“Guyana is establishing a digital state” – President Granger

Georgetown: President David Granger, Thursday morning, attended the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Information Technology at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

Here is an excerpt from his address:

“Guyana is establishing a digital state. The digital state aims at establishing a network of connectivity, linking every person, community and government agency in the entire country. It will integrate Guyana, more fully, with the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

President David Granger greets Mr. Floyd Levi, General Manager, National Data Management Authority before the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Information Technology, at the University of Guyana. Also photographed is Mrs. Catherine Hughes, Minister of Public Telecommunications.

The digital state, by applying ICT to add value to our production and service sectors, will trigger economic transformation. It will spawn knowledge-based industries, diversify the economy away from overdependence on primary production, move manufacturing up the value chain and tap into larger external markets.

The digital state can deploy ICT effectively to promote productivity and competitiveness. It is an implementation of technology to foster innovation and, consequently, economic growth.

The digital state will deliver quality public services all over the country. It will reduce the need for citizens to travel outside of their regions of residence, in years to come, to access legal services, acquire passports, examine their academic and medical records, record births and deaths, receive social security benefits, register businesses, renew drivers’ licences, file income-tax returns and embark on trade and investment enterprises.

The establishment of capital towns in our ten administrative regions will allow for the realization of ICT-enabled, one-stop government centres which can provide public services. These centres would minimize the need for citizens to visit multiple government agencies to complete a single transaction.

The digital state will revolutionise the delivery of education, including distance education, by introducing technology-based teaching into the public education system thereby improving educational attainment and allowing access to education by all, especially underserved, poor and remote populations. The educational value of the digital state can be encapsulated in the legend – “log on, look, listen and learn.”

President David Granger and H.E. Venkatachalam Mahalingam, India’s High Commissioner to Guyana shake hands after unveiling the plaque at the Centre for Excellence in Information Technology, University of Guyana. Also photographed is Minister of Public Telecommunications, Mrs. Catherine Hughes.

The digital state, in order to succeed however, requires a reservoir of highly- trained persons to drive the development of the ICT sector. It requires persons who possess ICT skills to lay the foundation for the establishment of knowledge-based industries.