The program allows for greater accessibility to Government information, which will be free, and easily accessible with unlimited rights to reuse and redistribute the data.

Saint Lucia may soon be the first Caribbean country to implement an Open Data and Open Budget program.

According to the findings of an Open Data/Open Budget Readiness Assessment, undertaken six months ago by a World Bank team, Saint Lucia is poised to successfully undertake the program.

World Bank ICT Policy Specialist, Anat Lewin, said the program allows for greater accessibility to Government information, which will be machine-readable, free, and easily accessible, with unlimited rights to reuse, and redistribute data.

Director of Public Sector Modernization, Dr. Cletus Bertin, said the program complements government’s public sector modernization thrust.

“[The modernization initiative] includes the implementation of a correspondence Management System which will lead to the implementation of an electronic document and record management system,” he said. “This means that both correspondence and documents would be more effectively and efficiently managed across the public service with the use of an electronic system.”

Currently, a four-member World Bank team is on island meeting with key employees from various government ministries and agencies, to discuss the benefits and recommendations for implementing the Open Data program. Some of the benefits include public participation in the budget process, increased transparency and accountability, improved public services and greater government efficiency.

The UK Department of International Development has partnered with the World Bank to support the Open Data initiative in the Caribbean through a two-year technical assistance and capacity building program.

British Resident Commissioner to Saint Lucia, Andy Pryce acknowledged that Open Data is crucial to future economic growth.

“Openness is an essential element of integrity and accountability in public financial management,” he said, adding that the program provides an opportunity for government to fill the expectation gap on transparency and accountability, especially for the new generation who expects information to be available online and ready to use.