However, Financial Services and Investments Minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson rebuffed criticisms, indicating that the reality of e-commerce becoming a third pillar of the economy will not happen overnight.
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FNM Senator Desmond Bannister told The Bahama Journal on Wednesday that since the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill was passed in 2003, the government has done virtually nothing to move e-commerce forward.
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ﾓUnfortunately, there is nothing to show that the government has taken e-commerce seriouslyﾅe-commerce has great potential and there are many young Bahamian professionals who are seeking to establish careers in this area,ﾔ Senator Bannister said.
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ﾓThere was a big parliamentary meeting to introduce it and quite frankly, since the legislation was passed and all that fanfare, I canﾒt think of a single thing to make this happen,ﾔ he stressed.
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Senator Bannister said if the government were serious about e-commerce, it would have first prepared government departments to adapt to the evolving technology.
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ﾓQuite frankly, itﾒs not happening in the public sector in our country. Government has shown no initiative to make it a reality, even in government departments, to show this country how to move ahead with e-commerce,ﾔ he claimed.
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Minister Maynard-Gibson expressed disappointment in the FNM, accusing it of being ﾓextraordinarily mischievousﾔ in its statements on e-commerce.
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ﾓItﾒs not something you would see happen in five years, but perhaps in 20 years or 30 years we would definitely see it attracting the significance that it deserves.ﾠ So we shouldnﾒt look for results overnight, but continue to build,ﾔ she said.
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Minister Maynard-Gibson pointed out that the government is preparing its departments to transact business via the Internet with the Registrar Generalﾒs Department paving the way.ﾠ
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ﾓEventually there will be the ability to conduct deeds and documents over the Internet, searches about marriagesﾅsimilarly, it is possible to transact business with just about every government business over the Internet,ﾔ she said.
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ﾓAnyone could book tickets over the Internet, find out about The Bahamas over the Internet (and) incorporate companies. This is new, brought about by this administration.ﾔ
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Additionally, Minister Maynard-Gibson admitted that the biggest challenge for the government is effectively promoting that The Bahamas does have e-commerce legislation that is cutting edge.ﾠ
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She said another challenge is to ensure that young people understand the intricacies of the computer in this technologically savvy environment.
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Minister Maynard-Gibson added that e-commerce would significantly expand the economic base of the private sector.
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Senator Bannister, on the other hand, pointed out that with the tremendous potential for e-commerce, there has to be a commitment by the government to making it work if it is to significantly contribute to the economy.ﾠ
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ﾓThere has to be a very serious commitment by government to utilizing the resources to ensure that we operate along the lines that we envision for an e-commerce society,ﾔ he said. ﾓThe problem is, thereﾒs no plan, no vision and you know what happens when there is no vision.ﾠ Weﾒre going to all perish.ﾔ
Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
