News
Millions of documents scanned, Years to get there before TCI gets Effective E-Government System
Projects & Plans Explained by Finance Minister E. Jay Saunders
#TurksandCaicos, November 16, 20321 – The goal is not simply turning paper documents into electronic ones or connecting everyone to the government’s services via the internet. It requires understanding inefficiencies in the systems, improving them and then capturing those essential hard copy files in such a way that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government would be able to, far into the future, access even the content upon each document in order to raise customer service levels and heighten efficiency. And it will not be easy; the Turks and Caicos is looking at years before the process is completed, and longer than anticipated before it is implemented.
Eight months in office and the PNP Administration is still in the information gathering stage in the transition to E-Government.
“What we’ve spent the first couple of months doing around E-government is an information gathering exercise to find out what Government has first before we start to build around it. It’s taken a bit longer than we would have expected,” said E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade.
Saunders, who is also the country’s Deputy Premier, is pegged to lead the reformation.
In the Progressive National Party’s campaign manifesto: A Citizen’s Contract 2021, the objectives and benefits of a Digital Government are outlined and residents are ready for the change.
Excerpt: “A Digital Government will save the TCI millions of dollars, ensure efficient, effective and equitable delivery of public service, build public trust, ensure transparency, participation and collaboration between government agencies. Your next PNP Government will be digitized…”
To jump start the digitization of government, the newly elected PNP Administration earmarked $2 Million in this year’s fiscal budget.
“We’re now trying to move very quickly and my concern is that we have a lot to do before the end of this term. So we are going to have a number of things in parallel but the most important thing that we are trying to do right now and what we have started to do is – from a few months ago – the information gathering exercise and prioritizing a number of projects.”
Prioritized are the Road Safety Department and the Land Registry Department. In both agencies, documents to be captured electronically number in the hundreds of thousands and their operational processes have been the subject of public criticism.
“The Land Registry has – in round numbers – over 700,000 documents that they need scanned about 12,000 of them are water-logged because they got caught in the hurricane. And they cannot be taken out of their water logged stated otherwise they will become dry out and brittle and so we have to come up with a way to understanding how we are going to scan those documents,” said deputy premier Saunders in a press conference on November 8.
Hon Saunders revealed the solution to this incredible challenge is not found in scanning each document individually.
“If you know the Land Registry documents, the form isn’t a standard shape and its hand-written and crossed out. And then being able to scan those and have people make sense of them, so that you are able to search them.”
Each vital document will require data entry staff, accurately giving every file an electronic tag. This, explained Minister Saunders will ensure when the information is searched, it can be promptly located for seamless, proficient service.
“You’re never going to scan 750,000 documents with three or four people, even ten persons on a flat-bed scanner. You need industrial scanners that can scan hundreds of pages per minute. So what we will do is build capacity in Government, where persons jobs are data entry but its around digital data entry.”
These data entry clerks will cater to truck-loads of information at a time; that was the picture the deputy premier painted when he address media and the nation from the Office of the Premier in Providenciales two weeks ago.
The industrial powered scanners will accelerate the conversion process with TCIG information uploaded to a cloud system. It was reiterated that the work toward a digital government is more than securing an electronic copy of government files, it requires systems overhauls that work to reduce the current frustrations on all sides of service.
“Let’s take the Ministry of Home Affairs again, the Road (Safety) and Traffic Departments; before we go in there and say ‘this is what they need’, we wanted to know what they had first. We need to go in there and understand what it is they are trying to achieve, because the last thing we wanted to do is take inefficiencies and bring the same inefficiencies into an electronic system.”
Over the next few weeks, islanders, who are anticipating the advent of e-government can expect to hear what projects, will be tackled first. The PNP Administration is working to fulfill a key election campaign promise, through a man who is an award winning tech-wiz, having crafted his own e-wallet.
