The government has contracted IBM to implement an automated electronic service that will allow consumers to access information from the registry department from any part of the world.
Minister of Financial Services and Investments, Allyson Maynard Gibson, announced in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that the government was hoping to have the system available to all registered agents on Feb. 24, but more time will be needed to carry out testing.
“There is no specific hardware that you need to have. All you do is contact the registry, be a registered agent, sign a contract, get a pin number and have… access to the Internet. This is only the first phase and within 24 months, we expect the entire department to be available over the Internet, as we show our commitment to e-government,” she said
Minister Maynard-Gibson said that in addition to widely training workers on how to use the Agent Internet Module, a test group was established to determine whether the service would need “tweaking” and to ensure it will operate smoothly when launched.
She said that four years ago, IBM presented a proposal to the FNM government for the automation of the companies registry, including business names, but nothing was done. She said that in January, 2000, cabinet approved $400,000 for what was called an “automation project,” but the registrar general confirmed that nothing was done.
“In September, 2001, IBM presented a proposal for the automation of the civil registry, but nothing was done about this. The only step toward automation was the implementation of a AS-400 system that allowed the registry to automate name registration and some accounting,” she said.
Minister Maynard-Gibson said that under the proposal that was implemented under the FNM, there was the ability for only a select group of individuals to dial into the registrar general’s department and reserve business names.
It was last October that IBM presented a proposal for a companies registry upgrade, with emphasis on an electronic Agent Internet Module. Last December, the framework was in place to allow this.
The Agent Internet Module allows for a paperless procedure for the incorporation of companies, comprehensive name-editing, registry approval for rapid filing, payment by credit, the issuance of an electronic receipt and payment history all available for review over the Internet.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
