The New Bahamas: Technological proficiency

Mon, Nov 4th 2013, 09:33 AM

"We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology."- Carl Sagan
Any 21st century leader knows that competency in science and technology is crucial to effectively manage a nation. The Bahamas, while independent and sovereign, is a part of a global community and daily that community becomes smaller and smaller as a result of the inter-related processes designed to make our lives easier.
As we continue the quest for technological advances in our government ministries and corporations, we must realize that this state of readiness means more than paying utility bills online and accessing Bahamian law on one's computer, tablet or smartphone. It's replacing outdated vestiges of our colonial past and using systems which make our society do things quickly and efficiently. Tech savvy in the new Bahamas means government services and assistance online; accessible computerized education for all; medical and healthcare innovations on virtual platforms; expanded opportunities in financial services. This is all possible when we, in the new Bahamas, deploy the best technology tailored to work in tandem with our specific demands as a small island nation.
A high-tech Bahamas means all citizens being the beneficiaries of systems put in place by an effective government which utilizes its resources in a sound, smart and prudent fashion. The new Bahamas cannot function with antiquated, semi-functioning government ministries and corporations that seem afraid or, in large measure, cash-strapped to embrace technology.
Stagnant government agencies can be greatly enhanced through the use of technology. You will hear no rebuttal from any citizen who has had to endure the sometime less-than-stellar approach to customer service at various ministries and corporations. The latest scientific know-how and automation of some services will result in improved efficiency in governmental agencies. With the utmost regard for the human element, and not seeking to place anyone on the unemployment line, we must have a dialogue about technology and its ability to alleviate the problems of our bloated, challenged civil service. Seconding and shuffling human capital are no longer solutions in the new Bahamas. We must have a monumental shift in our collective thinking.
I know we are ready because Bahamians are a resilient people. The recent, depressing, unemployment statistical report further highlights the need for a competent leader to identify and define employment opportunities that will be created by embracing technology. Venturing way beyond the tourism track, we can bring the world to us. Why can't we become the Silicone Valley of the Caribbean or a Singapore of the region? Our people can be trained/retrained for careers in technology-driven businesses. As an added bonus, we can exact a rapid turnaround as we don't have the challenges of industrialized nations - i.e., having to re-tool factories or refit machinery.
After years of merely studying the challenges, I affirm my goal of acting on the decades of dialogue with the promise of remedying the problem.
A revamped civil service, equipped with the right technology to get the job done, means applying for services and licenses online, speeding up the time applications are processed and granted. Technological advancements equate to less hassle and inconvenience. Accessing some government buildings, especially in the downtown area, can be vexing and a colossal waste of time - add that to wading through mounds of paperwork which may not have been archived properly. Orderly, effective governance in the new Bahamas is when all facets of society are able to access government services in cyberspace. The days of carbon paper, rulers and long lines must cease.
I stand proudly on the record of fantastic strides made at the Ministry of Health during my tenure as minister. Far beyond applying robotics in surgical procedures, my approach to tele-medicine started innovations within the healthcare system, helping to manage the network of medical facilities spread across these 100,000 square miles of water. We've merely scratched the surface, as tele-medicine has endless possibilities in the new Bahamas.
After 40 years of independence, we have yet to fully dust off the colonial shackles and trek toward the 21st century Bahamas.
In our vital field of education, it's almost laughable, if not ironic, that our greatest expenditure - the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, has not seen substantial pace, nor risen to the occasion to embrace science and technology. In the new Bahamas, marrying the two will mean more than a few white boards and computers. Additional teacher training will be necessary to better equip teachers with the skills to use the new and emerging technologies as teaching tools. It means equipping each and every classroom from pre-kindergarten to college with the necessary technology to produce students ready to handle a 21st century world. It means making distance learning accessible through the use of technology and media. An improved Bahamas Learning Channel must provide all the benefits of education available to students in the capital, in a cost-effective way. The days of transporting teachers from other countries, worrying about burdensome salaries, exorbitant room and board costs is so yesterday.
Using science and technology in education mean that the student in New Bight, Cat Island or United Estates, San Salvador can access the same expertise available to New Providence boys and girls with a mere click of a mouse, a tap on a tablet or a swipe on a smartphone.
Online education must be a reality in the new Bahamas. Imagine attending The College of The Bahamas in a virtual environment. Imagine bringing tertiary education to the masses by making it more affordable and accessible. Picture a National Online Tutoring Program, partnering our retired educators with techie teens, bringing about improvements in our national grade point average. Under my leadership, we shall embrace technological advancements and not be afraid of the unknown.
Additionally, the new Bahamas must be a place where we positively capitalize on our worldwide presence in the financial community. By placing our investments and financial services on a more technologically proficient level, greater numbers of Bahamian professionals can participate in the global financial arena. Legislation to make all these possibilities a reality can only happen with a leader at the helm who's committed to do the job and not just talk about it.
New generation Bahamas functions best when its institutions and citizens welcome new ideas, novel strategies and cutting-edge methodology with open arms. I again pledge my commitment to leading this pivotal charge for much-needed change.
o Dr. Hubert Minnis is the leader of the Free National Movement and the official opposition.

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