Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
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City Council goes digital to enhance revenue collection
Some of the members of the Polaris team
Digitisation of the Treasury Department of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) is being touted as one of the ways to improve its current state, which leaves much to be desired.
And according to Head of the Information Technology Department, Waynewright Orderson, plans to improve the department are likely to take shape as early as next month with the assistance of Polaris Software Lab Limited.
Orderson pointed out that while Polaris assistance will extend throughout the entire Municipality, the financial department is being targeted as a priority.
With the use of suitable computer software, it is anticipated that the crucial department will be revitalised thus allowing the entity to offer an optimum service, which will boost the financial aspect of the management of the city.
Technical officers from the India-based company, just over two weeks ago, commenced a programme of direct support to the Municipality, which will continue for another six weeks.
During the past weeks the software experts have been interviewing Heads of Department at the Municipality with the view of enlightening them of the plans.
According to Orderson, with the support from Polaris, the Municipality will be positioned to embrace a complete governance solution, which will cater to the integration of services offered.
And once the solution is seamless, the organisation will be able to offer a single multi-channel access to its services, Orderson said.
The Polaris officials yesterday met with City Mayor Hamilton Green to update him of the progress of the venture.
The next stage of the support plan will see the computer experts taking physical stock of the Municipality’s computer systems.
According to Polaris Assistant Vice President, Vikram Aligh, the Software Company has been in existence for more than 23 years.
He disclosed that the entity, which has global reach, has been associated with some of the world’s largest and most complex banking environments around the globe. “We have actually inculcated a very strong sense of appreciation for financial management technology… and we will lay out the technology road map that the city council will adopt…”
It was with this in mind that the Polaris team has been working with the various departments of the Municipality, a basis from which the Treasury Department was recognised as a priority department.
One of the main benefits of putting a proper information technology strategy in place is that it is expected to present more reliable information and satisfaction to those who access the service. This notion was highlighted earlier this year when the Municipality launched its plans to introduce an IT programme.
There is currently an Information Technology Department, which according to 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 present, attempts to have the strategy takes its course are being made and there are also attempts to enhance the Municipality’s website www.georgetowncity.org.
Orderson added that the website is intended to be a tool for residents, employees, 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 to plan new online payment option and for the ability to submit forms for various departmental business.”
Orderson said that the strategy would allow even overseas-based citizens to check their property account information and be able to make payments using credit or debit card systems online.
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