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Guyana’s Digital Transformation Initiatives

Christopher Deen

National Data Management Authority, Guyana

(2024.11.27)

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About Guyana

Coastland regions have an average of 9.6 persons per square kilometre, while the four hinterland regions, which occupy more than 2/3 of the total land area, are still largely unoccupied.

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Name: Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Region: South America

Area: 214,970 km²

Population: ~800,000

  • GDP at basic prices – G$2,956,930 million (2022)
  • GDP at purchaser prices – G$ 3,068,784 million (2022)
  • Real GDP Growth Rate (Entire Economy) of 63.3% in 2022

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2022

2022

2022

2023

2012

  • Exports (FOB) – US$13.2 billion (2023 provisional)
  • Imports (CIF) – US$ 6.6 billion (2023 provisional)

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Contributions to GDP in 2022:

  • Mining and quarrying – 61.6%
  • Petroleum, gas and support services – 56.8%
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing – 10%
  • Information and Communication – 0.9%

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  • Official Language - English
  • Literacy Rate - 90% (2022)

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High Level Key Initiatives

1.0 - Governance & Institutionality

    • Sector led by Office of the Prime Minister
    • Operational entities include:
    • Telecommunications Agency
    • Public Utilities Commission
    • National Data Management Authority
    • Industry & Innovation Unit
    • ICT Access for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project

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2.0 - Regulatory Framework

    • National Data Management Authority (NDMA) Act (1983)
    • Access to Information Act (2011)
    • Cybercrime Act (2018)
    • National Payment Systems Act (2018)
    • Customs and Trade Single Window System Act (2019)
    • Telecommunications Act (2016, 2020)
    • Development Single Window System Act (2023)
    • Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (2023)
    • Data Protection Act (2023)
    • Digital Identity Card Act (2023)
    • Open Data Bill (2024)

3.0 - Infrastructure & Technological Tools

    • 3 landed Submarine Fibre optic cables
    • Cost per megabit ≈95% percent lower since liberalization in 2020
    • Private sector investment increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023
    • 97% population covered by a mobile-cellular network (2020)
    • Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.99 (2020) to 100.56 (2023)
    • Internet Penetration: 41.61 (2020) to 51.23 (2023)
    • Over 80% hinterland, remote and riverain communities have internet connectivity

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4.0 - Digital Talent & Change Management

    • One Guyana Digital Initiative (1GD)
    • 150k Guyana Coders Initiative
    • Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) – 29,000+ scholarships to 550+ online courses or programmes
    • Guyana Coursera Platform - 400,000 citizens access to 6000 courses
    • Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT)
    • Guyana Digital School (GDS)

5.0 - New Digital Processes & Services

    • National Electronic ID Implementation
    • Public Service digitalization
    • Electronic Medical Records System
    • Education Management Information System
    • Safe Country Project 2024
    • Safe Road Intelligent System 2024
    • E-Gate & Border Control Systems 2024
    • Guyana Revenue Authority eServices
    • ASYCUDA World (AW) Implementation
    • Cash Grant Platform 2024/25
    • Single Window Platform
    • Remote Monitoring of Critical Infrastructure
    • Complaint & License Management Systems
    • Old Age Pension App
    • Job Bank App, SkillsConnect

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Digital Gov’t

HEALTH

EDUCATION

SECURITY

Electronic ID (eID) – Facilitates enhanced identity verification and authentication, and service provision across public and private sectors.

Public Service Digitalisation – Phase 1 starts in 2024 and will see 70 processes digitised including but not limited to birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, passport processes, etc.

  • Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System: links an individual’s medical records to all health facilities throughout the country
  • Telemedicine to service persons in remote or underserved areas

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  • Education Management Information System (EMIS): captures enrolment information, transfer requests, attendance and grades. Also facilitates end-of-year processing, class portals, teacher web pages, parent portals, teacher information, and scheduling.

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  • Safe Country: focuses on improving individuals’ safety and quality of life, security of physical assets, infrastructure, and financial markets, and ensuring business continuity.
  • Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS): aims at improving road safety and reducing accidents with the provision of eTicketing and speed detection facilities

BORDER CONTROL

  • E-Gate & Border Control Systems: facilitate efficient and effective processing of travelers through Guyana’s international airport, and the management of passenger ID data lists and biometric identifying information.

ADMINISTRATION (TAXES)

  • Guyana Revenue Authority eServices: to facilitate online management of taxes.
  • ASYCUDA World (AW) implementation: to strengthen Customs’ operational efficiency and improve transparency through full audit trails, reform of the customs clearing procedures, etc.

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Digital Inclusion

Nationally:

  • Internet penetration: 41.61 (2020) to 51.23 (2023)
  • Individuals using the internet: 85.3% (2022)
  • Cost per megabit ≈95% percent lower since liberalization in 2020
  • 3 landed submarine fibre optic cables

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Government’s Initiatives:

  • Over 1040 free internet access locations in public spaces across the country
  • 80% of hinterland, riverain and remote communities/villages have been provisioned with high-speed Internet (300+ Mbps)
  • Benefits over 120,000 residents living in hinterland, riverain and remote communities across all ten regions

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Thank you