Port of Spain corporation gives four tablets to students

Tablets were distributed by the Port of Spain Corporation on Friday to four students from the area on Friday during the corporation's final statutory meeting for the year.

The devices were given as a “Christmas gift” for the benefit of students in their virtual classes. The Ministry of Education announced that the second term – beginning in January – will be home based.

In October, chairman of the Finance Committee Alderman Wendell Stephen lambasted the corporation for not making good on its promise to supply 314 electronic devices to children in the Port of Spain area.

On Friday, Stephen said due to “bureaucratic red tape,” he was forced to apologise to the children after the initial request approval was rejected because the devices were not up to the standard outlined on the Ministry of Education’s website.

“I went so far as to say we couldn’t even donate a Panadol,” recalled Stephen.

He said on Friday he noticed the Minister of Education received a donation of the same tablets rejected by the administrative staff.

“These four children came today with the expectation that they would receive tablets, and that expectation will be fulfilled.”

The four students to receive tablets were Nathan London, Kayla Baptiste, Alejandro Sookoo and Rahall Samai.

He said he was able to source the tablets at less than the price quoted through the city council, and all the apps students are currently using for virtual classes, including google teams, were already downloaded onto the devices.