Premier Charles Washington Misick. File photo courtesy the Caribbean Community CARICOM.
COCKBURN TOWN, Turks & Caicos--In an effort to make access to an array of services in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) easier and more convenient, the government has earmarked US $12.55 million in the 2023-2024 budget to catapult its e-governance initiative.
Premier Charles Washington Misick recently described the government's thrust towards e-governance as a "digital transformation” for the territory, during his recent budget address in the House of Assembly.
Misick said: "My government came to power with a Digital Transformation and E-Governance Agenda, and we are delivering.”
He stressed that the digitisation of important services will enhance the way business is conducted in the TCI, and improve access to information, while creating a platform for better interaction with the government and the citizenry.
The $12.55 million allocation will form part of the territory’s Medium-Term Capital Programme and will fund information technology (IT) initiatives that will digitise government systems.
To this end, a total of $2 million is budgeted over three financial years for the Exchange of Information and an Economic Substance Report.
Misick said: "$1.75 million for consultancy services for the National Identification System.
"Land Registry Digitalisation Project will cost $800,000. Five hundred thousand dollars and $300,000 are allocated in [fiscal year – Ed.] FY 2023 and FY 2024, respectively.
"Immigration System E-gate budgeted at $1.5 million in capital costs in FY 2023-24: this project will focus on the digitisation of border services, which includes an Immigration Management System, biometrics and automation.”
Coupled with this, $2 million each is budgeted in FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 for the digitisation of the Inland Revenue Department.
With digitisation, a mandatory electronic identification card will be issued to residents to ensure a secure online identity to conduct business with the government.
The National ID system will be implemented to the tune of $2.5 million.
Misick said: "Two million dollars and $500,000 are budgeted in FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 for the implementation of the National Identification Card System for all eligible persons living in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"Mr. Speaker, under this initiative, the emphasis is on digitising priority services,” he added.
Although the government has made significant headway in digitising various sectors, Premier Misick recently acknowledged that more resources, money and expertise were needed to fully modernise service delivery platforms and further propel the territory into the digital age.
Electronic governance or e-governance refers to the application of information technology (IT) for delivering government services, exchange of information, communication transactions, integration of various stand-alone systems between government-to-citizen, government-to-business, as well as back-office processes and interactions within the entire governance framework.
Projects undertaken
Since announcing its e-governance plan in 2021, the Misick-led administration has earmarked over 30 IT initiatives to help digitise all government systems including statutory bodies.
A number of projects have since been completed to date.
In keeping with this, business licence applications and searches can be done online and applicants can now get their business licence within 48-72 hours.
Along with this, over 80% of services offered by the Immigration Department can be applied for online and all staff in the Registrar General’s Office and citizenship and naturalisation services on the islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales can electronically access and scan manual applications with the digitisation of the system.
Additionally, all dental records have been digitised and dental clinics connected.
The upgrades to the antiquated systems, which are often bemoaned by residents who would often have to wait in long queues to access a range of government services, will also make it easier and more convenient for them to remit fees and taxes.
The online databases and connectivity among departments will further modernise procurement and contract management systems and integrate the social security network and revenue authority. ~ Turks and Caicos Weekly News ~
