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Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) “in a
real sense”
Better ICT Governance Practices in
Government
Harmonize ICT Legislation Under the
Appropriate Agency
•
Programming & web design
•
Data Analysis and Database management
•
Accounting
•
Legal advisory services
•
Other administrative support services
•
Using ICT in administration of the education system
•
Making health records digital
•
Equipping schools with management information
systems for teacher registration, examination records,
and day to day school administration
•
Enabling Government to process electronic payments
and accept electronic signatures for certain transactions
•
facilitate electronic transactions (this means less
reliance on cash and in-person payments, including
payments to Government, and can reduce the overhead
of dealing with paper documents for accessing a host of
Government services)
•
promote the development of the legal and business
infrastructure to implement secure electronic commerce
(this opens up the world to our local merchants, who will
be able to sell safely online)
•
eliminate barriers to electronic commerce (e-commerce)
resulting from uncertainties over writing and signature
requirements
•
establish uniformity of legal rules and standards
regarding the authentication and integrity of electronic
documents
•
facilitate electronic filing of information with Government
agencies and statutory bodies and to promote efficient
delivery of Government services by means of reliable
electronic documents.
To date, business process outsourcing has been nothing more
than a code for “call centre jobs”. While these are good options
for entry-level employment, they do not create a secure future
for our people, nor do they create opportunities to harness the
students and experienced workers from all sectors who have skills
to contribute in:
ICT governance does not just mean oversight of the IT
networks and tools; it means transforming how we fulfil the role
of government by making better use of the IT networks and
information and communications tools available. We will place
specific emphasis first in some key areas we believe can make an
immediate difference in people’s lives:
The purpose of the Electronic Transactions Act was to do the
following:
With the support of the ICT Regulator, the existing BPO
business development channels will go further afield to source
job opportunities, and develop a useful, up to date database of
local persons willing to take jobs in outsourced service provision.
Jamaicans have had to leave home for too long to find these
overseas opportunities: it’s time for our country to compete with
the best by keeping our people right here in the comfort of our own
communities and provide these services to the world.
It is clear that with the wide-ranging implications and the close
connection to the technologies which must be employed and
overseen, that it is inappropriate to manage this Act through the
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.
The JLP Government will bring the Electronic Transactions Act
back under the Technology portfolio. This Act and others must
be reviewed and strengthened in light of new technologies and
international best practices.