The Tribune

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

THE Minnis administration rolled out its DigiPay platform for cashless transactions and collection of revenue across all government agencies, including the judiciary.

The Ministry of Finance, along with the Office of the Chief Justice, held a press conference yesterday where details of the platform were given. “Today I am pleased to announce and celebrate the monumental step taken by this government in developing an electronic payment platform for cashless transactions across all government agencies,” said Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Finance. “The government’s official DigiPay platform allows for real time integration into The Treasury Financial Management System and ease of balancing at an agency level.

“The DigiPay platform has allowed for collection of government revenue by debit and credit card in agencies and online. As the Central Bank rolls out the country’s first digital currency, the DigiPay platform will allow for acceptance of Sand Dollars across the government for payment of government revenue.”

The platform, built by contractual employee Kristie Powell, is said to be consistent with such platforms commonly used in the 21st century.

“As the government streamlines its financial processes, DigiPay’s ability to record revenue in real time into the Treasury Financial Management System increases accountability and transparency in reporting of government revenue,” Mr Thompson continued. “DigiPay’s ability to record transactions in the accounting ledger of The Bahamas government facilitates ease of reporting and reconciliation to align government revenue streams with best practices.

“However most importantly, for the public and Bahamian citizens, the DigiPay payment platform facilitates ease of doing business where clients have three options of payment for government services. Online payments, payments in agency or payment at a third party vendor. Long lines for obtaining government services are being eliminated by DigiPay’s flexibility with payment options. It seeks to make doing business with the government faster and easier.

“The DigiPay platform is owned by the government and was designed and developed by a young Bahamian technologist, Kristie Powell. Her success in implementing this breakthrough technology is a testament to the homegrown Bahamian brilliance that exists in this country. The government will be showcasing her talents on a large scale throughout numerous agencies.”

According to Mr Thompson, in the very near future, DigiPay will be available to the Port Department, the Department of Inland Revenue for real property tax collection, the Customs Department, the Road Traffic Department, the Registrar General Department, the Department of Labour and the Royal Bahamas Police Force. And, he said, as part of the government’s ongoing digitisation efforts, the digital transformation unit will release an additional three services on the online portal mypilotservices.gov.bs on Monday.

These include: the application for a police character reference, renewal of gun licenses and the renewal of the ePassport.

Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree gave details of how the system will be used in the judicial system. He said although the payment platform pushes The Bahamas into the 21st century’s way of doing business, it will not replace any employee in the judicial system which is already understaffed.

“The DigiPay platform will be available in New Providence in the Magistrates Courts, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Now, lawyers and court users will no longer have to provide cheques or cash when filing documents in those courts and members of the public will not have to carry large amounts of cash when paying fines,” he said.

However Nicholas Rees, chairman and co-founder of Kanoo, another digital payment entity, was not happy about the announcement, saying his company was not given the opportunity to bid on that project.

Mr Rees said, “In Kanoo we have nine young Bahamians involved and our blood, sweat and tears have gone into over four years of work. We have, hands down, the best product and the best technical solution, period. In this country we have a regulation called the Payment Regulations Act which we fall under.

“In order to offer retail payment services, (an entity) must have a license issued by the Central Bank. DigiPay nor SAG, which it operates under, has a license issued by the Central Bank so why are they even given the opportunity to offer those services?”

Mr Rees said every contract that Kanoo was awarded by the government had to go through a competitive bidding process under a request for proposals (RFP) process. He is questioning why this did not happen before DigiPay was created.

Asked about it, Marlon Johnson, acting financial secretary, said Ms Powell was an employee and acting on behalf of her employer, the Ministry of Finance.

“Ms Powell was a contracted employee of the Ministry of Finance when she constructed the platform,” Mr Johnson said. “It was constructed by a member of staff of the ministry. It is our platform so (no) need for a RFP. It is only a payment platform, it is not a financial services provider. It is not required to take in any transaction; it only facilitates the payment.”

“It does not require a license no more than if you hire somebody to build a gateway to pay credit cards. People who transact money to provide financial services have to acquire a license from the Central Bank.”

Asked about the safety of credit and debit card information across that platform, Mr Johnson has assured the public that all is well in that regard.