#Freeport, April 9, 2019 – Bahamas –
REMARKS AND WELCOME
SEN. J. KWASI THOMPSON, MIN. OF STATE FOR GRAND
BAHAMA
For the
SIGNING CEREMONY
THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOANS
“GOVERNMENT DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION TO STRENGTHEN
COMPETITIVENESS”
and
“THE CONTINGENT LOAN FOR NATURAL DISASTERS”
Ballroom A, Melià Nassau Resort
Monday, 8 April 2019
Prime Minister the Most Honorable Dr. Hubert
Minnis, Cabinet Colleagues, Senior Government Officials, Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to extend to you all a
very warm welcome on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister and the
Government of the Bahamas and to say how grateful we are that you have accepted
our invitation to attend today’s signing of two very important IDB loans namely
the “Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness” and “The
Contingent Loan for Natural Disasters”.
The Government has begun to heighten the role of Information
Communication and technology or ICTs as a national priority underpinning the
further development of the Bahamas. Embracing ICTs will not only serve as the
mechanism for our economic resurgence and social development but also by
creating much needed future growth.
The Government has begun plans to transform Grand
Bahama as a Tech Hub for not just the country but the region. However, if we
are to realize this goal we as a Government must first change the way we do
business. We cannot expect a national digital revolution to take place if the
Government is not prepared to embrace is own digital transformation.
This Government’s commitment to embracing ICTs is
therefore evident by today’s signing which will continue the ongoing
transformation of the Public Service.
We must improve the digital infrastructure and
capacity within the public service to provide improved levels of customer
service efficiency, transparency and accountability. I am truly excited that Today
we move one step closer to establishing the new digital workflows that will
redefine the way the Government does business with the public.
This Government
has established a Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister whose mandate is to
transform the Public Service.
The goal of the National Digitization Project for
Government services: “e-Bahamas 242: Making Government Work for You” is simply
to better connect Government to the people by reducing time, frustration, and
cost. The goal will be achieved by adhering to the following guiding principles
some of which are being introduced for the first time.
1. A Single message and theme of Government working
for you, the people.
2. Use of Simple Single window facility through
which we can access services 24hrs a day.
3. Interoperability for transporting data securely
between the relevant agencies and the user or citizen;
4. Strong Cybersecurity
5. Once only concept enshrined in legislation that
once one Government agency has the information no other agency can ask for it;
6. Data ownership in which your personal data is
owned by you and you can see who is looking at it;
7. Public Awareness and Education for the
preparation of citizens and public officers.
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are particularly pleased to welcome Mr. Luis
Alberto
Moreno President, Inter-American Development Bank.
What is
equally as important to what we are doing is why we are doing this.
It is no secret that The Prime Minister has a
passion for people especially the poor and underprivileged. It is therefore no
surprise that he has not only been a supporter of this digital transformation
but the chief driver. He has ushered in a new wave of trust, transparency and
accountability in government and is truly focused on better connecting with
people.
And we are all looking forward to the Prime
Minister’s Digital Transformation Charge to country.
I close with these words on E-Government.
“E-governance is easy governance, effective governance, and also economic
governance. E-governance paves the way for good governance.”
Thank you and once again Welcome!
Remarks by Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson.