IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

The Fijian government will maximize the use of the Walesi platform for transmitting messages to reach the farthest in Fiji as it streamlines e-government services, local media reported on Friday.

Fiji's Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said on Friday that there were plans to streamline e-government services through the establishment of network towers.

The prime minister said that about 90 percent of the first phase of e-Government project has been physically completed as of end of October but they needed finances for the second phase.

The reports are the result of the completion of the first phase of the e-Government programme.

Minister for Finance and National Planning Mahendra Chaudhry explained that the e-Government was funded via a Government of China concessional loan of about $US20 million, with an allocation of $2m provided for the local component in the 2008 Budget for this programme.

Public Service Commission permanent secretary Parmesh Chand has encouraged all government agencies to take ownership of the Service Excellence Awards program saying it was an investment for enhancing better and efficient delivery of Government's services to the people.

The awards night will be held on October 29.

Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says the E-Government Program will create a ‘New Fiji’ with improved levels of communication within and outside of Fiji.

Interim Trade, Industry, Tourism and Communication minister Tom Ricketts made the revelation yesterday while briefing a trade and investment mission from Taiwan.

“The plan has 14 components, and the pilot project for this is what is known as the investment approvals tracking system,” Ricketts said.

Filipe Bole said the Registration for Examinations and the Provision of Examination Results service is one that has been selected by the Fiji e-Government Project, which will enable schools or students to register for exams online.

The Ministry of Education has installed V-satellite dishes to help install electronic mail to the schools, which are referred to as e-community learning centres.

The schools include Ra High School, Vunidawa, Namosi and Vunisea secondary schools, Nadarivatu High School, Magodro District School, Bua College, Saqani Junior Secondary School, Nadogo Secondary School, Nabala High School and Rotuma High School.

Interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama yesterday launched the system that will facilitate the electronic registration of companies and place company information online.

Bainimarama said the e-governance project was a milestone achievement for the responsible ministry – the Ministry of Justice, and the government.

The new program, called Mobile-Health, is a means of speeding up notification of outbreak prone diseases that may cause public health concern and help avoid long waits.

Association executive committee member Jonathan Segal said by reducing red-tape people needed to wade through "online applications can significantly improve on an area that has long been considered a point of frustration".

Director for e-Government Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS), Vassist Prasad said technological changes are increasing rapidly over the globe and Fiji needs to adapt to these changing information technology trends.

The website was developed for the Ministry of Youth by Connect Interactive under the ITC Services e-Government Program, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said outsourcing some functions of the PS would lead to significant improvements in the standard of service delivery over the next four years.

Commodore Bainimarama said it was essential to have clear policy guidelines in place for outsourcing. He said the policy would help reduce expenditure, make more resources available for capital expenditure and encourage private sector growth.

The Registration for Examinations and the Provision of Examination Results (EXMS) service is a service that had been selected by the Fiji e-Government Project.

“The service will generally improve coordination between the Examinations & Assessment Unit (EAU) of the ministry and schools,” said interim Education Minister Filipe Bole.

Interim Minister for Finance, Mahendra Chaudhry termed eGovernment as the application of ICT or information communications technology by government agencies to enhance and improve public sector delivery.