There was a time, not very long ago, when I would look upon the service delivery of the public sector as the prime example of lethargy, snail’s pace and encumbering, unnecessary bureaucracy. The frustration of long lines at counters, cashiers on lunch or reaching late and closing early, along with the prospect of taking a whole day to travel to Port of Spain to conduct public business, was something citizens, young and old, had to begrudgingly endure.

The business sector would blast this system and rightfully criticise it for complicating the ease of doing business and holding back productivity.

However, having navigated a number of Government services which are now digitised, I can say that I am astonished by the level of ease and efficiency by which I can now conduct Government business. The system and service delivery have improved tremendously.

In recent times I, like many citizens, have had cause to conduct regular public business such as request certificates digitally, request and receive Government documents, file taxes and even utilise the Companies Registry. I must say I am completely blown away at the simplicity of the process, as well as the pace with which these services work.

Within a matter of days, I can request a document like a birth or marriage certificate online and it’s ready for easy collection. Using the Companies Registry Online System (CROS), name search, reservation, application and payments are all done online, in the comfort of my own home.

I remember the days of lining up at South Quay and multiple visits over a period of weeks to the Companies Registry office, in the blistering heat, just to get this done. Taxes are filed and submitted online, and even through TTBizLink, I see opportunities to apply for a number of Government services such as import licences and Customs services.

Compare this to my attempts to open a bank account. I received an appointment over a month away. I must then go in person and bring with me a stack of papers and original documents.

I must then provide all of the information required and still wait hours to be processed by the gruelling, slow-moving gears of financial sector bureaucracy.

Further, if one of the requirements is out of place, then I have to make another appointment and return again, in the blistering heat, for another round of frustration.

Other private sector entities have similarly fallen behind due to their failure to embrace technology and improve inefficiencies.

It seems to me that the tables have turned where many private sector entities have become lethargic and bureaucratic, which are frustrating citizens and complicating the ease of doing business in Trinidad and Tobago, while the public sector has become a benchmark of efficiency.

Though we have many private sector enterprises which embrace the transition to digitisation, many are lagging behind.

If we are to generate continued economic growth, ease of doing business is a critical area we must focus on. The Government has done its part and has to be congratulated, but in doing so, it has exposed the deficiencies in the private sector.

Many aspects of private sector services must catch up with the times and play their part in improving the efficiencies in our country. They need only look at the new systems in place in the public sector to take a page and ease the burdens of citizens.

Vyash Nandlal
Couva