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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 16, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – In her presentation on The Appropriation (2022) Bill, 2021, Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, said the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is forging ahead with its objective of pursuing a digital economy and introducing new, innovative technologies that will help to ensure that the twin island Federation continues to play a leading role in the Caribbean and globally.

The Minister indicated that over the past year, the Department of Technology undertook several key initiatives that will lay the foundation for the digital transformation of the Government. 

“We are aware that I.T. is considered one of the pillars for our recovery here in St. Kitts and Nevis and we understand the importance of this digital transformation for us to not only recover but to also move forward and upward as a country,” the ICT Minister said in the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 15. 

Minister Byron-Nisbett said the digital transformation would boost the economy and make St. Kitts and Nevis a leader in the delivery of digital services.

“It is about providing our people with better service and better ways to access their Government’s services. One of the key areas identified as part of the overall transformation journey is the enabling of our digital government. As part of this process, the Government engaged the consulting firm of Deloitte and Touche to assist with defining a whole of government technology strategy, as well as a cyber security strategy framework. Both must go hand in hand,” the Minister said. 

The ICT Minister said the key focus in 2022 will be on establishing the appropriate governance structures to drive the people, process and technology initiatives in support of digital transformation, establishing a digital culture, defining digital service standards and defining and initiating the digitization process.   

“Activities that will enable digital government will be assigned high priority for implementation. These activities will include strengthening cybersecurity in Government, enhancing the connectivity and network infrastructure, the continued buildout of digital platforms to support e-service delivery, collaboration and data and information sharing. The Department will also work with the Legal Department to review, update and create legislation to enable digital transformation initiatives,” said Minister Byron-Nisbett.

As it relates to digital platforms, Minister Byron-Nisbett said the Department of Technology will continue to provide support to ministries and departments across the Government to digitize their services and offer services online, and at the same time “the Department will continue to provide digital training to public servants to assist with building digital capacity and re-skilling.”