e government efforts across the caribbean
TRANSCRIPT
Mona School of Business University of the West Indies, Mona Campus 17 October 2014
e-‐Government Efforts across the Caribbean
Agenda
• A quick look at e-‐govt generally
• How the Caribbean performed on latest e-‐govt survey
• Select e-‐govt ini=a=ves from across the region
• Summary
Results of latest e-‐Govt review 2014 Rank
2014 EGDI Country
59 0.5933 Barbados 60 0.5927 Antigua & Barbuda 78 0.5200 Grenada 90 0.4980 Saint Kitts and Nevis 91 0.4932 Trinidad & Tobago 92 0.8089 Bahamas
104 0.4525 Saint Lucia 107 0.4481 Dominican Republic 109 0.4388 Jamaica 110 0.4338 Dominica
113 0.4158 Saint Vincent & Grenadines
115 0.4045 Suriname 116 0.3917 Cuba 120 0.3774 Belize 124 0.3695 Guyana 176 0.1809 Haiti
Online Service Index
Examines the scope and quality of service offered by a cross-section of government websites, based on a 4-staged online services development process scale.
Telecoms Infrastructure Index
Examines telecoms connectivity with regard to fixed-line, mobile/cellular, fixed broadband, wireless broadband subscriptions, along with Internet use, per 100 inhabitants.
Human Capital Index
Examines adult literacy gross enrolment ratio, expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling across all levels of the education system.
E-‐Govt in the Caribbean is not new • ASYCUDA (regional)
– Automated System for Customs Data – computerised customs management system designed by UNCTAD – Has been used in over 90 countries, territories & regions – Used by 16 Caribbean countries, except Jamaica
• SIGTAS (regional) – Standard Integrated Government Tax Administra=on System – Used in 20+ countries – In Caribbean since 1990s: Jamaica; Barbados; Guyana; Hai=; OECS
• FINMAN (Saint Lucia) – Launched in 1997 using SmartStream suite of programmes – To implement a broad range of Financial Management reforms,
including a govt-‐wide computer system for the management of Government Accounts
Jamaica: GovNet
• Will allow the seamless transfer of info between Govt ministries, departments, agencies and other stakeholders
• The key pillars of the design: – Authen=ca=on Services – Endpoint Access and Security – Connec=vity of MDAs via the NWA high-‐speed
fibre network and communica=on.
OECS: EGRIP • EGRIP -‐ Electronic Government for Regional Integra=on Project
• Launched in 2009; ends 2014 • Project amount USD 7.2M • Countries covered: Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia
• Major project components: – Horizontal E-‐government Interven=ons – Ver=cal E-‐government Interven=ons – Project Management
Saint Lucia: Electronic document system
• Main project components: – establishing electronic document produc=on, exchange and file management subsystems
– through systems analysis, developing government processes and standard opera=ng procedures associated with the produc=on and use of electronic documents
– improving the systems management, maintenance and opera=onal capacity of ICT-‐related personnel in St. Lucia
• Project start 1 Jan 2013; Comple=on 31 Dec 2016
Trinidad & Tobago: GATE eService
• Government Assistance for Tui=on Expenses (GATE)
• Intended to automate the processes of student applica=ons, Ter=ary Level Ins=tu=on (TLI) verifica=on and Clearance approval of GATE applica=ons
Trinidad & Tobago: e-‐Government & Knowledge Brokering
• Ongoing IADB project • To promote more effec=ve and greater u=liza=on of ICTs to increase compe==veness and provide govt services in a more efficient, responsive and transparent manner
• Key components: – Knowledge brokering – Delivery of e-‐govt solu=ons
Other e-‐govt iniVaVves • Government portals
– Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago – Broad range of services and resource available
• Barbados – Government Wide Area Network (TBC) – Electronic Document & Record Management System (2010)
• Cayman Islands – General Registry introduced for the Companies Register in October 2013 – Next-‐day electronic scanning of all Trade and Business files – An Online Planning System enables clients to submit Planning Department
inspec=on requests online – A Request for Proposals for electronic vehicle registra=on – A system for the automated processing of Tobacco Licensing – Online Crew Compliance System for Mari=me Authori=es
Summary • Across the Caribbean efforts are being made to move towards e-‐
govt
• Some countries are more enthusias=c/aggressive than others
• In many instances changes are incremental – These improvements can all add up – But for the most part, cri=cal mass has not been reached
• It is not en=rely clear the extent to which countries have a comprehensive plan/strategy – Ini=a=ves might be dependent on what donor agencies are prepared
to support – Also, planning and development process can be quite protracted – Hence Caribbean might almost always appear a step behind