#Nassau, July 23, 2019 – Bahamas – The government will embark on an e-Cabinet programme aimed at increasing the efficiency in the Public Service, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis has announced. He was addressing the Caribbean Public Services Associations 49th Annual Conference held Sunday, July 21, 2019 at SuperClubs Breezes on Cable Beach.
In welcoming Caribbean delegates to the occasion,
the Prime Minister also shared his government’s plans towards a more modern and
efficient Public Service.
“The great
contemporary challenge for governments and public officers in our region is the
promotion of 21st Century governance.
“Such governance
must be built on the platform of a service culture characterized by
effectiveness, the application of appropriate technology, open government and
accountability,” the Prime Minister said.
He shared with
the association, some forward-looking areas his government is promoting as a
part of its mission to foster 21st Century governance in The
Bahamas.
“Further, to help lead our modernization and
digital transformation by example, we will implement an e-Cabinet program that
will increase the efficiency in government.
“This program will cause Cabinet memoranda and
decisions to be paperless. Our decisions
and the implementation of those decisions should be faster and more efficient,”
the Prime Minister said.
To ensure
greater equity and broader access to technology by all Bahamians, regardless of
economic standing, he noted that the Government of The Bahamas is introducing a
variety of measures.
“We are pleased that our mobile operators have
begun to deploy WIFI services on buses,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are working to have widespread access to WIFI
services in the parks and public spaces within the inner-city of New
Providence, with a view to free WIFI in certain communities.”
He also revealed that technology would be deployed
to help citizens improve their communities, such as reporting the location of
potholes or other matters to the relevant government agencies through their
smart and/or mobile devices.
“Innovation, creativity, disruption and
transformation are words usually not associated with government but this must
change in order to promote 21st Century Governance,” the Prime
Minister said.
He shared that soon after coming to office in
2017, he created the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU). This unit, which had its genesis in the United
Kingdom, was created to help ministries and governmental agencies to deliver
concrete results in a number of key priority areas.
There are five main functions of
the PMDU, which include planning, generating performance insights, problem
solving, capacity building, and coordination.
These
functions are achieved by:
- Collecting and analyzing relevant data;
- Coordinating individuals to ensure target results;
- Reporting regularly to the Prime Minister
regarding the status of projects for the eight key priority areas; and
- Taking corrective action as necessary to achieve
goals and objectives of determined projects
Other areas are energy reform, modern
infrastructure, and the modernization and digitization of government services.
Energy Reform is deemed a priority in ensuring
adequate electricity supply in New Providence.
“We are embarked also on a renewable and solar
energy revolution, with our Family Islands all eventually supplied by renewable
energy,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are building on the work of former governments
to give the Bahamian people and residents the infrastructure that will boost
equality of life and enhance economic development,” the Prime Minister said
regarding modern infrastructure.
There
is an old saying: “You don’t get what you expect. You get what you inspect.”
“In
this spirit, a government may have the best intentions in terms of
developmental goals, policies and programs.
But good governance requires accountable governance,” the Prime Minister
said.
He thanked the Bahamas Public Services Union, the
Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of the Public Service and National
Insurance for their coordination in preparing for the conference.
By Lindsay Thompson
Release: BIS
Photo Caption: Prime Minister Minnis, at podium, chatting with Bahamas Cabinet Ministers, and with regional representatives.
(BIS Photos/Yontalay Bowe)