— hopes to boost efficiency of municipalityThe Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) is poised to lead the way into an era of information technology in the municipal arena. At least, that was the declaration on Thursday, when the municipality launched its Information Communication Strategy (ICT) for 2009-2012 at the municipal Concert Hall.The ICT strategy, according to acting Town Clerk Yonette Pluck-Cort, is set to be developed over a three-year period under the title ‘Plan IT’.A section of the gathering at the launch yesterday.According to the acting Town Clerk,Boston Bruins Gear, it is expected that the strategy will increase efficiency within the various departments, thus serving the citizens of Georgetown.She said that the venture was adopted from Central Government, and will see the municipality collaborating with Government and other bodies in this regard.“Over the past year, we have been in discussion with an India-based company, and we hope that we will be able to develop software which will be web-based, so citizens will not need to come to the source for information, but will be able to access information via the web.” luck-Cort said that the municipality is seeking to develop a financial package which could be shared with the other municipalities of Guyana, even as she noted that the M&CC is renowned for setting the trend for other local municipalities.“We hope that with the development of this system, we will be able to work and share information easier with not only the citizens, but we will be able to report more easily to the Government.”One of the main benefits of putting the strategy in place is that it is expected to present more reliable information, thus offering satisfaction to those who access the service.The municipality currently has an information technology department which, according to head of the division, Waynewright Orderson, was established in 2003 to provide centralised information technology to users working in seven departments and 22 sections located in several municipal buildings scattered around the city.He said that, at the moment and with the attempt to have the strategy take its course, efforts are being made to enhance the municipality’s website www.georgetowncity.org.Orderson said that the website is intended to be a tool for residents,Cheap Air Jordan Shoes, employees,Air Max 98 Gundam Price, business owners and visitors of the City of Georgetown.“The intention is to utilise it to provide easy access to municipal resources and information, as well as to give the ability to transact business remotely through services such as the plan new online payment option, and for the ability to submit forms for various departmental business.”Once fully implemented, Orderson said, the strategy will allow even overseas-based citizens to check their property account information,Discount Nike Air Force One Shoes, and be able to make payments using credit or debit card systems online.Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, who chaired the launch on Thursday, said that the City of Georgetown deserves to be at the same level of other capitals in the world,Undefeated Air Max 97 For Sale, even as he noted that what occurs in the developed world should be of importance and guidance to the municipality.“It allows us,Cheap NHL Jerseys, through examination of best practices in other cities, to improve Georgetown. The issue of development is important to us precisely because I have been advised that there will be no more Georgetown in another 30 years. So it will be absurd of us to manage the city in the old-fashioned way.”Williams said that the municipality has recognised the importance of information technology and improving linkages with the rest of the world in finding right and good solutions for the problems ahead.City Mayor Hamilton Green regarded the strategy as a bold initiative, even as he expressed optimism that Central Government would give appropriate support to the municipality.The launching saw the attendance of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who lauded the initiative; Members of Parliament, members of the business community, and staffers of the municipality, among other interested members of the society. |
