NTRC donates computers to six local organizations

Six local institutions received computers from the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), as the regulatory body pushes forward to increase Internet connectivity in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Last week, the NTRC handed over 10 all-in-one HP computers to the Stubbs, Owia/Point, Rose Hall Community Centres and the Paget Farm, Bequia library, which all received two of the devices,{{more}} and one each to the National Trust and the Kingstown Day Nursery, at a ceremony that took place at the NIS training room in Kingstown.

Director of the NTRC Apollo Knights said that the initiative got sparked after discussions with an associate from the regional office of the International Telecommunications Unit (ITU).

“This point we are today started around February/ March this year and it’s good to see when you start something from an idea or discussion comes to fruition.”

Knights disclosed that Sylvester Cadet, a representative of the ITU, had indicated that there was a possibility for SVG to get some computers in one of their regional projects.

He said when opportunities like that come around, they must be grasped, so the Government made a formal request, followed by a commitment to maintaining them going forward, so that the computers will be functional for at least the next three to four years.

“We also had to do a follow-up with the ITU; we have to do a formal evaluation to see how the computers are going and the impact on the communities,” Knights said.

Knights said a lot of thought went into determining which institutions would be recipients of the computers, and pointed out that a number of sectors will be touched by the placement of the computers.

“While there are just 10 computers, I think they will reach a couple hundred or thousands of persons, based on them being in community centres, and the work that they will do will touch persons in our communities,” Knights added.

He indicated that the devices are valued at over EC$37,000, with the latest version of Windows 10, and a three-year warranty. He said that special attention was paid to the computer hardware, and that the necessary software will be installed according to the need of the institutions.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Roger Young, representing the Ministry of National Mobilization; Deidre Millington-Myers of the National Trust; Leah Belmar of the Northern Grenadines Community Development Inc; and Nina Maloney, a board member of the Kingstown Day Nursery.

The recipients thanked Knights and the NTRC for the donation of the computers, which they indicated that they were most grateful for, and pointed out that they would ensure that the devices would be well managed, well cared for, and are put to good use.

The recipients agreed that the computers will contribute to the NTRC’s objective of increasing access and use of information, communication and technology in all aspects of life.