The Public Library's Role in Enabling E-Government: A View of Two Countries in the English-Speaking Caribbean

Introduction

In the English-speaking Caribbean, as in many other developing countries, the achievements of e-government have been hampered by its slow diffusion (Bissessar, 2012; Ifinedo & Uwadia, 2005; Roach, 2012; Roach & Cayer, 2010). Other issues impacting effective roll out include poor ICT infrastructure, digital divides, socio-economic, political, cultural, and organisational factors (Basu, 2004; Dada, 2006; Heeks, 1999; Ho, 2002; Moon, 2002 Roach, 2012; ; Roach & Cayer. 2010), and the perceived increase in corruption which has diminished the political will to move e-objectives along (Peterson, 1998).

The World Bank defines e-government as the “use by government agencies of information technologies that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government” (http://web.worldbank.org). Employment of these technologies are posited to serve a variety of different ends such as better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits are identified as less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions.

While governments in the Caribbean have concentrated on the economic aspects of e-government, “citizen empowerment through access to information” is not actively pursued. As a result of this lacuna, a majority of the population have been excluded either by commission or omission (Ifinedo, 2006). Those left out form a disenfranchised group, including but not limited to the poor and indigent, technically un-savvy individuals, marginal or limited educated individuals, residents and immigrants, the elderly and differently-abled (Bertot, Jaeger, & McClure, 2008). The expansive range of e-government information poses a barrier to those unfamiliar with government regardless of the access provided through the use of ICT (Jaeger & Bertot, 2011); or who are willing to use it (Netchaeva, 2002).

Further, the level of disconnect between citizens and government can be attributed, in part, to a country’s position on e-government. The Trinidad and Tobago National ICT plan 2012-2016, for instance, identifies e-government against a backdrop of “service delivery, increased productivity and securing competitive advantages” as they relate to one-stop service centers to service citizens. Comparatively, Jamaica’s National ICT strategy plan (2007-2012) focuses on e-inclusion, education and training, network readiness and infrastructure development, e-business and industry structure, e-government and legal and policy framework (Government of Jamaica, 2006); with priorities earmarked as those ministries and agencies that are revenue generating and facilitate international trade (Brown & Thompson, 2011). Therefore, while both countries focus on the development of internal systems to make government processes more efficient, neither speaks to social inclusion, which refers to public involvement and influence in government policies, and transparent and customer driven government (CARICOM, 2010).