The portal will act as a hub through which everyone, inside and outside of Government, can interact, in order to provide savings in cost and efficiency while making vast improvements in the availability of Government information.
With changes to not only the look and feel of the site, but also the navigational aspects, the Department of E-Government hopes more Bermudians will get online.
Portal Manager, Coral Wells, said a number of new interactive features make it possible to register for TCD appointments, pay taxes online and get access to quangos, speeches by Premier Alex Scott, the Bermuda Independence Commission Report and streaming videos of press conferences in their entirety–thank to video footage supplied by “Look Bermuda”.
Within the next few weeks, the public will also able to pay parking tickets online, apply for after-school sporting events, view Government vacancies, submit their resumes and within time have access to sessions in the House of Assembly.
There will also be access to the “Cause Book”, which is currently kept in the Registry in Hamilton and contains details relating to various legal matters like writs.
In time, users will also be able to personalise their experience by being directing to content that is most relevant to them.
Teenagers could view information on youth training schemes while seniors can chose to view information on pensions.
Ms Wells added that in an effort to make better use of the technology internally, a number of existing Government functions have been incorporated into the portal.
Government officials, like Telecommunications and E-commerce Minister, Michael Scott, can access the website from abroad via a secure password and gain access to not only confidential documents and minutes of missed meetings, but will also be able to work on projects in temporary files.
Explaining the importance of the portal for Bermuda residents, Mr. Scott said: “For a variety of reasons, people may prefer to access Government services and information over the internet.
“By providing information online, people can deal with Government organisations when it is convenient for them, without having to visit the Government office and wait to talk to someone.”
He added that the portal was also a great way to use technology in providing individuals and businesses with Government services and information.
Autor: Tricia Walters
Quelle: The Royal Gazette, 27.10.2005
