Caye Caulker Unveils Digital Connect Center

Caye Caulker now has a Digital Connect Center. This facility offers residents free Wi-Fi access, laptops, and computers, marking a significant step forward in digital inclusion. The center is a result of the ongoing partnership between Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Beyond providing internet access, the center will also offer free training to enhance residents’ digital skills. Here’s News Five’s Azain Heredia with more details.

 

Azain Heredia, Reporting

 The residents of Caye Caulker Village now have access to the Caye Caulker Digital Connect Center. And, for residents of La Isla Cariñosa, staying connected is important. The newly opened center, which officially launched on Tuesday, offers residents a dedicated space for studying and working, along with access to essential digital tools to thrive in today’s society. At the grand opening, Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, highlighted the center’s potential to significantly benefit the island community.

 

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities

“The Caye Caulker Digital Connect Center is intended to have a significant impact and benefit approximately two thousand community members by giving unprecedented access To digital resources and services, the center will function as a hub for education, business, and community interaction, providing high-speed internet, computer access, and digital literacy training. These resources are critical in today’s society as digital skills are becoming more important for personal and professional development.”

 

This center offers more than just internet access; it provides comprehensive digital literacy training courses, enhancing the community’s skills and equipping them for success in today’s digital age.

 

 

 

 

Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize

“This Digital Connect Center is not just a facility with computers and internet connections. It will also carry out digital literacy training courses so that members of the community could be equipped with the tools and the capabilities needed in today’s digital era.  In fact, I think I noticed that the village council already announced on his Facebook a workshop for children to learn introduction to Microsoft Office. How wonderful.  With such proactive attitude and strong support of the council, I am confident this Digital Connect Centre will surely serve as a gateway that empowers members of the Caye Caulker village to embrace the endless digital opportunities.”

 

As many Belizeans are aware, accessing government services can be time-consuming, particularly for residents of island communities who are geographically isolated from the mainland. Minister Chebat explains that the new Digital Connect Center aims to bridge this gap, making it easier for island residents to access essential services. This initiative is part of the government’s broader transition to online services, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of location, can benefit from digital advancements.

 

 

 

Michel Chebat

“One of our major projects we’re working on, and we’re hoping to be able to launch that by December of this year. is our vital statistics unit. And so instead of you having to travel to Belize city to go and apply for a birth certificate and you get there, and you realize you’re missing some information and the person at the counter is probably not having the best day and they send you back and you have to travel to Caye Caulker without having obtained your birth certificate. You’ve lost your day’s wages. You’ve lost an opportunity having left your home and so on. And so what we’re trying to do is and what we will do is we’re going to transform that. We’re going to change that so that by December, God willing, from wherever you are across the country, you’ll be able to log on from a smartphone, from a computer center, and you’ll be able to apply online for your birth certificate, your marriage certificate, your death certificate.”

 

Azain Heredia For News Five.