As part of efforts to make Guyana a more competitive place with improved services for citizens, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday once again highlighted major plans his government is pursuing to usher in a ‘Digital Guyana.’
The President outlined his vision for a digital transformation in Guyana as part of his wide-ranging special address to the 12th Parliament on Thursday.
And in fact, Dr. Ali said the vision for this Digital Guyana is intertwined with the government’s overall development plans.
“We’ve already started the important foundational work in creating a digital economy,” Dr. Ali told the scores of persons gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.
What does that work look like?
Well, the President reminded people that the government is streamlining airport processes and enhancing healthcare systems through digitalisation investments.
One of the specific projects currently being advanced is the implementation of a paperless system at Guyana’s airports. This upgrade will allow for pre-screening of passengers and the use of automated gates, where travelers can simply swipe their identification documents for expedited entry.
The rollout of new biometric ID cards is also progressing as well. These cards will be mandatory for all citizens and residents, featuring state-of-the-art security features to prevent identity theft.
Outside of that, the President said the public service will be targeted in a major way.
“We are transforming our public service by digitalising processes, improving accessibility, transparency and efficiency for all citizens,” the Guyanese Head of State said.
He added that a ‘National Support Service’ platform will be launched soon, as an internal mechanism to improve the level of service provided through the public service. This platform, Dr. Ali explained, will monitor service delivery and help to hold people accountable.
President Ali also said, “We want to lead efforts in the delivery of effective, secure government services across every sector and to mitigate the risks of being left behind.”
In the realm of education, the first-ever digital school is being established.
This school will cover nursery education all the way to Grade 12. Tutors will be part of the venture to support teaching Guyana’s curriculum but learning will rely heavily on artificial intelligence (AI).
Dr. Ali, however, noted that there will also be a focus on nursing, accounting, entrepreneurship and remedial education in the evenings. Various extracurricular activities will also be done via the online platform.
In the technology space, President Ali also said Guyana is leading the implementation of 5G across the region and that the government continues to build much-needed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, like ICT hubs, across the country.
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