TOWER ISLE, St Mary — Thanks to their essay writing skills, 13 children of public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators in St Ann and St Mary have received digital tablets from the Transport Authority (TA).

The devices, which came with the TA’s Travel Pal safety app already installed, were handed out during a ceremony at the TA’s Northern Regional Office in Tower Isle, St Mary, on Friday, February 24.

The TA’s Tablet Drive and Essay Competition is part of its wider corporate social responsibility programme. The contest, which will see 30 children across the country benefiting, complements the Government’s Tablets in Schools Programme.

The competition requires entrants to submit a 100-word essay on why he or she should be given a tablet.

Among the winners was Sycourney Buchanan who, during Friday’s ceremony, spoke on behalf of other recipients. She thanked the TA and reassured guests that the devices will be put to good use.

For 11-year-old Highgate Primary School student Kqueisi-Ann Dover, the device has come at an opportune time.

“I am doing PEP [Primary Exit Profile exam], so it is going to help me with my workload and also when I go to high school,” she said.

Her mother, Tamica Williams, spoke about the financial burden that has been removed from her shoulders because Kqueisi-Ann now has a tablet.

“The stress of getting her a tablet has been lifted. I will just ensure that it is well-taken care of,” the proud mother said.

Jamaica Union of Travellers Association operator and grandfather of one of the recipients Trevor Scott lauded the TA for what he sees as an encouraging and thoughtful initiative. He is convinced his granddaughter, Kaysia Anderson, will make the best use of her device.

In addition to being a useful tool for studying, the devices are expected to help boost the safety of the children who now own them. On Friday the TA’s Corporate Communications Manager Merdina Callum made sure to point out the benefits of the Travel Pal app that is on each device.

Launched last December, the app is designed to make it safer to use public transportation. Mobile devices on which it is installed can be used to scan registration plates to verify whether a taxi or bus being used is licensed by the TA. The app also has an SOS button that alerts a user’s emergency contact in cases of danger. The app, which was developed by Amber Solutions and supported by eGOV Jamaica Limited, is available in the Google Play Store.