GovTech Barbados is rolling out a series of citizen-focused digital services, aimed at improving access to public services and reducing frustrations experienced by Barbadians when accessing Government agencies.
The state entity, which was established in 2023, has already introduced several online tools, including a pension entitlement calculator which tells individuals how much their pension should be, a severance entitlement which lets those who have been let go from a job understand what their severance should be, as well as 20 youth-targeted programmes and services available for young people primarily from the Division of Youth Affairs.
Additionally, there is also a service which allows people who are throwing Crop Over and other events to be aware of permits required.
Speaking at a media breakfast at Café de Paris in Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown, St James, last Thursday, chief executive officer of GovTech Barbados, Mark Boyce, said the focus was on improving the delivery of Government services.
He said GovTech first carried out a series of research initiatives through surveys – in-person and street interviews – to better understand what Government services citizens used, the challenges they faced and what improvements they would like to see.
Boyce said many complained about not being able to complete online services, uncertainty about required documents and having to make multiple trips to Government departments.
“People want to be able to go to a single location, either online or in person. They don’t want to have to go to multiple, different parts of the Government to carry out a single service and many other user needs,” he explained.
Citizens also complained about delays in receiving updates on applications submitted to Government departments.
Based on the research findings, GovTech identified several key areas it was tackling this year, including licensing, tax, health care, business, community welfare and youth, immigration and safety.
Boyce said the organisation has been hosting co-design workshops involving ministries, departments and agencies to focus on the particular thematic areas and particular user needs, and meeting with the relevant departments across Government to determine the issues and formulate solutions to those problems.
“This is not a talking shop. It is a way of rapidly building out solutions that work,” he said.
He noted that prototypes were tested with the public and refined based on their feedback before being officially launched.
GovTech Barbados also has a website, Alpha.gov.bb, which will give direct access to Government services. Twelve of those services are live on the website and another 80 have been built and are waiting on approval from various departments with plans to roll out more than 100 this year, Boyce pointed out.
He said additional digital services are expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks as the organisation continues working with ministries and departments to improve service delivery and advance its 2026 road map.
