DOIT continues to keep government abreast of new technology

Roadtown, Tortola - The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is continuing its effort to keep public servants abreast of new technology with the implementation of computer training sessions and other strategies.

In an interview with the Department of Information and Public Relations, Director of DoIT Mrs. Anna-Belle Skelton-Malone said, “It’s very important for the Department of Information Technology to keep up with technology and in turn we pass on the know-how to our Government officers.”

With regards to the training, Mrs. Skelton-Malone said, “We are consistently training individuals who go back to their various offices better equipped to better serve the public, which is our ultimate goal.”

Training sessions began last Wednesday in the DoIT training room at RFG Place, with facilitators Ms. Careen Cuffy who is the Acting Training Officer and Ms. Kanishqué Todman, a department trainee. The sessions are geared towards introducing users to Microsoft Office Word 2007 and covers fundamentals like saving, editing, proofing and working with hyperlinks.

Ms. Cuffy explained, “The training is not new to the department, but every year, we try to change it up a bit.” She added, “Lessons learnt from these sessions allow users to work faster, smarter and not harder. Tasks that used to take all day would be cut down drastically. This means that production increases and Government workers are giving the public more.”
About Microsoft Office Word 2007, Ms. Cuffy said the programme is “easier to work with, especially in regards to editing documents and even searching for commands.”

These sessions correlate with the Microsoft Office 2007 Project which was launched in June last year. The project sought to upgrade all Government offices throughout the Territory with the new Microsoft applications.

DoIT has also begun enacting other strategic plans laid out in its 2010 work plan, one of which is the “IT Tip of the Week”. The tip is sent weekly via email to all Government users.

The projects that will affect the public include the development of a driver’s registration programme at the vehicle licensing department, an online telephone directory database, a database to track awarded scholarships along with enhancements to existing systems.

The 2010 strategic plans of the Department of Information Technology are aligned with the department’s main objective, which is to provide a competitive edge to all Government departments through the creative use of information technology and services, enabling them to deliver efficient and effective services to the Virgin Islands community.