The Government is planning to engage prospective vendors to start work on a digitisation project for the Department of Immigration.

The project, which was announced by the Government in the 2021 Speech from the Throne, has suffered delays.

In the House recently, Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour told MPs that the project “remains a priority for this government”.

In response to questions from Opposition leader Jarion Richardson, Mr Hayward said: “The Department of Immigration has now strategically used RFI, which was put out by the Information and Digital Technology Department to identify smart government partners to transform Bermuda.

“This request for information will now enable the Department of Immigration to jump start engagement with prospective vendors.”

A newly formed digitisation team within the Government is assisting in the process.

Mr Hayward said the team wanted to ensure that “whatever is placed in front of the prospective vendor, that they have the capabilities to complete the full suite of activities”.

He explained: “One of the lessons we learnt in advance was that you have a person that will have the skill sets to enable the digitised process.

“But then also the delivery on the back end of that and the system support that is required on an ongoing basis, you have to ensure that you have the requisite skill set and technology to support any system that you put in place.”

“This is a holistic approach to the exercise.”

In terms of a timeline for the start of the project, Mr Hayward said: “We have received capital funding for this fiscal period so it is my expectation and the ministry’s expectation that the project be initiated and the substantial portion of the project be completed in this fiscal period so that the funds allocated can be utilised and placed towards the project.”

He said no funds from this year’s Budget had been expended on the project thus far.