Article: A Cashless Society and E-Governance
Jamell Robinson
A Cashless Society and E-Governance
In every crisis, there is an opportunity. With social distancing and self-isolation via 24-hour curfew being the order of the day, imagine with me for a minute a Turks and Caicos Islands where cash is not needed and a majority of Government processes can be conducted online. TCIG, statutory bodies, and companies are being forced to figure out ways to collect money remotely or to encourage customers to use long available online platforms. In the days and weeks ahead, if done right this can become the new norm once we come out on the other side of this pandemic.
The NIB has temporarily moved to collecting payments via direct bank deposits online with email contribution confirmation. NHIB has always had an online contribution payment process. Digicel, Fortis, Flow and other companies allow you to pay via their app or via online banking. Imagine being able to renew your Business License or Driver’s License by simply filling out a form online and uploading the relevant supporting documents, making payment, then receiving in the mail the original document or being notified when the document is ready for pick up. The form now being used for stimulus package grants is a simple template that can be modified and used across ministries. The benefits of convenience for the customer and time maximization are immeasurably!
To make this even more feasible, wireless internet should be offered free of charge across the country to all citizens and residents. The bandwidth used should allow everyone to check their email, conduct online business, and participate in online learning. Anything beyond those basis functions such as streaming Netflix, using YouTube, or any data intensive application can be paid for through an internet service provider. TCIG can either build the system themselves or it can subsidize an existing internet service provider to provide country wide service. The latter can be done as a part of the telephone service contract that is provided annually.
If Estonia can do it, so can we!
Stay blessed and safe TCI,
Jamell Robinson, PNP At Large Candidate
