The foundation of his plan is based on a unique initiative known as CAPs, or Community Access Points.  The venture promises to empower people in inner-city and deep-rural communities by providing a cluster of computers and related facilities such as scanning, copying and fax services that are already helping to transform the lives of residents in some of these areas.

"The focus is on broadening access, including eventually wireless broadband, to reach even the most remote rural areas in partnership with Cable and Wireless which has provided the broadband technology that supports the project," noted Paulwell.

He emphasised that in the information age, equipping persons with skills in information and communications technology (ICT) was the surest route to defeat poverty by developing a skilled populace.

Sign of achieving

Project Manager, Richard Gordon, says the recently launched initiative is showing every sign of achieving its objectives of strengthening citizens through access to knowledge in ICT.

"Students can do homework, download files, etc. we are 'e-efying' them through these centres," he notes.

A core ingredient of the project is the access it provides to an open-software programme (Linux) that provides free access to popular Microsoft and other programmes, which would cost up to US$450 (J$30,500) per copy in the case of Microsoft Office to purchase.

"At that cost for software you could probably purchase a computer," said Gordon, who notes that cost was a major factor impeding access to communications technology nationally.

However, residents in areas with CAPs can access these services for between $60 to $100 per hour or virtually free in instances where community associations partner with groups such as the Citizens for Justice or the Kingston Restoration Committee (KRC) to offset costs.

Centres are currently up and running at Burgher and Olympic Gardens, two inner-city communities in the Corporate Area, as well as at Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth, with plans well under way for a further rollout across the island to nine others soon.

The project forms part of the US$23 million (J$1.56 billion) e-Jamaica programme which aims at maximising Jamaica's ICT capacity to empower people to make optimum use of opportunities available in the information age, characterised by the rise of the knowledge economy.

Continuing, Gordon expressed confidence that the project would achieve its aims of making ICT services available to marginalised areas of the country at least cost.

Strong tools

"We have instructed all our centres to use the Linux software that is free and available and contains many strong tools that can access a wide range of applications.  By this approach we feel we can realise big savings while ensuring the widest access," he emphasised.

Coordinator of the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre, Paula McKenzie, says that her centre collaborates with the HEART/NTA in training community members in data entry, customer service and early childhood training skills.

"We have trained over 200 persons in these areas since we started in August last year and they have been certified by HEART/NTA.  We also operate an Internet café with five computers and provide services such as copying, fax, printing and the creation of websites for a nominal fee," says McKenzie.

Denise Buchanan, a teacher who utilises the CAPs at the Eastern Peace Centre in the Burgher community as a homework centre, agrees.

"The CAPs are valued by the community especially the children who use it to research school projects and for homework assignments," she notes.

"At the centre they can research many topics on the Internet, they can solve math problems by using some of the interactive programmes that show you how," she adds.

Buchanan, who coordinates a homework centre at the venue, says that since the computers were put in place three months ago, over 40 children from the community have benefited in various ways.

Help with GSAT

A major focus of her attention is preparing students to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) which, she notes, is critical for them to get the best possible scores.

"This is important for them in order to stand the best chance to be placed at the school of their choice.  We set aside specific days for each subject and make full use of the various Microsoft programmes," Buchanan said.

Highlighting the community focus of the CAPs, Ms. Buchanan praised the programme which, she said, was geared to all the children in the community.

"We don't turn back anyone," said Buchanan.

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