In an era where technology is rapidly expanding and various means of communication are constantly being developed, residents of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community of Ituni say they feel as though they are being left behind.
Several residents who spoke to this publication have expressed their frustration, noting that after years of living in the community, they are yet to receive landline services and/or internet access despite having applied a number of years ago. Many other residents related that while they did have access to landline service in their homes, they did not receive any internet access.
Following residents’ complaints, comments were solicited from Community Development Officer Keisha Griffith, who noted that she has also received numerous complaints from residents, more so recently, regarding the issue. Ituni residents noted that they were seeking answers from GTT and remained hopeful that systems could soon be put in place to allow access to landline and Internet services.
“It’s like we have been forgotten. We are way behind with everything. Since they launch the cell site, we haven’t heard or seen any representative in our area. Landline is a problem. They have applications for persons years now and nothing…We don’t have any access to WiFi”, Griffith explained. She also noted that the cell site was set up in the community since 2008.
An affected resident, Yetunde Pluck said her home was equipped with a landline telephone, but no Internet access. She said it was frustrating because her school aged children required the service to do research for School-Based Assignments.
“My concern is mainly the Internet system. I have a landline and a few other people have landlines in Ituni, but I don’t know why they’re not sharing so that other people could get. I don’t know why we’re not entitled to get Internet access. They’re saying that it’s something with the tower…We have children attending secondary school. They come home every weekend. They have assignments to do and we don’t have Internet access to get the information for our children,” she lamented.
Additionally, resident Johnquin Nurse said he had applied for landline service for a number of years, but had only received a letter stating that there was no available facility.
“For the past years I’ve applied for a landline telephone with GTT and this is 2017, and I’m still waiting although I’ve applied since 2002. All I got was that there’s no facility and as soon as they have facilities, they’re going to come and hook us up. On to this day, we’re still waiting,” he noted.
Similar sentiments were also expressed by other affected residents who noted that it was their hope that the relevant authorities would look into the situation so that improvements can be seen. (Utamu Belle)
