If Kathy Lynn Simmons has her way, the image of civil servants as paper-pushing bureaucrats will be a thing of the past by 2023.

The Attorney General said that the Government aimed to be a paperless organisation in three years’ time, with all forms and documents online.

Ms Simmons, who is also Government reform minister, told the House of Assembly last Friday that human resources officers, at present spread across 12 units in the Civil Service, will be consolidated into one department.

She added 46 high flyers had been identified for training as the next generation of leaders of the public service as part of reform of the Government.

Ms Simmons said a Paperless Task Force was established to coordinate making government services available to members of the public using the internet and mobile technology.

She added: “A paperless plan was developed to facilitate the creation of a modern public administration, which is efficient, professional, and geared towards providing quality public services that address the needs and expectations of the public and businesses.”

She said the Covid-19 crisis had accelerated the plan and 13 digital forms and applications were delivered to support coronavirus control measures.

Ms Simmons added: “The pandemic has led to almost all government departments making progress towards digital transformation.”

She said that additional civil servants will be trained to create forms in early 2021.

Ms Simmons added the 12 human resource units would be amalgamated by the end of March next year.

She claimed the change would improve efficiency and eliminate duplication.

Ms Simmons said Government’s leadership development programme was launched on July 15 and 46 public officers were picked to take part.

She added it was designed to prepare senior officers to compete for head of Department and Permanent Secretary posts.

Ms Simmons said was also an extended programme that focused on developing next-level leaders, as well as a management training path for those identified for further development of essential management skills.