, in keeping with a commitment made to the government by the suppliers, Haier, of China. After the agreement with the first company identified to deliver the laptops failed, Haiier was contracted, and promised to deliver the items within 60 days, or before the end of October, 2011.
Others on hand with the minister to receive the computers were Managing Director of Auto Supplies Company, Brian James, contractor with responsibility for the maintenance of the computers; Mr. Sesh Sukhdeo, Chief Executive Officer of the OLPF Project; OLPF’s Public Relations Consultant, Dario Mc Klmon; and Public Relations Assistant, Nia Phill.
The laptops being unloaded from the aircraft at CJIA.
Of the arrival of the laptops yesterday, Minister Nadir said it was a very momentous occasion, adding “After the first tender was abandoned, we gave a commitment that the launch of the OLPF would not be delayed, and that the laptops would be in Guyana by October. He recalled that the OLPF programme was the brainchild of President Bharrat Jagdeo who gave the commitment that the first 50,000 computers would be rolled out to Guyanese families before the end of 2011.
Nadir said the first 50,000 laptops are valued at US$1.4M or G$280M and that distribution of the first set would commence by next Friday. Boasting that the process is being rolled out very meticulously and with the latest technology, he assured that government would be employing a cadre of young, brilliant and highly professional staff whose responsibility will be to train persons receiving the computers, in the use of the equipment.
Noting that the OLPF is today the single largest programme for volunteerism and for community cooperation that ever has been rolled out in this country, Minister Nadir said that almost 600 people will be employed by the programme, and more than 1,200 persons will be volunteering their time as well.
“This will have an enormous impact on the mentality of our people in terms of continuing the great tradition they have of sharing whatever they have – knowledge and also wealth,” he affirmed.
As of next week Friday, 35 hubs or learning centres will be operational across eight regions of the country. The two not involved will be Regions Eight and Nine, which now face challenges of access to electricity and constant internet connectivity, he said.
One of the 27,000 laptops that arrived yesterday
Albeit, plans are afoot for these needs to be met. But in the interim, the minister assured, the hubs will proceed to train the recipients and each will be trained for a minimum of eight hours. For those hubs with electricity and Internet access, even after the training is completed, laptop recipients and their families can return o the centres to use the facilities free of cost. He said it is government’s intention that every Amerindian village will have, if not laptops, a hub being operated 24 hours with constant electricity.
And just who will be the first recipients? The minister emphasized that the first set of persons targeted will be single parents, families with a person/persons with disability; and persons earning less than $50,000 per month. So far, in excess of 19,000 applicants’ criteria have been checked and verified by a cadre of verification officers working in the field.
Meanwhile, the Labour Minister used the forum to assure the public that this is just the beginning of the project, and not the end.
“I want to assure you members of the public that this is not the end. It is the beginning of the first 27,000 laptops which the Government has provided, and already the Chinese Government has a tender that has been awarded for 31,000 laptops for 5M Yuan or US$8.5 M, and that an additional 31,000 laptops will be here before the end of the year,” he declared.
And recalling that there were many skeptics out there who felt that the programme could never materialize, Minister Nadir declared: “We want to re-emphasize that this thing is about bringing more and better knowledge to Guyanese families. This is not about giving an instrument because elections are one month away from today.”
Nadir also assured the public that persons who lose their laptop computers will not be made to pay for them, but will be required to wait until 90,000 families are served before they can get a replacement.
Meanwhile, Brian James, Managing Director of Auto Supplies, and who is representing Haier, said that his company has been awarded the maintenance contract, has already set up a depot and service centre in Middle Street, and employed service technicians. Additionally four Haier technicians will arrive here next week to provide technical services.
He assured that Haier has a less than 1% failure rate worldwide, and his company does not envisage problems with the laptops.
Meanwhile, Sesh Sukhdeo, Chief Executive Officer of the OLPF, expressed satisfaction that the first shipment of computers has arrived.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 29 October 2011 03:12 )
Written by Shirley Thomas
Saturday, 29 October 2011 03:07
Source - Guyana Chronicle
Minister Manzoor Nadir, at right, with Sesh Sukhdeo and Brian James with one of the just arrived Haier laptopsGOVERNMENT’S ‘One Laptop Per Family’ (OLPF) Project, which promises the free distribution of laptops to 90 Guyanese families over a two-year period, is all set for a marathon kick-off within another week, with the arrival of the first consignment of 27,000 laptops in the country yesterday.
