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Guanacaste Has Two New ‘Intelligent’ Centres
(Infocom) — The Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT) and the John Paul II University have opened up two new intelligent centres (CECIS) in the Guanacaste communities of Cartagena (Santa Cruz) and Belen (Carrillo).

The centres will allow residents to undertake projects for promoting traditions and customs of their communities. Through the use of the Internet and self-learning courses, the centres are expected to boost the province’s development.

“In these times, people need to know how to communicate via the Internet,” Science and Technology Minister Eugenia Flores told people of these communities when inaugurating the centres. “In our country there are many services that make our lives easier, and you need to learn how to use computers. It pleases me to be here in Guanacaste opening two new CECIS. I thank John Paul II University for collaborating with us. These centres are here thanks to the interest and will demonstrated by this university in the area of technology.

Each centre has six computers and free Internet access. The Cartagena centre is located inside the Parochial Hall, while the Belen CECI is 300 meters north and 50 meters east of the town’s park.

“I thanked MICIT for bringing this centre to us to train many of the people in the town, regardless of age,” said Maria Alvarado, a teacher at the Youth and Adult Integrated Education Center (CINDEA).

John Paul II University provided support to MICIT to bring Internet connectivity to many Guanacastecans. Students from this university will also provided free training sessions at the new CECIS as well as support in topics such as psychology, sports and English. This is in addition to the courses MICIT offers in digital literacy and software programs.

Claudio Solano, a priest and council president at John Paul II University, said he’s proud to collaborate with closing the digital gap in the province.

“There’s no development without solidarity or participation, and today everyone is demonstrating the great solidarity of this country,” Solano said. “Thanks for being here, and may the Lord Jesus Christ make this people more prosperous. Let’s hope everybody will come to the CECIS and learn how to use the Internet, so that these communities will develop and have better employment opportunities.”

A program promoted by MICIT, CECIS provide computer technology, Internet access and training to communities throughout the country will little connectivity.

In 2007, some 100 Intelligent Community Centres were set up in Costa Rica, and officials expect to install 100 more this year. Each centre is visited by an estimated 35 people daily.