Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

E-government drive could help end delays in stats provision - Premier

According to Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith, work currently being done towards improving the Administration’s e-government drive is expected to increase the frequency of useful statistics such as those provided for tourism through the Development Planning Unit (DPU). Photo: VINO/File
Dr Smith said e-government has already begun and noted that results were already beings seen but added that it takes time to get all the various departments engaged and have all the necessary forms. Photo: VINO
Dr Smith said e-government has already begun and noted that results were already beings seen but added that it takes time to get all the various departments engaged and have all the necessary forms. Photo: VINO
Last month, BVI Tourist Board Director, Mrs Sharon Flax-Mars told this news site that tourist arrival numbers for the second quarter of the year (April-June) were still being awaited from the DPU and said these were being chased. Photo: VINO/File
Last month, BVI Tourist Board Director, Mrs Sharon Flax-Mars told this news site that tourist arrival numbers for the second quarter of the year (April-June) were still being awaited from the DPU and said these were being chased. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Smith, who is also the Minister of Tourism, confessed the government was not in a position to have all the statistics needed but noted that these were being worked on. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Smith, who is also the Minister of Tourism, confessed the government was not in a position to have all the statistics needed but noted that these were being worked on. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Work currently being done towards improving the Administration’s e-government drive is expected to increase the frequency of useful statistics such as those provided for tourism through the Development Planning Unit (DPU).

This disclosure was made by Premier Dr the Hon. D. Orland Smith during a press conference with members of the media on September 18, 2013.

“Right now we are working on improving what we call the e-government and this a drive which will ensure that the statistics will be coming in more regularly and can be looked at more appropriately and be more useful,” Dr Smith disclosed.

Dr Smith, who is also the Minister of Tourism, confessed the government was not in a position to have all the statistics needed but noted that these were being worked on, “As far as the provision of statistics on tourism, it is true that in many areas we are not in a position to have all the statistics we need for all the functions we carry out but we are working very hard to improve that.”

“The e-government,” he related, “has already begun and we are already seeing results but it takes time to get all the various departments engaged and have all the necessary forms and what not, so it’s a continual process.”

Last month, BVI Tourist Board Director, Mrs Sharon Flax-Mars told this news site that tourist arrival numbers for the second quarter of the year (April-June) were still being awaited from the DPU and said these were being chased. “We haven’t gotten second quarter numbers from DPU yet, we’re chasing them for those numbers actually…” the Director stated.

She further noted that no indication could be given as to when the numbers would become available and offered that she is anxious to receive them since they are overdue.

5 Responses to “E-government drive could help end delays in stats provision - Premier”

  • David (24/09/2013, 16:07) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Certainly the modernization of government is long overdue and blame for that delinquency can be shared by both VIP and NDP. But included in this e-government push should also be high standards of transparency. Not only should government continually report what data it is collecting, but it should also reveal all the data publicly. That way the people can decide for themselves whether government is performing well. The people do not need to be spoon fed information. Just give them the raw numbers and they will make up their own minds.
  • Smile (24/09/2013, 16:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    E need to stop talking non-sense wone high skool chile can count the number of tourist arriving these days. plus what justification will you use when the results show more then 60 percent of the tourist are arriving via West End and you are spending all de tax payers dollars in the Heast hen of de island.

    Mmmmm....
  • NPolitico (24/09/2013, 21:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    True, leveraging technology can modernize government, enhance productivity, lower operating cost and improve customer service. Nonetheless, technology is being as a scape for the delay in collecting, processing and outputting basic statistical information. For example, there is no excuse why the census info is still a mystery. Further, lack of technology aside, there is no heavenly reason why there should not be an accurate count and other useful information of tourists arriving and departing each port of entry. Modernize yes but to stop the excuses for the less than stellar output and performance.
  • west end police officer (24/09/2013, 21:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    No body wants to hear from this man!
  • The Game (25/09/2013, 05:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @smile.....these figures as earlier stated will let us know what really is happening instead of someone having to tell you. they we will let u know where to spend you tax money and on what....always remember politricks is ONE BIG GAME!!


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.