KINGSTON, Jamaica— Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, says the Government is committed to executing digital transformation involving the attributes of the acronym “RITE”.

RITE is an acronym for Respect, Inclusion, Trust and Efficiency.

Addressing Thursday’s Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI) Innovation Round-Table Forum at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) Head Office in Kingston, Senator Morris Dixon underscored that the country’s digital transformation journey is grounded in respect.

“If we respect people, we don’t have them standing in long lines. If we respect people, we don’t have inefficient processes. If we respect people, we don’t ask them for the same information over and over again,” she said.

Senator Morris Dixon said inclusion is a critical component of digital transformation, pointing out that systems must be developed with the view that not all citizens are at the same level of digital literacy.

“We have to look at what technology they use. They use WhatsApp a lot. Are we doing enough in government to deliver services through WhatsApp?” she asked.

The minister further shared that Jamaica has a low trust environment in many respects, and systems must be created with this component embedded in them.

“It is important that people feel that these systems are secure. Efficiency is very important… especially in our government sphere, and even in our private-sector sphere. It is critical that we improve, in terms of our own efficiency,” Senator Morris Dixon said.

She added that the Government is committed to creating an environment where businesses can prosper and where digital technologies are leveraged for the social and economic benefit of all.

The forum is a product of the September 2023 Export and Investment Business Ministerial Mission to New York, led by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill.

For her part, JAMPRO president, Shullette Cox, said the forum is just the beginning of the collaboration involving the Government, Microsoft and private-sector entities.

Microsoft presented Project Blue Mountain, which is a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating Jamaica’s digital transformation to become the premier hub for talent development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within the Caribbean.

She encouraged participants to explore the tools, products and solutions that can enable them to increase their sales pipeline locally and overseas.

“Grab on to the insights that you will get in navigating Microsoft as a sales organisation and connect with the Microsoft executives. I hope our Jamaican companies will be engaged to leave the forum to come up with new ways to innovate and forge strategic connections to not just grow your respective businesses but to make your contribution in the overall growth of our country,” Cox stated.