WESTERN BUREAU - AT&T Wireless is to set up a $2-million computer access centre at the St James Parish Council building along Union Street in Montego Bay by September.

The announcement was made by company officials at a reception held at the Wexford Hotel in the resort city yesterday.

The facility, which is to be outfitted with 30 computers and staffed by AT&T, is to be open to children from across the parish.

"The community computer access centre... will target kids 12 years old and under who would not otherwise have access to the Internet," said the council's secretary/manager Ian Reid at yesterday's reception. "I think this is really a good venture and the council would really like to give its appreciation for this consideration."

AT&T explained that the centre was its way of giving back to the community.

"AT&T Wireless wants to be a conscientious part of the business community; as such, we are supporting the establishment of the community computing centre and required training resources," said Sidney Roberts, the company's international director of implementation.

With 45 million subscribers, AT&T - which was acquired by its US-based rival Cingular in February - is now the largest cellular company in the world. Earlier this year it acquired a licence to operate in Jamaica, at a cost of US$6 million, bringing to 16 the number of Caribbean islands in which it operates. AT&T Wireless conducts its business via a local subsidiary - Wireless Ventures of Jamaica Ltd - in accordance with a condition of its licence.

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