Minister Saldivar donates computers

From the inception of the Internet, access to information has leapt from paper to a digital format. As a developing country, there continues to be a need for greater access to information particularly in this digital age. To bridge that gap, a pilot project of the Citizen Access Centers was launched today through the Ministry of Public Service, Governance Improvement and Elections and Boundaries.

Dwight Gillett, e-Government Coordinator, Governance Improvement Unit

Dwight Gillett

“Today we are gathered to launch the Citizens Access Center Project. This project is a joint initiative by the Government of Belize and Caribbean Center for Development Administration (CARICAD) to increase public access to government information and services that are available online. CARICAD’s strategy is to modernize, is about modernizing public sector within the region. One way they believe to modernize public sectors within the region is to use technology. So they have granted us these computers to be used at specific locations around the country where citizens can go online, young and old can go online to access their government. In essence it is a way in which, it’s a back door of getting governments across the region to modernize because if citizens go online it means that government also has to have it’s information and services online as well.”

John Saldivar

John Saldivar, Minister of Public Service, Governance Improvement, Elections & Boundaries and Sports

“The Government of Belize is making this small but important step in ensuring that access to information and an opportunity to improve living standards is made available to all through ICT. With these seven gifted computers more of our children, senior citizens and the underprivileged will be able to access government’s information and services that are being made increasingly available online. I take this opportunity to thank CARICAD, to thank our partners of the region and trust that you the organizations who will be the stewards of these computers will ensure that their use and access are maximized in an effort to improve the lives of Belizeans.”

National Libraries of Independence Village, Corozal, Orange Walk, Belmopan and Santa Elena, along with Bullet Tree Falls R.C Immaculada School and Crooked Tree Government School are the recipients of the donation.