Bermuda Marks Successful Completion of First 100-Day Government Accelerator Programme in Collaboration with the UAE
The Government of Bermuda is celebrating a significant milestone with the successful completion of its inaugural 100-Day Government Accelerator Programme. This initiative aims to modernize public services and enhance user-friendliness, thereby improving the experience for all residents and stakeholders engaged with government processes.
Unveiled in April, the programme was launched in partnership with the Government of the United Arab Emirates through the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs’ Government Experience Exchange Programme. This collaborative effort seeks to establish a global benchmark for enhancing government administration by facilitating knowledge transfer and innovation across borders. The Bermuda Government’s commitment to improving public sector efficiency is underscored by this strategic collaboration.
Premier David Burt, alongside Acting Minister of Digital Innovation Michael Weeks and several public servants, has expressed gratitude for the program’s impact on Bermuda’s governance. “Bermuda’s participation is a direct result of our strategic outreach and engagement with the UAE and the broader Gulf region,” noted a government spokesperson. They further elaborated that the UAE government fully sponsored the initiative, providing essential resources, curriculum, and technical guidance at no cost to Bermuda.
The Accelerator Programme embodies a vital commitment to international collaboration and underscores a shared vision between Bermuda and the UAE to enhance public sector innovation, streamline service delivery, and bolster workforce competencies. The inaugural cohort of the Accelerator Programme focused on three primary challenges aimed at revitalizing and modernizing government processes:
1. The redesign of Bermuda’s government website, gov.bm, to improve navigation and accessibility.
2. The creation of a unified digital profile for individuals interacting with government services.
3. The synchronization of staff information across internal IT platforms to ensure better efficiency and information reliability.
Public officers participated actively in project teams, engaging stakeholders through consultation sessions to gather invaluable feedback from those directly impacted by these services. Such collaborative efforts have facilitated substantial advancements within the 100 days since the programme’s commencement.
One of the most notable achievements has been the development of a prototype for a new government website that is not only designed to be user-friendly but also incorporates a robust content management system ensuring that information remains consistent and up-to-date. This new prototype is expected to enhance accessibility for individuals with visual impairments, in consultation with Vision Bermuda, while also offering a search tool that makes finding information significantly quicker. After undergoing final testing, the upgraded website is projected to launch in Spring 2026.
In addition to the website redesign, another pivotal project aimed at digital transformation involves linking existing government systems to improve data cohesion. This initiative, which concentrates on connecting staff information, aims to minimize redundancy, reduce errors, and bolster operational efficiency, ultimately aiding staff in being better connected within the governmental framework.
Furthermore, the eProfile project has made strides by producing a proof of concept for a unique identifier that would enable residents to maintain a single profile for their interactions with the government. This initiative aims to expedite processes and improve overall service delivery.
Premier David Burt lauded the results of this collaboration, emphasizing the significance of international partnerships. “This initiative illustrates the importance of strategic outreach for Bermuda’s ongoing development. Partnerships like those established with the UAE strengthen our diplomatic and economic ties, allowing us to innovate and secure better outcomes for our public services,” he stated.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange in the UAE, expressed that the partnership illustrates a unified ambition to enhance government performance and future readiness. He noted Bermuda’s adaptation of the accelerator concept, originally devised in the UAE, to suit its local context as remarkable.
Deputy Head of the Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Attride-Stirling, emphasized the transformative impact of this program, stating, “This initiative is changing the way we work. By fostering collaboration across departments and actively listening to our public, we are discovering innovative methods to deliver services that are practical, efficient, and focused on citizen needs.”
Looking ahead, the spokesperson indicated that the Government intends to integrate the lessons learned from this first cohort into future initiatives as part of the Public Service Strategic Plan for 2024-2027. This commitment highlights Bermuda’s relentless dedication to driving innovation within the public sector.
In a landscape where modern governance relies heavily on digital solutions and streamlined processes, Bermuda’s proactive approach serves as an exemplary model for nations seeking to improve their public administration and citizen engagement.
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