Caribbean Times 90th issue - Friday 15th April 2016

8 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Friday 15th April 2016
Ministry of Information extends
eGovernment Platform to Barbuda
The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting,
Telecommunications and Information
Technology has taken a bold
decision to extend the Governments
eGovernment Platform to Barbuda.
During the week of April 6 & 7,
2016 a team from the Ministry and the
Treasury journeyed to Barbuda to conduct
an evaluation.
The team comprising Mr. Terry
Ephraim from the Ministry of Information,
Dr. Cleopatra Gittens (Treasury),
Mr. Orland Clarke (Treasury),
and Consultant Mr. Danley Philip
held talks with the Principal Assistant
Secretary of the Barbuda Council Mr.
Dwight Benjamin, Chairman of the
Barbuda Council Mr. David Shaw and
Council Secretary Ms. Ann Beazer.
The Ministry is now in receipt of
recommendations to which the Minster
Honourable Melford Nicholas has already
granted consent.
At the end of the process the staff
at the Barbuda Council and Barbuda
Government Treasury will have a total
of 23 computer systems along with five
printers, training, and a networking
system that is integrated with the Treasury
in Antigua.
Both departments will have their
own internal financial management
system which would lead to better
accountability between the Barbuda
Council, the Barbuda (Government)
Treasury and the Central Government.
It is anticipated that the process will
take another six weeks to be completed.
cont’d from pg 7
ernment’s offer to commit
to building the embassy is
further proof of the extent
of the deep friendship and
long term commitment between
our countries”, Minister
Fernandez said.
In response, a grateful
and humble Chinese Ambassador,
Ren Gongping,
described the gesture by the
government under the leadership
of Prime Minister,
the Hon. Gaston Browne, as
a diplomatic one.
He thanked the government
for the land, which he
said will be utilized to build
a permanent office and other
amenities, to cement China’s
diplomatic presence in
the twin island state
Prime Minister, the Hon.
Gaston Browne, explained
that the government’s relationship
with China is arguably
one of the best diplomatic
ties that the country
has had for approximately
33 years.
He indicated that
the government is “very
pleased” to be on the giving
end for the first time.
“We are now at the giving
end and we do so with
pride and pleasure knowing
that even though it may
seem like a small token, it is
significant from the standpoint
that China can now
boast that it owns a piece of
the rock here in Antigua and
Barbuda”.
Prime Minister Browne
added that the government
is seeking to construct a
“marquis embassy”, which
will stand out among other
buildings in the Caribbean.
He encouraged the Chinese
to be creative with
their architecture, since the
country has a diversity of
cultures.
He added that is looking
forward to the “masterpiece”
that will be constructed
The agreement was
signed by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the Hon.
Charles Max Fernandez and
the Director General within
the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of China, Soon Ling
Zhang.