The Jamaican government plans to transform eGov Jamaica Limited into the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority to drive digital transformation and improve technology use across government entities. However, concerns have been raised about high attrition rates and the entity's difficulty in attracting highly skilled talent. Professor Gunjan Mansingh, chair of eGov Jamaica and Head, Department of Computing, The University of the West Indies,  Mona expressed disappointment with the slow progress and highlighted the challenge of retaining technical staff who are often lured by higher salaries in the private sector. Prime Minister Andrew Holness acknowledged the need to accelerate digital transformation and appointed a new Cabinet minister to oversee skills and transformation. The government is working on a national digital government strategy document and plans to launch the ICT Authority, potentially rebranded as Jamaica Digital Services. This institution will house various tools to facilitate digital transformation throughout the government.

Photo caption: Independent consultant and advisor Christopher Reckord (third left) holds the attention of (from left) Dr Warren Vernon programme director, National Identification System (NIDS); Professor Gunjan Mansingh, senior lecturer and department head at the University of the West Indies, Mona; and Diane Edwards, director of the Mona School of Business and Management at the UWI during a panel discussion on digital transformation. Occasion was Wednesday's Jamaica: The Road to Digital Government forum hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on how digital transformation can strengthen the public sector and the Government at the AC Kingston Hotel in St Andrew. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Follow the Faculty of Science and Technology on Instagram @uwimona_fst and on Facebook at @ The Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona. For enquiries, WhatsApp us at 1-876 552-4691, call us at 1-876-977-1785 or email us at fst@uwimona.edu.jm.