The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister has reaffirmed the government’s goal of providing 200 public services online within five years as part of its digital transformation drive.

Senator Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for finance, told the Cable Bahamas-hosted Think Beyond webinar, which examined the impact of digital transformation on the public and private sectors, that progress is being made towards that goal as highlighted by the pilot roll-out of several services via the central online portal, MyPilotServices.gov.bs.

Modelled after the Estonian online platform, the MyServices online gateway allows services to be requested from a single portal via an interoperability platform referred to as The Great Bahama Bank, which enables digital inter-agency connection.

“We wanted to have one single platform that allows citizens to access our services in one location. This platform enables users to register, complete the verification process, and access all services online,” the minister said.

More than 4,000 Bahamians are registered on MyPilotServices.gov.bs to-date, enabling them to request police character references; renew e-passports; renew a driver’s licence or a firearm licence; and requesting certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.

Through increasing accessibility, and improving the ease of obtaining government services, use of the portal has also helped reduce lines at government agencies.

“Digitisation can present opportunities for economic improvement and sustainable growth. Putting government services online is just the beginning of the government’s digital transformation journey,” said Mr Thompson. “We know that that is an ambitious goal but we believe it is one that it is achievable.”

The government’s $30m digitisation initiative, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aims to make it easier for residents and businesses to do business in The Bahamas. The multi-year investment is allowing the government to digitise its services, strengthen cyber security, and improve and increase the use of technology in the public service.

Besides Mr Thompson, participants in the webinar included participants included Franklyn Butler, Cable Bahamas’ chief executive and executive vice-chairman;. Damian Blackburn, Aliv’s top executive; and Charnette Thompson, Cable Bahamas’ vice-president of innovation.