By ANDREW COAKLEY
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — Officials of the Digital Transformation Unit, a branch of the Department of Transformation and Digitization, were in Grand Bahama on Thursday, November 18, 2021, to meet with Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, to assist the Ministry of Grand Bahama in uploading government services online.
Minister Moxey, along with Minister of State for the Public Service, the Hon. Pia-Glover-Rolle, met with representatives in the Office of the Prime Minister (GB) to discuss the unique needs of Grand Bahama.
Minister Moxey said her Ministry is excited to have the Digital Transformation Unit on Grand Bahama, adding that they are ready to assist Grand Bahamians and those in the Northern Bahamas with getting signed onto the My Gateway platform. The representatives are also on a fact-finding mission.
“There are many stakeholders on the island and so we need to know what services are required, so that we can ensure that it is included on the platform,” said Minister Moxey.
She noted that there are so many aspects involved in making the platform work, when it comes to the various governmental departments, how they work and how they inter-connect.
“Grand Bahama is considered to be the innovation capital of The Bahamas, so many things are going to be birthed right here,” said Minister Moxey. “In fact, right now, the Help Desk for My Gateway – levels one and two – are actually located here in Grand Bahama.
“The charge now is for the Digital Transformation Unit to increase capacity on the island, because the needs are there. So, we’re going to make this happen.”
Elise Delancy, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, who holds responsibility for the Department of Transformation and Digitization, explained the Unit’s goal for Grand Bahama.
“There is a unit in that department that is responsible for the digitization of government services, the development of national identification system, for cyber security and the development of the National IT Strategy. That Unit is the Digital Transformation Unit.
“We have already put up ‘My Gateway’, which is the inter-operational platform, so we’ve come to hear what Grand Bahama needs us to do. Your Minister is very excited about Grand Bahama and she is excited about the digitization process.”
The Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle pointed out that Digitization is a critical component for the Davis Administration. She added that such digitization ensures government efficiency, which can come by tapping into technology.
“We’re in a digital age, so we have to move the public service, and by extension all ministries and departments that are attached, into the 21st Century,” said Mrs. Glover-Rolle. “Today, I’m here in Grand Bahama, having discussions with the Digital Transformation Unit on how we are to make this happen and the steps that it would take.
“It’s a process that has already started, but in order for us to move forward aggressively, we need to understand the pathway by which we need to do these things. In our blueprint, we talked about an e-Bahamas revolution and we talk about digital 700. So, we’re on the ground fact-finding, recruiting and making sure that people in Grand Bahama and across the country are aware of what it is we’re doing through the My Gateway platform, which we will expand throughout the Public Service to ensure that the entire Bahamas is included in this e-Bahamas revolution.”
