IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has called for a digital and balanced recovery in the Caribbean from the COVID-19 pandemic, at a virtual dialogue on work and life in the region, organised by UNESCO and The University of the West Indies (The UWI) on September 9.

During the dialogue’s High-Level Panel, Special Envoy of the Premier Benito Wheatley made remarks on the importance of balancing the social, economic and digital aspects of recovery in the Caribbean.

Mr. Ming has held a number of stakeholder sessions to sensitise public officers about e-Government requirements and to provide a framework for offering government services on-line.

In a move to streamline and upgrade government’s service offering, the departments of Labour and Immigration are set to officially merge on Wednesday.

A soft launch for the merger is to be held at the Immigration Department in Road Town.

Minister responsible for Labour, Vincent Wheatley, said while there will be no immediate physical change, other changes will be visible.

CRIS was developed to address the needs of a modern Civil Registry, using technology to provide new services to the public while simultaneously reducing the Registry´s workload, increasing efficiency, and improving data accuracy and audit capabilities.

Registrar-General Mrs. Stephanie Benn explaining the benefits of the system to the Department of Information and Public Relations described the website as a source of "one-stop" shopping for the public that facilitates multiple Registry offices and provides online data entry and retrieval.

Premier Dr D Orlando Smith has announced a number of soon-to-be implemented initiatives, which include the submission of a single application as well as receipt of a single Permit for both Immigration and Labour Departments.

Persons will also be able to submit their applications and make corresponding payments online, the premier added.

Another category of visitors – Business Visitor – will also be introduced.

And that’s just one example. The site also includes information on many other topics, ranging from school applications to fireworks exemptions, from labour requirements to consumer complaints.

Public officers numbering more than one thousand responded to the clarion call and turned out to witness the official launch of the much anticipated Public Service Transformation Initiative at Tortola Pier Park on March 26.

The morning was filled with appreciation and inspiration, singing, and laughter as officers eagerly waited for the report on the background, present and future of the Public Service Transformation Initiative.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting regular operational hours in the British Virgin Islands, government is now accepting payments for services via remote processing.

The Office of the Premier said in a media release on Tuesday that the remote payment options will allow for the receipt of payments while protecting both the customers and public officers from COVID-19.

The Government of the Virgin will be introducing Bills to support the comprehensive digital transformation of the Public Service and improve e-payments for customers.

His Excellency the Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert while delivering the Speech from the Throne outlining the Government’s Legislative Agenda explained that the Bills that will be introduced during the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly will include Data Protection, Electronic Filing, Electronic Funds Transfer and Electronic Transactions.

A few minor connection glitches were not enough to disrupt a virtual launch of the government’s online work permit system on Monday, July 12.

The first of several expected elements of an e-government platform, the work permit system has been years in the making. The system allows employees to apply for work permits without having to visit the departments of Immigration and Labour until payments are to be made, Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn said.

Phase 1 of the database project is completed; allowing for the electronic processing of planning applications and monitoring of development. The new database is being used to collect and monitor development applications by linking all Government agencies that play an integral role in development. This is in addition to external stakeholders such as developers and individual applicants, giving them the ability to track their applications in real time.

On Monday during a grand ceremony on the grounds of the Central Administrative Complex, the Deputy Governor´s Office launched a cost-saving competition entitled "Efficiency, Innovate and Save" (EIS).

During the interactive ceremony which was hosted by Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor´s Office, David Archer, speakers all echoed the importance for such an initiative which they said is not a choice in these times, but a necessity.

To this end, the public is invited to tune into a live GIS special radio report on Monday, December 8, and learn more about the transformation of its government Web site, www.bvi.gov.vg.

The live interview will be carried on ZBVI 780 AM from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. with phone lines opening from 7:15 p.m. for questions.

Government has commenced stakeholder meetings to review multiple e-Government legislations which are soon expected to be implemented in the British Virgin Islands.

A government-commissioned media release dated January 7 said the series of meetings, which began on January 6, is being conducted through a collaboration between government and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union.