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Digital-National ID Coming

The blogmaster watched with interest the CBC TV8 People’s Business show last weekend and took note of the heavy focus government is placing on digital transformation in the public sector. What is good about the project is that inefficient processes will have to be updated to support several implementations promised. Congratulations to Amit@caribbeansignal.com who appeared…

The blogmaster watched with interest the CBC TV8 People’s Business show last weekend and took note of the heavy focus government is placing on digital transformation in the public sector. What is good about the project is that inefficient processes will have to be updated to support several implementations promised. Congratulations to Amit@caribbeansignal.com who appeared on the TV show in his role as government’s E-commerce Coordinator for the digital transformation project. Under the late Prime Minister Owen Arthur public sector reform was the buzz project, we wish this administration well with digital implementations in the public sector. It will not be easy given the entrenched culture.

It was also good news to read about the launch of the Barbados Digital ID and National ID Card Replacement Project. It is long overdue given the pace at which technology as advanced in the last 15 years. The previous government started a similar project and after squandering hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting and hardware costs it was a stillborn. The blogmaster hopes second time around taxpayers monies will be better guarded.

In recent weeks the government announced the pay for driver’s license initiative supported by home delivery by the Barbados Postal Service. The blogmaster takes this opportunity to recognise the transformation at the unit responsible for issuing a Police Certificate of Character. From a distance we seem to be heading in the right direction albeit too slowly.

People’s Business TV Show – 30 August 2020

15 responses to “Digital-National ID Coming”

  1. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    David

    This writer gets frieghtened when independent media like you would be congratulating a government on digitalization. Not that it is all bad.

    However, there is enough evidence to suggest that the privacy in our heads maybe all that remains. That is no less than an Orwellian world.

    Moreover, is the congratulation of any government to now be something we are to be accustomed to?

    Instead of congratulating this regime, press should play its proper role. After you have so committed the blog what then will be your position after the inevitable f-up.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @Pacha

    There is nothing wrong with congratulating the agent responsible for growing efficiencies in any system. On the subject of privacy there is risk benefit to be considered.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.facebook.com/BarbadosToday/videos/1217102775323996

  4. Wily Coyote Avatar
    Wily Coyote

    @David

    “congratulating the agent responsible for growing efficiencies”

    Praise should be reserved until after the program is up and running and has exhibited some degree of success, especially when the Barbados government and civil service is involved.

    ONCE BIT TWICE SHY

  5. Wily Coyote Avatar
    Wily Coyote

    @David

    posted embedded video not working, copyrighted

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @Wily

    The automating of the police certificate has been running for a few months. The online renewal of driver’s license has been live for a few weeks and is an improvement, it can only get better from here. We have to break from the negative and blame mindset sometimes if it is due.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks Wily, here is the link. Hope it works for you.

    https://www.facebook.com/CBCBARBADOS/videos/1462053477314012/

  8. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE “congratulating the agent responsible for growing efficiencies”
    IT IS AMAZING HOW SO MANY THINGS, HERE AND THERE, AND EVERYWHERE, ARE CLEAR PREPARATIONS FOR THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST
    VERY EXCITING

  9. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    In Afrikan philosophy there are no devils, no antichrist.

    These are merely from the demented minds of the cave dwellers from eastern asia or europe.

  10. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    @ David or anyone else

    The link to Facebook page says a contract has been signed between Productive Business Solutions and the Ministry. Has anyone seen this advertised by way of a tender or Request for Proposals?

    https://www.facebook.com/MISTBarbados/photos/a.316708725683060/608594119827851/?type=3&theater
    “The Barbados digital ID and National ID Card replacement project has officially started with the signing of a contract between the Ministry of Innovation Science and Smart Technology (MIST) and Productive Business Solutions (Barbados) Ltd. (PBS) on Wednesday 19th August 2020 at the Ministry’s office at Baobab Tower, Warrens St. Michael.
    PBS will be the supplier of software, ID cards, printers and professional services for the project that is estimated to last four months.”

  11. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Pachamama September 2, 2020 9:18 AM “In Afrikan philosophy there are no devils, no antichrist. These are merely from the demented minds of the cave dwellers from eastern asia or europe.”

    So true.

    i don’t know why so many people want to draw from the Middle East, the most consistently miserable place and people in the world.

    We have much to teach them. We should lead them, not follow them, nor seek to join them in their everlasting conflicts.

  12. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Speaking about teaching.

    https://youtu.be/_v0ywYsaP7c

  13. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Cuhdear Bajan September 2, 2020 11:54 AM
    “i don’t know why so many people want to draw from the Middle East, the most consistently miserable place and people in the world.
    We have much to teach them. We should lead them, not follow them, nor seek to join them in their everlasting conflicts.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    So when are you going to renounce your Anglicanism which is based on the selfish demands of a serial killer of women called King Henry and a book of lies and plagiarized tall tales approved for publication by a ‘royal’ homosexual called James?

    How about returning to your West African religious roots and be born again in the practice of Vodun and the worship of Mawu or Yehowa (a female God) instead of an Israelite invention called Yahweh an anti-woman god?

  14. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Miller

    This plate was well laid for your critical intervention.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    Promoting digital payments regionally

    CARIBBEAN CLIMATE-SMART ACCELERATOR AND BITT SIGN MOU

    https://media.pagesuite.com/psapps/images/e57e80d0-7776-465f-b5cf-5685b3eebe08/513098fe-ea4a-4dc6-85d6-84aedec92647.jpg
    The Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator and the Barbados-based Fintech company Bitt Inc. are working to minimize downtime in the region’s financial system after natural disasters. The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding on September 1, 2020. This three-year agreement will ensure that the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator will sensitize its coalition countries to the benefits of secure, cost-effective digital payments solutions, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) provided by Bitt.
    According to Bitt’s Chief Economist Marla Dukharan, “As climate change increases the frequency and severity of storms and other disasters in the Caribbean, climate adaptive and resilient reforms have become critical to our very survival.
    “In a post-disaster scenario, the ability to send and receive payments and remittances, having access to your funds, and being able to distribute relief, are usually absent for days, and sometimes even months. A CBDC network is probably the most secure and robust solution to these challenges.”
    “What we’ve learned painfully from this pandemic is how interdependent we are and equally how fragile our economies are.
    Innovations like these help us to build our economic, as well as our physical resilience, against exogenous shocks. We have to be stronger and build back better on a more sturdy foundation. This is why this is such a priority for us,” remarked Racquel Moses of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator.
    There are many benefits to be derived from issuing a CBDC, particularly for cash-intensive economies like we have in the Caribbean, where financial inclusion is relatively low, and where remittances are significant. This solution allows countries to boost financial inclusion while driving down the cost of financial transactions, thereby improving efficiency and ease of doing business.
    (PR)

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