Link Up Online! – Lime Foundation, MultiCare Bolster Downtown With Internet Access

Destiny McGlashan, a 17-year-old student of Immaculate Conception High School, was overjoyed last week as she basked in the opportunity to help uplift members of the Breezy Castle community and surrounding areas in Kingston.

McGlashan, who is linked to the MultiCare Foundation, has been selected to be co-manager of the newly built Internet-access facility and resource centre at Breezy Castle Sports Complex along the Kingston waterfront.

Spearheaded by Lime Foundation and MultiCare Foundation, a cargo container has been retrofitted and transformed into a new cyber centre dubbed ‘The Link’.

The centre was opened last Tuesday as part of efforts by Lime Foundation to increase Internet access across the island.

resources

The Link, established at a cost of $3 million, is outfitted with 11 new desktop computers powered by LIME’s broadband service, a printer and administrative office.

“I’m looking forward to helping these residents because I am a person who loves to give back to the people. It would be nice for me to help others to be the best they can be and excel at whatever they are doing,” McGlashan told The Gleaner.

“These initiatives help students to come off the street, they shouldn’t be idling or on the road giving trouble. They need to be making more use of the Internet and educating themselves,” added McGlashan.

She was supported by education minister Ronald Thwaites who commented on the positive effect that The Link could have on residents of the area.

“If all we try to do is restore downtown Kingston by putting up new buildings then it won’t work, we need to lift up the lives of the people and give them access to the Internet and improve the education,” declared Thwaites.

“Knowledge is key to improvement, and I’m glad for this. It will open up a new opportunity for people who live in fairly difficult circumstances. LIME, MultiCare, and all those who have helped, must be congratulated, and I’m sure the community will make good use of this centre,” added Thwaites.

avenues opened by The Link

In the meantime, Errol Miller, chairman, LIME Foundation, used the opening to point to avenues to be opened by The Link.

“Students can come do their homework and research, the community members can log on to the Internet, send emails and access a wide range of information. There is also a multifaceted printer, so it’s basically a small document centre, which small business can make use of as well,” said Miller.

He was supported by Garfield Sinclair, CEO of LIME, who underscored the company’s plan to ensure access to the World Wide Web.

“The Internet is an essential tool and access to it these days can almost be considered a right-of-way. LIME is committed to widening the Internet pathway for all the people,” said Sinclair.

“When we consider the vast number of formal and informal communities in and around Breezy Castle, populated by people who have no less a desire to succeed than the most fortunate, it makes the opening of this facility even more important to us,” he added.