MINISTER of Science and Technology, Dr Rupert Griffith, tells a story about an 84-year old woman who attended one of the ministry’s ICT for Seniors sessions staged recently in Valencia. He says all her children and grandchildren live abroad and she writes letters to them but after writing the letters she has to wait for someone to take the letters to the post office for her, then wait for a response.
He told BusinessDay, “You know that lady came to me and said, ‘Mr Griffith, I want to thank you.’ ” He said he was puzzled about why she was thanking him but she rushed on to say that she had attended the session and was introduced to email. She said that during the session she had emailed her daughter and grandchildren and was determined not to write paper letters again. He said she said she was going to buy a computer and in future intended to email “everybody.” He added, “That woman was happy and crying. How do you measure those things?”
Griffith said the ICT for Seniors programme is one of the flagship initiatives of the ministry. “And, you know people are living longer now. People are retiring now because they made their money, they want to enjoy the rest of their lives so it is not uncommon for people to retire at 50-55 years, even 60 years of age and they are still strong. He said while in this part of the world 55 and 60 might appear to be old, it is not the same in Europe and the rest of the world. In those places, age is just a number.”
He said the first ICT for Seniors programme was held at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Wrightson Road and attracted about 400 people. The second one was in Central Trinidad and there the attendance was about 600. He said the ministry had to turn away people interested in participating in the programme. He added that at the third programme in Valencia there was chaos and security had to be summoned to stop people entering the venue. He said that one attracted more than 700 people. He said when the security officers stopped people from entering, the ministry was forced to promise another session. He said that session is already sold out with more than 800 people signed up and waiting. Another session was scheduled for Skinner Park, San Fernando, in July and Griffith said the ministry had written the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to take the programme to the Sister Island.
“Why are we doing it?” he asked rhetorically. “Because everybody has to have access to the technology.” He said the idea of ICT for Seniors arose during a general discussion at one of the Commonwealth Connect meetings he chaired as Minister of Science and Technology. Its aim is to expand the use of all the new initiatives in technology so that no one gets left behind. He said there are programmes for women and girls, who are often bypassed by technology but there is nothing for seniors. He said the ministry has so far run two sessions of ICT for women and girls exposing them to all aspects of the technology.
Griffith said the ICT for Seniors programme is one of the flagship initiatives of the ministry. “And, you know people are living longer now. People are retiring now because they made their money, they want to enjoy the rest of their lives so it is not uncommon for people to retire at 50-55 years, even 60 years of age and they are still strong. He said while in this part of the world 55 and 60 might appear to be old, it is not the same in Europe and the rest of the world. In those places, age is just a number.”
He said the first ICT for Seniors programme was held at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Wrightson Road and attracted about 400 people. The second one was in Central Trinidad and there the attendance was about 600. He said the ministry had to turn away people interested in participating in the programme. He added that at the third programme in Valencia there was chaos and security had to be summoned to stop people entering the venue. He said that one attracted more than 700 people. He said when the security officers stopped people from entering, the ministry was forced to promise another session. He said that session is already sold out with more than 800 people signed up and waiting. Another session was scheduled for Skinner Park, San Fernando, in July and Griffith said the ministry had written the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to take the programme to the Sister Island.
“Why are we doing it?” he asked rhetorically. “Because everybody has to have access to the technology.” He said the idea of ICT for Seniors arose during a general discussion at one of the Commonwealth Connect meetings he chaired as Minister of Science and Technology. Its aim is to expand the use of all the new initiatives in technology so that no one gets left behind. He said there are programmes for women and girls, who are often bypassed by technology but there is nothing for seniors. He said the ministry has so far run two sessions of ICT for women and girls exposing them to all aspects of the technology.
To read more, Griffith boasts of ICT success
Taken from Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
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