Internet computer lab installed at “Y”
INTELCO, Belize’s new telecommunications company, still has a long way to go before reaching its goal of five thousand computers in schools…but the “to do” list decreased by thirty-seven today as St. Luke’s Methodist and the Y.M.C.A. received their high speed access to the internet. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods was at the Y’s headquarters on Faber’s Road this morning for the handing over.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Officials of the Y.M.C.A. described the occasion as a dream come true, that the donation of nineteen computers will greatly enhance the organization’s ability to serve the community.
Vincent Palacio, Board Member, Y.M.C.A.
“Whenever we would meet at the board level, we constantly look for ways we can improve the service and these computers here in our new building as you can see, will definitely promote that service that service aspect.”
“Here we will offer several programmes. One, we will be offering different courses, starting from introduction to computers onto some of your higher levels, website designs data base management.”
It is the first time that, INTELCO, has decided to assist an organization like the Y in its internet school programme.
Hans Cardenas, Data Manager, INTELCO
“What INTELCO does is we assist the Ministry of Education in any area where they’re going to be offering educational programmes, like we did for Youth for the Future, which is not a school, but they are going to offer education programmes for their students. So wherever there is something like that and the Ministry of Education is taking part, we assist them in providing services for them.”
The Y.M.C.A.’s Executive Director, Carolyn Genitty believes that the programme will be an asset to the area where many households simply cannot afford a computer. Today Genitty says students and adults alike will have access and enough time to learn the necessary skill.
Carolyn Genitty, Executive Director, Y.M.C.A.
“But we wanted to be able to offer a community service aspect because the schools are opened during school hours and we would have an opportunity to offer the programmes on the weekends, in the evenings and giving children more of an opportunity to practice rather than regular school time.”
A time that Area Representative Dolores Balderamos Garcia believes will be well spent by the community.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Area Rep., Port Loyola
“Right over here on Faber’s Road we’re actually straddling two polling areas, twenty and twenty-two, which shows you the size of the area. And we have many high school students up in the Faber’s Road extension, we call it the West Lake area, we have children from throughout the city. But specifically in Port Loyola, I think a facility like this, there couldn’t be anything better because I am confident that the Y will continue to be a magnet to attract young people who need facilities like this.”
Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
In addition to its internet in schools programme, INTELCO also provides telecommunications services directly to government. On January first the company will be licensed to serve the broader Belizean market in competition with Belize Telecommunications Limited.
