President Jagdeo of Guyana has launched an One Laptop per Family initiative “to develop the country’s ICT sector”.  The program has been in planning since last year, with the laptops provided by Chinese manufacturer Haier.  5000 have already arrived in Guyana, with plans for 22,000 more later this year.  Their goal is to reach 90,000 families within two years.
Deployment of the first 1000 laptops began this week — as this is election season, most public discussion has been around whether it is simply an effort to buy votes by a the incumbent party (the PPP).
There is commentary at the Stabroek News.  A selection:
“This is a good initiative but it will not save the PPP from getting the boot in this election.”
“Its not like they are doing the people a favour, this is what they’re suppose to do for the citizens.  Do they think they’ll get credit for it?”
“An independent audit into the distribution of these laptops will show a favor towards so called “rural” residents.”
“Hope they will also get free Internet access, and blog on this site.”
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE RAMDOYAL AND I WROTE C.X.C IN MAY/JUNE 2012 AND I WILL LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE ONE LAPTOP PER FAMILY. I AM A FORMER STUDENT OF BERBICE HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM SEVENTTEN YEARS OLD. I LIVE AT BELVEDERE AND MY TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 322-3640.
Good Morning,
Im doctoating study in evolutive psicology and education departament in
Salamanca University.
My investigate project PHD is tecnology for reading learning. I will
design a interactive software for reading learning without teachers. I
like know how can colabrate with OLPC organization designing software and
investigate togheter the results of the education progress.
Thanks
We like start a project in Spain, Portugal or Marocco
Raphael Kling