Bitt to partner with Estonian e-gov firm

Barbados-based financial technology company, Bitt, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Estonia’s e-Governance Academy (eGA).

In a release Tuesday, Bitt said the MoU will facilitate closer collaboration between both parties, with the ultimate goal being greater accessibility and efficiency in the public’s everyday interaction respective governments across the Caribbean.

Government that modernise their processes to more digital formats can reduce expenditure for state institutions and its patrons, while improving overall efficiency and product and service delivery, Bitt said.

The eGA, which specializes in global e-governance and cybersecurity, already works with the governments of Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Haiti and Guyana to digitally transform various divisions of their respective public sectors.

Bitt’s Chief Economist, Marla Dukharan, said the three-year MoU means that people without access to traditional banking services in the region can now use Bitt’s platforms to access e-government services, which would usually require traditional bank accounts.

“Bitt’s mobile payments app could securely and cost-effectively provide the ‘unbanked’ with the financial access to these e-government platforms and provide the ‘banked’ population with a cost-effective alternative to credit cards, et cetera, to pay on these platforms.

“Imagine being able to renew your driver’s permit, your passport, or access any other government service, by using an app on your smartphone - no lining up, no time wasted.

eGA’s executive director, Arvo Ott, said the organisation is aware of challenges in the Caribbean and developing countries, and pleased to provide an alternative.

Some other features of e-governance include secure digital archives of health and police records, land registry and electoral processes.