Georgetown: The challenge of transforming the country’s Postal Services into a progressive entity equipped for the 21stCentury will be addressed through the refurbishment of the physical environs and the infusion of modern technology. This declaration was made by Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes during her presentation on Budget 2018 in the National Assembly, Tuesday.
Minister Hughes observed that with huge advancements in technology, most developed countries have not abandoned their postal services. “What they have done, and what we are now doing, is transforming the postal system to provide other services in this technological age,” she said.
The minister told the National Assembly that the objective is to create multi-functional post offices that will deliver postal and public services, enabled with internet connections and computers for public use. “The plan is to convert as many of the nation’s 64 post offices into Community ICT hubs, bringing facilities for eLearning, eCommerce and public services to people, especially inland residents who were previously cut off from the city and from the rest of the world”, Minister Hughes explained.
According to the Telecommunications Minister, the process has begun with the Kitty Post Office. She explained that the rehabilitation of that structure commenced in 2012 but was stalled until this administration restarted it in 2015. In October of this year, the refurbished Kitty Post Office equipped with computers and free wifi was commissioned.
Minister Hughes said that plans for full modernisation of the entire postal service will include:
- Demolition of all derelict Post Office buildings and rebuilding from the foundation up
- Reconstruction of many Post Office buildings, giving them modern, energy-efficient layouts
- Computerisation of all internal systems
Post Offices slated for major rehabilitation in 2018 are located at Buxton, Charlestown and Soesdyke in Region Four; Sisters Village in Region Six; and Danielstown in Region Two.
The new buildings will have electronic security, Wifi, air conditioning, and friendly accommodations for the elderly and infirm.
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