Information technology should be one of Guyana’s focal points

Dear Editor,

The recent advances in information technology are becoming central to the process of socio-economic development in many countries worldwide. In Guyana, information technology would offer new ways of exchanging information, transacting business, changing the nature of the financial and other service sectors and providing efficient means of using the human and institutional capabilities of our country in both the public and private sectors.

For many years now, Guyana has not been able to effectively use information technology to harness its full capabilities. There have been attempts at developing a fibre-optic network infrastructure to provide networking and hardware services, but this has failed. There has been little or not enough done to develop software services aimed at developing a knowledge-based socio-economic structure which would tremendously boost our economy. Guyana has many well trained IT professionals who can develop and support these new types of services.

The Independent Party believes that information technology should be one of Guyana’s focal points in the coming years, with particular emphasis on education. This includes the implementation of a fully digital curriculum in schools for students from a young age. This would ensure that our qualified and talented human resources are engaged in nation-building and at the same time prepare our children for the 21st century.

 Yours faithfully,

Dustin Fraser

Mark A Benschop