By Karen Abrams
In most developing economies, fostering innovation depends on developing a culture of creativity, curiosity, grit and problem solving among citizens, but it also depends heavily on the presence of solid ICT infrastructure upon which enterprising entrepreneurs and innovators can then build to provide cost effective, competitive goods, services and solutions to the local, regional global marketplace. Budget 2018 provides a peek into the plans for the ICT sectors which will contribute to critical infrastructure development upon which the highly craved national culture of innovation will depend.
Field Of Dreams – “Build it and they will come”
If Guyana is to live up to her potential, she will have to be developed upon the three important pillars of progress; education, technology and innovation. As we move forward to an increasingly technological future, it becomes even more important that we get the fundamentals of ICT infrastructure development right and the Budget 2018 does seem to reflect critical investments which in turn should support rapid development in education, healthcare, security, electricity, roads, education and security sectors; all sectors upon which citizens depend for that improved quality of life and for the platform upon which to build innovative products and services that will bring jobs, income, and overall life satisfaction to citizens of Guyana.
Nearly every component of infrastructure development in Guyana will depend upon the effective implementation of ICT infrastructure plans. The 2018 budget allocated $37.6M USD to the buildout of a national broadband network, $2.3B to the ‘Smart Guyana’ programme which includes an upgrade to the LTE network, buildout of data centers, smart classrooms, libraries and a e-health programme that will be designed to bring cost effective and reliable healthcare to hinterland communities and another $17M USD investment in hardware and software for hinterland communities to enable access to more than 200 ICT e-services. These hardware and software systems, once in place, will benefit all sectors of development in Guyana as the nation moves to prepare for a rapidly changing landscape, heavily influenced by technology and dependent upon ideas and execution by creative minds and competent professionals.
