#Basseterre, February 27, 2019 – St. Kitts and Nevis – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis believes The Bahamas can replicate the success experienced by the Republic of Estonia, which has effectively used technology to transform its government services and attract international investment.
Prime Minister Minnis held a bilateral
meeting with the President of the Republic of Estonia, Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid, on
Tuesday, February 26, 2019, on the sidelines of the 30th
Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
“The world is moving in the
direction of digital transformation and if The Bahamas fails to prepare or keep
up with advances it will be left behind, relegated not to a third world country
but a fourth world country,” the Prime Minister said.
Estonia is considered to be the
world leader in E-Government and digital innovation and has become a model for
many countries looking to update and improve public services.
Transforming government services
through the modernization and digitization of the public sector is a top priority
for the Minnis administration, and is one of the key areas being monitored and
supported by the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.
A Modernization Unit has been
established in the Office of the Prime Minister, and senior government
officials took part in e-Governance Training at Estonia’s e-Governance Academy
in October 2018, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank.
Earlier this year, representatives
from the e-Governance Academy visited The Bahamas to hold meetings with private
and public stakeholders who will be involved in transforming government
services.
While all ministries have made
progress to varying degrees, the goal is to streamline government procedures
and services by making them available online, increase the use of ICT’s in the
public sector and by the Government, increase transparency of Government, and
strengthen auditing and control mechanisms.
During the bilateral meeting Prime
Minister Minnis thanked President Kaljulaid for her government’s assistance in
helping The Bahamas move toward its goal to modernize and digitize the public
sector.
The principal purpose for the
meeting was to strengthen relations between the two countries.
President Kaljuiaid was the special guest at the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting. The President shared with Caribbean Heads her Government’s interest in helping CARICOM build its capacity in e-government.
Press Release: Office of the Prime Minister