GT&T makes connectivity with hinterland communities possible: Continues its contribution to Amerindian Heritage Month

Every September, the indigenous people of Guyana observe Amerindian Heritage Month, during which the country records its appreciation for the contribution made by Amerindians to its economic, social and cultural development. There are celebrations throughout the month in the Amerindian communities scattered across Guyana.s hinterland, accessible by canoes or by days of trekking.

One day in the month is set aside as Amerindian Heritage Day; and one of these remote villages is chosen to play host to representatives of the various tribes and to Government and other officials. This year the honour went to Morakobai an Arawak village, approximately 90 miles up the Mahaicony Creek and the President of Guyana was there to give the feature address.

Obviously because of time and distance, not everyone could be at Morakobai to participate in the activities and a way needed to be found for the rest of Guyana to share in the activity. It was determined that a live radio broadcast would provide the best coverage and so the National Communications Network (NCN) undertook to broadcast the proceedings. The Company even waived the charges to the radio station as a further contribution to the Amerindian Heritage observance.

The question was how to have live broadcast from a remote community. The answer lay with the local telephone company. That broadcast was made possible only because GT&T had installed in the village a wireless public booth as part of the roll out of its Remote Area Service.

Being a continental operator in the largest of the territories in the CANTO grouping, GT&T has faced the enormous logistical challenge of providing service in a vast country in which communities are separated by mountains, rivers and rolling savannahs.

It is a challenge that has brought out initiative and creativity.

Acknowledging its responsibility to provide some service to hinterland villages and in keeping with its policy of offering universal access, that is, working to install a telephone within a reasonable distance of residents, GT&T established the Remote Area Service.

Access to these remote sites is not easy. The Company.s technicians have had to traverse unpaved roads and sprawling rivers for feasibility surveys prior to the scheduling, construction and installation in conjunction with the communities.

From exchanges located in various parts of Guyana, telephone service is extended, using radio links, to solar powered public call boxes in the hinterland villages. The exact location in the village is determined after discussion with local officials. The villagers are able to make calls using prepaid cards or to receive calls. It has put them in contact with relatives, friends and business contacts in other areas within Guyana and without.

Using the system, GT&T has provided service to remote locations, such as Siparuta, Orealla, Calcuni, Muritaro Mission, Mabura, Arakaka and Wakapau.

The response from the villagers has been tremendous and they talk freely of the positive change this service has made to their lives. Kristy Duggin, a female Touchau (Chief) of Muritaro Mission in the Upper Demerara River, describes the new service in the area as good and reliable and a boost to the community with a population of just under 400 residents, who can now transact business from the location. Before the installation of the facility, the villagers had to travel by boat about 25 miles to Linden to check on supplies.

.It is a great addition to the community,. she says .it has improved areas of our life and how we do business. It saves money, time and energy..

The Company, in turn, has counselled that the villagers recognize the booths as part of the village.s assets and take responsibility for the care of the facilities.

The Chairman of the Company providing the service has expressed great satisfaction with the way GT&T is contributing to the communities across Guyana.

Mr. Cornelius Prior, who incidentally is the current Chairman of CANTO, says that it is interesting that even as the cost effective deployment of ICT is being discussed and debated across the region, GT&T is demonstrating in a tangible fashion how rural communities can initially benefit from voice connectivity which is a basic building block of ICT goals and objectives.

The management and staff of the Company, he said, have always been anxious to develop the country through the development of the industry; and the initiative which has been witnessed in the installation of these remote area services, is evidence of that commitment.

"The situation in Guyana is unique and I am sure that GT∓T will be providing other outstanding examples of the unique application of a mixture of technologies to meet the special circumstances of this country."