“Collecting and analyzing data should be one of TCI’s next big frontier”

#TurksandCaicos, August 8, 2021 – In a rapid developing country like the Turks and Caicos Islands, it’time to start leading with data driven decisions and move beyond relying on pass practices and guessing games when it come to deciding what is in the best interest of the country.

For too long, we have had a tradition of relying on limited data, paper log books and rubber stamped documents which could be cumbersome, easily destroyed or lost and sometimes fraught with inaccuracies.  With this new administration proposal of conforming to digital services for government offices, it will lay the groundwork and improve transparency between governmental agencies.

With digital data being more easily accessible, it can be used to help alleviate some of the growing challenges facing our country such as health care, immigration and tourism. Empirical data use can drive change, help elected leaders to make informed decisions and create policies that will bring about more positive outcomes. 

Of course data collection comes with inherent risk and will need data governance, maintenance, security and compliance strategies—all while accounting for additional underlying factors to avoid breach. It will also help to propel small business growth and advancement in a way that’s has never been done before. Such data can also help to  identify the need to improve or establish certain social services and the avoidance of unnecessary government fees.

For example, why do existing businesses in TCI  still bare the burden of proof and cost for the government to conduct an annual business name search for renewal of licenses? this should be just be a click of a button.

Crucial data extrapolate from the census department, is another extremely important piece of research that can benefit the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Traditionally, in most countries census is done every 10 years, but it might be prudent to shorten that period depending on certain internal and external factors and the rapid changing population.

Such data could assist with determining future government spending in sectors like education, health and social programs, immigration, police, and capital investments.

To a large extent, big data tools have become a national conversation across many developed countries and enterprises, as businesses and governments try to leverage their existing data into a competitive advantage. 
Perhaps, the government should also encourage or mandate certain public/private entities such as hospitals and clinics to collect and release certain vital data other then hospital administration statistics. 

Vita data collected such as chronic illness, geographic location of patients, could help to determine the need for more specialized professionals or which communities are underserved.

As the data take shape, it may require mobilization of clinical services to effectively target those needed communities who may be reluctant to seek healthcare or lack proper access, and possibly break those cultural norms.

As it relates to Tourism, this data could be used to analyze digital footprint of visitors to the sister Islands, and determine the need for additional lodging, increase in local flight schedule, promotion videos etc.  These type of metrics are highly useful as they can provide new insights that were previously unavailable for businesses in developing countries.

While data mining and implementation might pose a challenge as this is another area of expertise, from an economic and certainly a strategic standpoint, this could have a powerful impact on proactive decision making. In addition, it could also accelerate our progress and give the country that edge to compete in a global marketplace.

Ed Forbes