According to Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, another consignment is due before the end of the year, effectively taking the number, expected to be delivered in 2011, to 50,000 laptops.
Minister Nadir was at the time heading a team of senior OLOF officials briefing the media, on the OLPF Project, minutes after the computers were off-loaded at the Laparkan Warehouse, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Nadir, who said that the project is geared to deliver 50,000 laptops to families in Guyana by the end of this year, expressed satisfaction that, the first consignment arrived in Guyana on time, in keeping with a commitment made to the government by the suppliers, Haier, of China. After the agreement with the first company identified to deliver the laptops failed, Haiier was contracted, and promised to deliver the items within 60 days, or before the end of October, 2011.
Others on hand with the minister to receive the computers were Managing Director of Auto Supplies Company, Brian James, contractor with responsibility for the maintenance of the computers; Mr. Sesh Sukhdeo, Chief Executive Officer of the OLPF Project; OLPF’s Public Relations Consultant, Dario Mc Klmon; and Public Relations Assistant, Nia Phill.
The laptops being unloaded from the aircraft at CJIA.Of the arrival of the laptops yesterday, Minister Nadir said it was a very momentous occasion, adding “After the first tender was abandoned, we gave a commitment that the launch of the OLPF would not be delayed, and that the laptops would be in Guyana by October. He recalled that the OLPF programme was the brainchild of President Bharrat Jagdeo who gave the commitment that the first 50,000 computers would be rolled out to Guyanese families before the end of 2011.
Nadir said the first 50,000 laptops are valued at US$1.4M or G$280M and that distribution of the first set would commence by next Friday. Boasting that the process is being rolled out very meticulously and with the latest technology, he assured that government would be employing a cadre of young, brilliant and highly professional staff whose responsibility will be to train persons receiving the computers, in the use of the equipment.
Noting that the OLPF is today the single largest programme for volunteerism and for community cooperation that ever has been rolled out in this country, Minister Nadir said that almost 600 people will be employed by the programme, and more than 1,200 persons will be volunteering their time as well.
“This will have an enormous impact on the mentality of our people in terms of continuing the great tradition they have of sharing whatever they have – knowledge and also wealth,” he affirmed.
As of next week Friday, 35 hubs or learning centres will be operational across eight regions of the country. The two not involved will be Regions Eight and Nine, which now face challenges of access to electricity and constant internet connectivity, he said.
One of the 27,000 laptops that arrived yesterdayAlbeit, plans are afoot for these needs to be met. But in the interim, the minister assured, the hubs will proceed to train the recipients and each will be trained for a minimum of eight hours. For those hubs with electricity and Internet access, even after the training is completed, laptop recipients and their families can return o the centres to use the facilities free of cost. He said it is government’s intention that every Amerindian village will have, if not laptops, a hub being operated 24 hours with constant electricity.
And just who will be the first recipients? The minister emphasized that the first set of persons targeted will be single parents, families with a person/persons with disability; and persons earning less than $50,000 per month. So far, in excess of 19,000 applicants’ criteria have been checked and verified by a cadre of verification officers working in the field.
Meanwhile, the Labour Minister used the forum to assure the public that this is just the beginning of the project, and not the end.
“I want to assure you members of the public that this is not the end. It is the beginning of the first 27,000 laptops which the Government has provided, and already the Chinese Government has a tender that has been awarded for 31,000 laptops for 5M Yuan or US$8.5 M, and that an additional 31,000 laptops will be here before the end of the year,” he declared.
And recalling that there were many skeptics out there who felt that the programme could never materialize, Minister Nadir declared: “We want to re-emphasize that this thing is about bringing more and better knowledge to Guyanese families. This is not about giving an instrument because elections are one month away from today.”
Nadir also assured the public that persons who lose their laptop computers will not be made to pay for them, but will be required to wait until 90,000 families are served before they can get a replacement.
Meanwhile, Brian James, Managing Director of Auto Supplies, and who is representing Haier, said that his company has been awarded the maintenance contract, has already set up a depot and service centre in Middle Street, and employed service technicians. Additionally four Haier technicians will arrive here next week to provide technical services.
He assured that Haier has a less than 1% failure rate worldwide, and his company does not envisage problems with the laptops.
Meanwhile, Sesh Sukhdeo, Chief Executive Officer of the OLPF, expressed satisfaction that the first shipment of computers has arrived.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 29 October 2011 03:12 )
