By NEWSDAY REPORTER Wednesday, July 16 2008

PUBLIC Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh is promising easier access to government agencies via the internet from next year. Swaratsingh said these businesses include paying taxes online and also payment of bills via the internet from a person’s computer.

The Minister admitted that more problems are created when the public uses governmental systems. However, with the use of internet business will become a smooth process.

Swaratsingh made these promises during an e-Business roundtable annual review for 2007 to 2008 at Cara Suites, Claxton Bay yesterday.

“With more people there are more problems. Services need to be designed from end to end, we want to make connecting to government services a one stop area,” Swaratsingh said. Swaratsingh said this type of transaction takes a higher level of innovation from everyone.

“You do not have to go to the bank to do anything at all when transactions can be made at home. People should be able to go into WASA to change their billing address and have that change automatically made along all other public utility bills using the internet,” Swaratsingh said.

He lauded government e-business successes such as Internet access to information on over 400 government services and resources. Swaratsingh also said the public should look forward to additional services online next year such as registering births, marriages and passport appointments. Other online facilities would include online tax payments and applications for Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) numbers.

Swaratsingh said that in 2009 this government wants 100 per cent of ministries connected to a common, secure network. Seventy five percent of essential government services must be available online, he said.

In addition to these goals, 50 percent of homes with computers must have high-speed Internet connection he said. Schools and libraries with computers and high-speed internet must be 100 percent.

Of the TT population, 50 percent must be considered regular internet users. Swaratsingh said he wants 50 percent of businesses to be available online and those actively engaging in e-Business must be at least 25 percent.

In promoting the Ministry’s e-Business Policy Framework, Atiba Phillips, executive manager of e-Commerce said these internet based goals will make this country more united, resilient, innovative, productive and prosperous. Phillips called for TT to become a knowledge based society.

Phillips said this country needs government policies, broad band internet, electronic payment systems and security inscriptions to make e-Business internet transactions more trustworthy. This is to ensure that customers will be attracted to internet transactions and e-Business opportunities.