“If you think about it, Government will have millions of documents that we need to scan in order to make the E-Government useful,” said Hon Saunders admitting that the old information stuck in analog is just as valuable as the new information which can be digitized now. “We need to get through that exercise by scanning and it’s a huge exercise. It won’t be finished within this term. It will be a multi- term, multi-million dollar exercise.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 14th, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Molo Hotel Group reached a pivotal juncture on Monday, May 13th, 2024, with the ceremonial signing of a development agreement at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales. The agreement, which received official Cabinet approval on March 13th, 2024, signifies a steadfast commitment to advancing the economic landscape of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Molo Hotel Group is a family-owned business, renowned for its distinguished portfolio of high-quality hotels worldwide. The
development initiative encompasses the construction of three distinct IHG branded hotels: InterContinental Turks and Caicos, Kimpton Turks and Caicos and Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos. Scheduled for completion by 2027, each resort boasts a distinctive design from luxury to laidback sophistication spanning across the shores of Grace Bay Beach.
Kimpton Turks and Caicos – an epitome of luxury lifestyle living, will feature 192 guest rooms including three outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a fitness center. Additionally, seven dining options ranging from a beachfront restaurant to a rooftop bar.
Adjacent to the Kimpton, InterContinental Turks and Caicos will offer 59 classic luxury suites with panoramic ocean views. Mirroring its counterpart, this resort will offer an array of dining options and upscale facilities.
Steps away from the Intercontinental and Kimpton resorts, Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos will embrace a sense of community and contemporary elegance, offering 56 bedrooms. The resort will feature an onsite restaurant, lobby bar, outdoor pool, and fitness room.
Beyond the realm of hospitality, this development agreement underscores the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing employment opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Molo is partnering with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) to actively promote hospitality as a career choice and support in developing training programs, career fairs, seminars, workshops, and events to raise awareness about hospitality careers. Molo has committed to provide employment and apprentice opportunities to TCICC students and provide mentoring and practical on property training to students.
The signing event was graced by Hon. Charles Washington Missick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Łukasz and Marcin Slominski, Owners of Molo, Ross Morrow, Managing Director Molo, Arik Kono, Vice President Upscale Development for IHG, Dr. Candice Williams, President and CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Angela Musgrove, InvestTCI CEO, Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chairperson of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Dr. Delores Stapleton- Harris, Vice President of Academic, Vocational and Student Affairs for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Mr. Kevin Baxter, Dean of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Sheryl McLaughlin, InvestTCI Investment Services Executive.
Commenting on the development agreement, Premier, Hon. Misick, stated “The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing of
IHG/Molo Hotels is a significant step towards a sustainable future for hospitality in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Three hotels, Kimpton, Intercontinental, and Hotel Indigo, will be introduced, enhancing our tourism product and creating employment opportunities.”
He further added, “Partnerships with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission are underway, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to developing human capital and elevating tourism offerings. This project will bring economic growth, embrace local talent, and enrich our economy.”
Additionally, Mrs. Angela Musgrove, CEO of Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, emphasized “This collaboration confirms our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity within our country. We have worked closely with Molo Hotel Group, and we are confident that this transformative project will further position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination for travel and investment. Much to our delight, it will also provide opportunities for engagement with our Community College and small business community.”
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, operating through its primary Investment Promotion
Agency, Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, remains committed to attracting and facilitating Foreign Direct Investments to the country by providing a comprehensive suite of services. Through strategic initiatives and targeted promotion, the agency catalyzes sustainable development, driving innovation and small business opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have
charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.
The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:
- One Count: Robbery
- One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
- One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear
Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.
The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.
The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05th, 2024.
Mr. SIMON faces the following charges:
- One Count: Robbery;
- One Count: Gang Membership
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.
The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.
Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition
- One Count: Unlawful Entry
Officers also charged a teenage minor who was in the company of Mr. Simon on May 02nd with One Count of UNLAWFUL ENTRY.
The accused, seventeen and from Kew Town, Providenciales, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 20th.
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