Opportunities for Bermuda Government to Save Money/Grow
From "Suggestions to stimulate economic recovery for Bermudians once Shelter in Place ends"
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1.) All Departments that have been able to successfully work from home should remain working from home. Office leases can be terminated savings of 5 - 15k a month per department/office space.
1a.) Use the many government buildings that are not currently in use or need of repair vs spending the government money on costly commercial monthly rentals. All government buildings should be fitted to use solar power, Led lights, etc. Cutting cost on electric bills 1-5k savings a month.
2.) Departments that have to be open, automate as many services and paper process, a central application that can be used by all departments complete a document/application form once use many times within the government, this will result in saving time, money, minimization of errors and the overall efficiency of government processes . Paperless/online/contactless payment options should be the norm not the exception. Savings 20k+ a month
2a.) Departments that are open, that have boardrooms can be used by the remote working departments when there is a need to hold in person meetings if need be. Sharing government resources in a more efficient way. Meetings can also be held via internet conference applications.
3.)Schedule appointments should be incorporated, more efficient processes if implement as pointed out above will mean, less wait time and applications process will become shorter, processing more in less time
4.) Less need for physical equipment such as printers , paper, ink, etc. Savings of 5- 10k a year per Department. Each department that is open can limit the number of printers within the office no personal printers on desk. Controls can be set on printers for those who think privacy is an issue.
5.)Post office to offer forwarding services to collect items like its competitors, increase of money for government approx. 10-15k income per month. Customer service reps will need to be increased takes wait time too long to get a package at the post office currently.
6.) Government Department resources needs to be shared, removing the duplication of applications and work
7.) Closing of schools that don't support the numbers of incoming students to maintain open. We have known that the birth rate has been declining and the aging population has been increasing. Convert some of the schools if possible into nursing home, rest homes, residential care homes. Creating jobs and a place to send persons in need vs Financial Assistance paying out to private facilities as the only option.
8.) There needs to be a Bermuda First Strategy, no matter the government in power, there are a core number of things that will and should be completed regardless of political party affiliations to move Bermuda into the 21st Century, instead of the chopping and changing what is thought to be the best thing for Bermuda according to the party currently in power, if not we will forever be running in the same place and our neighboring competitors will if not already will move ahead of us.
9.) If as a country we will be on a restricted access for the forceable future then there should be standards across the board that are used. I.E the grocery store has you wash your hands and limited numbers in a store at a time, then that example should be applied to all business, It shouldn't be any different walking into a convenience, hardware, bank or retail store. The process should be the same cross the board. Which it currently is not, we want to get business running again then this needs to be enforced island wide. Companies should be encouraging the use of online options and delivery/curb-side pick up.
10.) After all this we need to be able to track and interpret the data, there needs to be a shift in the culture of Bermuda Government and to hold individuals accountable that need to be held accountable, there is no point in implementing half of the needed things going forward as a country if this is not enforced. Targets, goals, patterns and action plans needs to be incorporated at all levels of the process to help move Bermuda forward as we come to live in the Post Covid-19 World.