Acknowledging that the online delivery of government services was "the way of the future" and the Bahamas should have reached this point long before, Winston Rolle told Tribune Business the move could still "have a very dynamic effect on the economy".
The expected efficiency improvements, he added, could help attract "the new entrepreneurs" to the Bahamas, stimulating growth in jobs, companies and economic activity by removing previous frustrations in obtaining necessary permits.
Zhivargo Laing told Tribune Business that the ease of paying due taxes and fees online might encourage some businesses and entrepreneurs, who had previously baulked at putting payments in the mail or going to the relevant agencies, to now do so.
"I think the benefits are significant, actually," Mr Laing said of the e-government platform, which launched yesterday, "because you're talking of benefits to be had for the general public from the ease of doing some transactions over the computer, as opposed to having to go to some counter, go to some office and get in your car and drive through traffic somewhere to do so. They can do the same from their computer wherever they are in the country or the world."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who was the keynote speaker at the launch at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, touted the new government website as a fundamental change for the Bahamas that will have tremendous benefits.
The e-government program aims to make it possible for customers to pay for services such as licences, fees and fines; make contact with government to, for instance, lodge complaints or give compliments and access information such as requirements for obtaining licences and certificates and information about events etcetera, all online.
“Today, we change the concept of service delivery by moving government services from the counter only, to the computer screen also. Today, we begin E-Government in The Bahamas,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
“This is a fundamental change that could have tremendous benefits for our country, as today we live in a world where technology is driving business and service delivery.”
Read more: BS: Prime Minister launches new E-Government Web Portal and e-Services