Ophelia Blanchard, E-Government Coordinator in the Department of Information Technology outlined several areas within the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2022 noting that they are relevant to the Federation during COVID-19 and beyond.
“The need to strengthen the broadband infrastructure – as we note that, internet connectivity is a critical resource right now. Without that internet connectivity we would not be able to do work from home and even able to render this broadband live so we applaud the telecoms companies’ within St. Kitts and Nevis – Flow, Digicel, the Cable – for coming onboard and seeking to extend and build and strengthen our internet capacities throughout the different communities,” said Ms. Blanchard during the May 11 edition of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing.
Read more: KN: General public updated on Government’s Digital Transformation Strategy for 2020-2022
The United Nation’s 2016 e-Government Development Index (EGDI) survey offers a snapshot of trends in the development of e-Government in countries across the globe.
Importantly, it indicates that the Caribbean needs to critically examine its e-Government performance, which in a global context, is lagging.
According to an analysis of the 2016 EGDI scores by Michelle Marius, Editor and Publisher of ICT Pulse, ‘the Caribbean countries examined have considerably less developed e-Government structures than the top ranked countries. None of the countries in the region are within the top 50 and less than half of the sample group (only six) are within the top 100 ranked countries.’
Read more: KN: 21st Century Government and other activities for ICT
The Data Protection Bill 2018 intended to promote the protection of personal data processed by public and private bodies has been passed in the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Bill, which had its first reading in September 2015, was debated in the House on Thursday.
Mover of the Bill, Minister of Information Technology, Attorney-General Vincent Byron Jr. said the objective of the bill is to safeguard personal data from unlawful processing by public and private bodies. He said it would also promote transparency and accountability in the processing of personal data.
As most Caribbean islands seek to improve their information and communications technology (ICT) sector, Nevis is also aggressively developing their digital economy through e-government transformation.
The recent inauguration of Hon. Troy Liburd, first Minister of ICT, with responsibility for Education, Library Services and Information Technology in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), re-affirmed this island’s commitment to developing ICT and implementing 21st Century Government.
Read more: KN: Nevis developing its digital economy through e-government transformation
Team Unity makes great strides in building a ‘21st century government’ through technology development
Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris is representing St. Kitts and Nevis at a high-level summit in Antigua and Barbuda today, Jan. 16. The summit is focused on “Building 21st Century Governments” in the Caribbean through enhanced use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) – an approach that Prime Minister Harris’ administration is finding success with as others in the region look to St. Kitts and Nevis as a model.