ICT centre for Anse La Raye

ST. LUCIA:  The islandwide ICT access centre program is part of a strategic approach by the government to use information technology to empower citizens.
The Ministry of the Public Service, Information and Broadcasting will open the fourth Information Communications Technology (ICT) access centre, and the third in three weeks, tomorrow in the village of Anse La Raye.
The government’s ICT access centre program is designed to bring state-of-the-art technology and access to high-speed internet to communities that have lagged in the provision of these services.
The first ICT access centre was opened in the town of Soufriere. Soufriere was also the first community to have access to free Wi-Fi. Since then, new centres have been commissioned in Canaries and Vieux Fort.
According to the 2010 national census, the village of Anse La Raye had an internet penetration rate of 20.5 percent, making it the fifth worst community on the island for internet connectivity (after Canaries, Choiseul, Dennery and Soufriere).The Anse La Raye ICT access centre will provide residents of the village with an internet café, a fully equipped digital training room, and a Wi-Fi hotspot where residents will be able to access free broadband internet service.
“The islandwide ICT access centre program is part of a strategic approach by the government to use information technology to empower citizens, stimulate digital entrepreneurship, provide greater access to government services, and stimulate economic development,” Minister for the Public Service, Information and Broadcasting, Hon. James Fletcher, said.
There are plans to open similar new ICT access centres over the next four months in the communities of Garand, Babonneau; Monchy, Micoud village, Mongouge, Laborie, Saltibus, Grande Riviere, Dennery;  Belomot, Dennery; La Maz, Daban, Fond St. Jacques, Belle Vue, Pierrot, Entrepot, Marchand, and Faux a Chaud, Castries.