A Digital Connect Center Comes to Valley of Peace
A new Digital Connect Center was inaugurated in Valley of Peace on Monday, two weeks after an access road was also opened by the Briceño administration under its Resilient Rural Belize initiative. With the launch of a new facility that will accommodate the exchange of information across the internet, it is expected that villagers will take full advantage of these Digital Connect Centers as they pursue business, education and other interests. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Valley of Peace, an agrarian community in Cayo District, was established in March 1982, just a few months after Belize gained independence. It was founded by Central American refugees who fled from El Salvador where a bloody civil war was being waged between the government and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, a coalition of left-wing groups supported by the Cuban regime. Those men, women and children settled here and quickly went to work in agriculture, establishing what would otherwise be known as the breadbasket of the country. Today, several generations later, their children are equally enjoying the latest technological advancements that Belize has to offer.
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities
“It is essential to make sure that rural and urban communities, alike, have access to digital resources in an era where technology is significantly influencing the future. Guided by our ambitious and first-of-its-kind National Digital Agenda 2022–2025, we are bridging, connecting and empowering communities. The people living in Valley of Peace now have a plethora of opportunities, thanks to our government’s commitment and our partners, such as the UNDP.”
The launch of a Digital Connect Center in Valley of Peace succeeds the recent opening of a refurbished access road to that community. While Valley of Peace maintains its roots in agriculture, it is also keeping up with the digital technology that empowers residents to do business, pursue education and communicate with the world at large via the internet.
Ian King
Ian King, Deputy Resident Rep, UNDP
“We recognize in today’s world [that] one of the measures of, one of the challenges facing our communities is digital exclusion. The lack of access to the internet, the lack of access to information, the lack of access to the ability to learn and to do business which we know we need from the resources that are within this very impressive library. I think this was sharpened by COVID where the world came, not to a halt, but it came to be restricted in how we engaged and those persons who had access to these tools were able to continue many aspects of their learning, of their business, of their engagement. But those who didn’t, suffered even more than most, than the rest.”
As many as fifteen Digital Connect Centers have been launched across the country, creating a system that is interconnected and allows access to users who wish to exchange information.
Michel Chebat
“I truly am happy to stand before you today to mark another momentous occasion, the launch of the Valley of Peace Digital Connect Center. This center being the newest addition to our national network of fifteen connect centers will play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide. Our shared commitment to promoting digital inclusivity and empowerment is demonstrated by today’s launch of the Valley of Peace Digital Connect Center. While our country towards being a digital one, we must ensure that our people are also equipped to utilize the new avenues available to them. As we celebrate this significant milestone, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the area representative, the honorable Julius Espat and his team whose unwavering commitment, vision and advocacy have made this initiative a reality.”
The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, has been working closely with the Government of Belize in launching these facilities in public spaces, particularly in libraries in rural communities.
Ian King
“I have to say that through the Digital Connect process, I’ve found myself returning to libraries and I haven’t been in one in a while, but it is good to see that these libraries continue to be a source for communities. I also want to say that the Digital Connect Centers are supporting and not just providing a resource that people can come and use, but also they are building on the support that the Government of Belize is advancing in its national digital agenda.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
