St Ann community gets Wi-Fi service

Residents of Glasgow Lodge district in Murray Mountain, St Ann on Friday became the newest beneficiaries of the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) community Wi-Fi service.

The new Wi-Fi hotspot allows up to 200 residents to connect simultaneously using smartphones or tablets, free of charge and marked the fifth such installation in South West St Ann.

For residents, the launch signals a significant step forward for digital access in rural communities in St Ann and across Jamaica.

Principal of Murray Mountain Primary and Infant School, Glendon Brown, praised the initiative, pointing out that its installation will greatly benefit the children, where some 90 per cent of whom are from the community.

“So, I must commend all the parties involved in the selection of the location for such an initiative. It’s a great one,” Brown said.

He emphasised the importance of responsible Internet use, urging parents to monitor their children as they utilise and explore the Internet.

Brown also called on the Government, through the USF, for similar installations in other communities in St Ann, noting the critical nature of such infrastructure for rural development.

“Such infrastructure development is critical to our community. So, take good care of the facility. Also, take pride in having it as part of your community,” the principal noted.

Resident, Simone Ferguson, shared a similar enthusiasm for the new Wi-Fi service. She highlighted the many benefits for the community, especially for school children who cannot afford mobile data.

Ferguson said she is grateful for the Wi-Fi and hoped for an additional installation to further expand Internet access in the area.

For his part, State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Zavia Mayne, stated that Glasgow Lodge should be proud to be among the first set of communities in the constituency to receive this technology.

Mayne, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, urged residents to protect and value the new infrastructure, as it has the potential to improve their quality of life and educational opportunities.

“This community Wi-Fi installation now forms part of the community infrastructure. It is important [and] I am saying to you that there is a value in putting this apparatus here. Let us focus on the positives, let us use it in a positive way,” Mayne said.

“We have our children who as young as they are, will be the ones to shape the future of this community. The mission and the mandate of government puts us in a position whereby our [children] will not be left behind,” he added.

The Community Connect Wi-Fi Programme is designed to increase access to the Internet across Jamaica’s 63 constituencies. This access will allow for greater digital inclusion.

A total of 189 communities have benefited from this ongoing project with additional communities set to be connected.

- JIS News

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