HoA Members discuss e-Government Bills with regional body
The consultations commenced on January 6, 2020 and come on the heels of the first reading of the e-Government Bills introduced by the Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) on December 17, 2019.
The Bills include: Data Protection Bill 2019, Electronic Filing Bill 2019, Electronic Funds Transfer Bill 2019, Electronic Transactions Bill 2019, and Archives and Records Management Act, 2010.
HoA Members meet with CTU
On Friday, January 10, 2020, Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) met with officials of the CTU to discuss the e-Government suite of legislation.
Premier Fahie said it was important for the Government to meet with CTU to review these longstanding pieces of legislation as they will support the comprehensive digital transformation of the Public Service and improve e-payments for customers.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Speaker and Territorial At-Large Member, Hon Neville A. Smith as the Speaker of the HoA, Hon Julian Willock, was overseas in Ottawa, Canada, attending the 25th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth.
Gov’t ‘pressing ahead’
Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mr Kedrick E. Malone stated that the suite of legislation, once passed in the House of Assembly and assented to, will enable policy, legal and regulatory environment and promote Information Communications and Technology (ICT) and ICT enabled activities.
Mr Malone said, “Government is pressing ahead with its overall digital transformation agenda which includes e-Government services and so it is imperative that the legislation referred to above is enacted as soon as practicable,” according to a press release from the Department of Information and Public Relations on January 7, 2020.
The suite of Bills is also considered the minimum legislation necessary to adequately govern a digital environment within the Territory, including the provision for e-Government services.
Public input
The consultations with all relevant stakeholder groups will be both internal and external to Government and includes members of the House of Assembly, Government officials and the private sector.
“Persons who are interested in making a contribution to the discussion can also forward their input to the Premier’s Office by January 15 ahead of the bills returning to the House of Assembly for their final readings. More information on the communication channel recommended will be forthcoming,” the press release stated.
The e-Government suite of legislation is said to be important to many of the deliverables outlined in the 2020 budget and the Territory in the long term.
“This suite of legislation will be supported by a strong National Information and Communications Technology policy, strategy and action plan that would support the fast track of the Territory’s recovery, development and growth, and revolutionise the delivery of Government services.”
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4 Responses to “HoA Members discuss e-Government Bills with regional body”
Then before he we had the lady QC another joke, look lawyers in the bvi need to stay far far far from bvi politics
Please read over the article as well as it states at the outset that this meeting is one in a series of stakeholders meetings. Further in the article it states that "The consultations with all relevant stakeholder groups will be both internal and external to Government and includes members of the House of Assembly, Government officials and the private sector". The technocrats (Government officials) will have their input.