Possibility of lawsuit hangs over Tablets in Schools Programme

GeoTechVision, the company that was selected to supply devices under the Tablets in Schools Programme says it has not received a response from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to a letter objecting to the termination of its contract and is now likely to take legal action against the government.

The state-run e-Learning Jamaica says it ended the agreement because the samples provided by the GeoTechVision, did not meet its specifications.

GeoTechVision and e-Learning Jamaica have remained at odds over the samples and late last month GeoTechVision wrote to the Prime Minister requesting his intervention.

Stephen Wedderburn, ICT Project Manager at GeoTechVision, confirmed in an interview with RJR News that there had been no response to its request.

He characterised as unfortunate the failure of the prime minister to response so far, “because the preference of GeoTechVision is to sort out this matter by negotiations.”

“We feel that if we sit down at the table and discuss the issues we can sort out all the concerns that are there, but we have not received any response to our overtures for a discussion,” he added.

Despite the seeming stand-off, GeoTechVision remains optimistic that the matter can be settled out of  court.

GeoTechVision had requested that the Prime Minister establish a panel to evaluate the tablets.  

It said if  the panel determined that the tablets are suitable, the government should arrange for their distribution to schools.

The company said this would avoid the waste of taxpayer funds.