BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE joint project between The Cable St. Kitts and the Government to provide 16 Community Centers around the island with free Wi-Fi is part of a larger initiative to ensure easy access to internet service and moving the island into a digital space.
That is the word coming from the Minister with Responsibility for the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Akilah Byron-Nisbett, who officially launched the Community Center Project at the St. Johnson’s Community Center on Friday (Jan. 22).
The West Basseterre Center was the first to be retrofitted with devices that provide up to 100 megabytes per second of the internet, free of cost, to persons utilising the facility and those in the surrounding areas who are able to access it.
Addressing a small gathering, the Minister reminded that the Government broached the subject in the presentation of the 2021 Budget back in December to provide free Wi-Fi to every community center around the island.
It was out of that presentation, she noted, that The Cable stepped up to take on the project.
Over the last several years, the Government has been pushing ICT as part of its drive to expand the Federation’s economy and it received international recognition in 2016.
The Minister explained that no one should be left behind when it comes to a digital St. Kitts and Nevis as the Government would ensure that everybody has equal access to the internet.
Against that backdrop, private sector partnerships are welcomed to drive the ICT initiative forward, if the end goal is to be achieved.
“It is through partnerships such as these that our country would be able to continue on a path of growth and development and be able to realise our fullest potential. As I have always said, the Government cannot do it alone and we are always pleased when businesses hear of our plans and visions and they step forward to make a contribution towards achieving visions and plans laid out by the Government,” said Byron-Nisbett.
Reiterating that the Federation is moving to a digital economy, she noted that the shift ties into the vision of the Government to make St. Kitts and Nevis a world leader in digital service delivery for all citizens, residents, the public and investors alike.
“If we are to be the world leader, it, therefore, means that access to all of the potential and possibilities of technology must be at our fingertips,” the Minister added.
Othniel Hyliger, Chairman of The Cable, pleaded with members of the community to protect the equipment as the company is making a large investment in outfitting the center with devices.
He noted that The Cable is making it easier for everyone to use the equipment at a far lower cost than others.
“One thing that we need to do when we put this equipment inside here, is I am asking the people of The Village community to take care of the equipment. You cannot vandalise it or [allow] one person [to] come in and steal it because then you would deprive all the other persons who are willing and ready to use it,” emphasised Hyliger. to the community centers.
Meanwhile, when asked about cost, CEO Patricia Walters noted that it could be measured in many ways, including installation and the loss of revenue being billed.
She however reminded that this forms part of the company’s drive to assist in digitising the island, pointing to similar initiatives around the island where free Wi-Fi is provided.
_PHOTOS (164).jpg)