In an effort to provide an integration of technology, job opportunities, and open the window of education to the Bahamian public, The CEO Network, in conjunction with the National Workers Co-operative Credit Union, and the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union and the US-based A Unity Systems, launched ” Project 5,000″, geared to computerize at least 5,000 Bahamian households.
At a press conference held on Sunday at the Credit Union’s headquarters on Harrold Road, President of CEO Network Deborah Bartlett introduced this venture as one that will help increase computer literacy in the Bahamas.
The Union will provide 100 per cent financing to all of its members, with a 12.5 per cent interest rate on the $899 computer systems.
The Union has also pledged to provide financing for the purchase of additional software and hardware.
The computers are being financed via salary deduction.
Financing would also be provided to persons wishing to join the credit union.
The Union has forged a strategic partnership with YEAST, a programme for at-risk youth, and Millennium Telecommunications (MILTEL), which will serve as retailers of the computers, it was announced.
Jeff Lloyd, head of YEAST, the Youth Empowerment and Skills Training Institute, said that this alliance satisfies various objectives of the organization.
“It enables us in trying to engender, raise, and capture resources to do the very critical work that we do in the community. It enables us to provide for our organization a steady revenue stream that can meet the financial obligations of our programming. And we are very excited about that,” he said.
“We have been looking very long, in fact from the very beginning of our establishment, to find ways to support ourselves. Rather than continuing to go to corporate Bahamas and individuals to seek donations. While we believe that it is important that the community and the Government and business establishments within this country support us, because we are doing a very critical work in rescuing at-risk and dysfunctional young men, who have and are falling through the cracks, we also understand that it is important for us to try and help ourselves,” he said.
This partnership in particular provides additional jobs and service opportunities for young Bahamians, said Ms. Bartlett.
“The CEO Network see this partnership venture as a small step in our nation’s pursuit for technology efficiency and a giant step for The Bahamas in the global scheme of things,” said Ms. Bartlett.
“The converging tides of globalization and technology have produced the new society of cyber communication which is fast becoming the norm in the economic, social, cultural and national development. In fact, technology is the driving force of global development and has made computerization and computer literacy mandatory for survival in this global village,” she said.
According to Mr. Alfred Poitier, Managing Director of the National Workers Co-operative Credit Union, the Union also offers certified computer training courses to those persons wishing to become more computer literate.
Also, said Mr. Poitier, this strategic alliance births one of the organization’s objectives, to provide increased knowledge.
The union, he said, in its commitment to provide optimum service, opportunity and advancement to its members, “believe that the future belongs to technology and to those who can effectively harness its power.”
“We believe that every member of the credit union and their families should own or have access to a computer. We are excited our partnership and the benefits it brings to the table for our membership – benefits such as an increased level of computer literacy and with Internet access, exposure to a wealth of knowledge that may not be readily available otherwise,” he said.
By Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
