Photo by Nedburn Thaffe
Joe McKinson (right), Microsoft country manager, hands over a computer to a citizen of St Mary.

Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer

PORT MARIA St Mary:

Several communities across the parish of St Mary are to benefit from a donation of 100 computers, valuing US$80,000 (J$570 million) to be distributed throughout the parish.

The computers were donated by Microsoft Jamaica through the efforts of the Kiwanis Club of St Mary and St Mary Charities, last Tuesday, on the grounds of Goldeneye Hotel, Oracabessa, St Mary.

Among those present were Robert Montague, minister of state in the Office of the prime minister and member of parliament for the Western St Mary. He said the donation would help in the facilitation of the parish's Community Internet Café Programme, a project aimed at 'closing the digital divide' throughout the parish by making computer usage and Internet access available to all persons.

Police stations too

Services, he said, would be made available to persons through various community groups, churches and youth clubs. Donations would also be made to a number of divisional police stations in the parish.

Montague said the donation marks Phase Two of the programme for the parish. He said the first phase of the programme saw 30 persons receiving training in basic computer system which was carried out in Kingston at the offices of Microsoft Country Manager, Joe Mckinson.

A system, he said, will be set up where knowledge can be passed on to young persons in the community, particularly those from disadvantage families.

He said the programme will also fit in well with plans for the implementation of the 'Digital Town Hall', which also falls under the umbrella of local government reform in Jamaica.

Microsoft country manager Joe Mckinson said that the 100 Hurricane brand computers donated runs on the company's latest operating system, Windows Vista, as well as their latest productivity tool, Microsoft Windows 2007.

He lauded the move taken by persons in the parish and said "Microsoft is proud to have partnered with the people of St Mary insofar as the digital inclusion is concern." He added, "The embrace of technology in today's world is very critical and St Mary seems to be taking a lead in that direction."