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Portmore Gets 13th CAP Site

By: , November 13, 2015

The Key Point:

The number of Community Access Points (CAP) established by the Government in Portmore, St. Catherine, has increased to 13.
Portmore Gets 13th CAP Site
Photo: Melroy Sterling
Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell (left), and State Minister for Local Government and Community Development and South East St. Catherine Member of Parliament, Hon. Colin Fagan (2nd left), try out two of the 14 computers at the Community Access Point (CAP) established by the Universal Service Fund (USF), at the Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church’s Innovative Learning Centre in Cumberland, Portmore, St. Catherine. Minister Paulwell officially opened the site on November 12.

The Facts

  • Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, opened the CAP site, which is located at the Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church’s newly constructed Innovative Learning Centre in Cumberland.
  • The CAP’s opening coincided with that of the learning centre, which was established at a cost of $25 million.

The Full Story

The number of Community Access Points (CAP) established by the Government in Portmore, St. Catherine, has increased to 13.

This follows Thursday’s (November 12) official opening of the latest facility, developed at a cost of over $3 million under the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, opened the CAP site, which is located at the Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church’s newly constructed Innovative Learning Centre in Cumberland.

The facility, which is the 236th to be established across the island, is outfitted with 14 state-of-the-art computers, 12 of which were provided by the USF, with the other two donated by the GraceKennedy Foundation.

The USF also provided a server, network system, two printers, a projector, air conditioning, and furniture.

These provisions will complement the courses to be offered by the Innovative Learning Centre, which has partnered with the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) to deliver the High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme, which enables persons to pursue secondary studies, leading to external examinations.

Internet access will be provided free of cost to all persons using the facility, which will also have a wireless WiFi platform that will accommodate mobile devices.

The CAP’s opening coincided with that of the learning centre, which was established at a cost of $25 million.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Paulwell commended the inputs of the GraceKennedy Foundation, JFLL, and Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal, describing the collaboration with the Ministry and USF a “tremendous partnership.”

“To open this facility for the development of our people…is truly tremendous… (as) computers and access to the Internet…are indispensable…in this modern information-driven world,” he added.

For his part, State Minister for Local Government and Community Development and Member of Parliament for South East St. Catherine, where the facility is located, Hon. Colin Fagan, said it will serve as a “very useful resource centre” for residents of all ages in and around the community.

Director of Projects at USF, Everold Simms, said the facility is a centre of learning that should shape the lives of residents, particularly the youth.

“My expectations of this centre are (very) high. I (believe it) is one of (those) that is going to make us very proud,” he added.

In her remarks, GraceKennedy Foundation’s Executive Director, Caroline Mahfood, said Truth Tabernacle’s investment in developing the innovative learning centre and facilitating the CAP, for the benefit of Cumberland’s residents is “very impressive.”

“I am really happy that the centre is being opened and that the Foundation could participate. I am (also) really excited that the USF is on board, and that they have supported you so well,” she added.

For his part, Executive Director of the Innovative Learning Centre, Dr. Dale Rankine, expressed gratitude for the public/private partnership, and the church membership, which enabled the facility’s establishment. “We are committing to making this centre the absolute best,” he pledged.

Other speakers included: Pastor of Truth Tabernacle, Bishop Windell Rankine; Senior Assistant Pastor, Rev. Neville Martin; and Councillor for the Cumberland Division in the Portmore Municipal Council, Renair Benjamin.

Last Updated: November 13, 2015

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