Honourable Premier, Mr. Reuben T. Meade, LIME Manager Mr. Joseph Cassell, MSS Principal Mrs. Hogan and a student.
LIME Manager Mr. Joseph Cassell made a symbolic hand-over of the 400 Government purchased computers to the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS), as part of the Government student program. The presentation was made at the recent launch of the National ICT plan at the Cultural Centre to commemorate National ICT Day in Montserrat on September 17.
The Manager presented one laptop to the Principal of MSS, which he states is free of cost and is not included in the initial 400 laptop purchased. The hand-over followed a presentation from the Honourable Premier, Mr. Reuben T. Meade of a cheque for three quarters of a million dollars to Mr. Cassell to finance the purchase of the laptops.
According to the Premier, the computers will be sold to students and teachers at the Montserrat Secondary School at a 60% reduced cost, which Government has subsidized. These individuals will only be required to purchase the computers at a reduced cost of EC$800 which can be paid over an 18-month period.
To ensure that every child/parent can afford these computers, the Government has embarked on a cost effective payment plan. The Premier said, parents have the options of paying the full amount of $800 or pay monthly and even weekly installments of EC$12 to cover the cost.
However those students whose parents are sincerely unable to purchase the computer, the Ministry in collaboration with MSS will look at an alternative agreement to cover the cost. He said, “For those who say even paying $12 a week is too much, we will find work for the children to allow them to pay for the laptop.”
Meanwhile in a follow-up with the LIME Manager, he revealed that the 400 laptops are not presently available for distribution since the shipment had not yet arrived; however mid-October, he anticipates the computers will be avail for distribution.
