The Digital Transformation Unit (DTU), described as an ‘execution unit’ within the Ministry of Economic Affairs, was in Spanish Wells on Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th, to conduct public awareness and training sessions, along with a sign-up drive for the government’s MyGateway.gov.bs platform, where a number of government services can be accessed, applied for and paid for online. Fourteen new services were recently launched by the DTU on MyGateway directly associated with the fishing industry, and with more than a third of fishing licensees based in Spanish Wells – the team aimed to quickly familiarize this significant population with the cadre of new online services.
The sign-up drive booth was located at the Spanish Wells Food Fair over the course of the two days – where residents were assisted with registering on MyGateway, and shown how to request for and pay for online government services.
The targeted training sessions were hosted at the Spanish Wells Methodist Church Youth Hall, and presented as three modules. The first session with Department of Marine Resources Officers, ran from 9:30 am to noon on Friday. This was followed by a session focused on applying for fisheries permits from 1:00 pm until 3:30 pm. On Saturday, session three ran from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm, and focused on general public awareness and training.
Officials in attendance on Saturday, along with the team from the Digital Transformation Unit, included Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera and Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, Mr. Clay Sweeting; Family Island Administrator, Lynton Pinder; Administrator for the North Eleuthera District, Stephen Wilson; and Spanish Wells District Council Chief Councilor, Mr. Robert Roberts.
Minister Sweeting, commenting about the team’s visit to his hometown, said, “This was a two-day event for persons in the Spanish Wells community – and it had several prongs – knowing that the lobster season would be approaching in August… When I was the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources we launched a number of services to help make it easier for Family Islands residents, and Family Island fishermen to apply online to get their duty free permit, their fishing license, their compressor permits, and all of that. So, this was an event to help to make persons aware of MyGateway, and also the services that the fishermen can utilize – as well as all the others, including road traffic, and all the other things that you can apply for on MyGateway.”
He continued, “We also spoke about the digital transformation of the government and where we are going with that. And… to include Family Island people, and how they come along with us – to ensure that they are made prevalent, and able to access the same services as the persons in New Providence.”
“DTU falls under the Ministry of Economic Affairs,” he added, “but they are partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources and also all other ministries. This here today tied into what I was trying to complete before I left [the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources]. Also, to supplement the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs, so during the next few months you will see a lot more services launched. The DTU was in Governor’s Harbour a few months ago, when we launched the HelpDesk, which is a patnership between the two ministries to assist persons on synchronizing with online services.”
Tammy Smith, the Monitoring and Evaluation specialist within the Digital Transformation Unit [DTU], as they wrapped up the training session on Saturday, described the DTU as an execution unit within the Ministry of Economic affairs operating under a 30 million dollar InterAmerican Bank loan.
Commenting on why the unit had targeted Spanish Wells in particular, she explained, “We had 14 services launched online with the Department of Marine Resources, and apparently we have 35% of the applicants who utilize, particularly the compressor permits and commercial business licenses, from Spanish Wells. We used this an an opportunity to upskill those persons, and also as a sign-up campaign, with outreach in the community to onboard more persons to the MyGateway platform.”
Mrs. Smith continued, “Yesterday (Friday) our session started at 9:30 am, and we had a lot of the persons from the fishing sector that participated… We showed them how to sign up, and how to utilize each of the 14 services. There were some insightful suggestions for how we may be able to improve, and also possibilities for future advancements as well.”
Administrator Wilson commenting on the DTU’s visit, said, “The few days that the team were here, I know that it was an informative event and exercise for those persons [who took part]. It’s something new, and as we know, the world is evolving, and it is very important that we catch up with the changing times.”
The fourteen fishing industry services now available via MyGateway, include:
* Application for Commercial Fishing Permit – New and Renewal
* Application for Compressor Permit – New and Renewal
* Application for Crawfish Trapping Permit – New and Renewal
* Application for Flats Fishing Guide Licence – New and Renewal
* Application for Trap Stone Crab Permit – New and Renewal
* Commercial Fishing Duty-Free Permit Equipment
* Commercial Fishing Duty-Free Permit Vessels
* Bonefishing Duty-Free
* Fish Farming Duty-Free
