Groundbreaking digital platform launched to revolutionise social services in Guyana

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aunched its cutting-edge digital platform: the Beneficiary Registry and Document Management System (BRDMS), marking a transformative milestone in the digitalisation of social services in Guyana.

The digital system was developed by Synergy International Systems Inc at a cost of US$1.2 million. The system will reduce application processing times from weeks or months, to mere minutes.

The platform aims to digitise all of the Ministry’s functions, covering 50 core social services, and will benefit around 100,000 individuals including senior citizens, pensioners, survivors of gender-based violence, and persons living with disabilities.

“Today, we are recognisng the importance of data and why data is so essential to a country, to the world, crafting policies that are strategic, transformational and policies and programme that ensure that there is inclusivity of every beneficiary that requires our service,” Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud said.

Over 300 computers and 50 printers were deployed to regional offices, ensuring nationwide connectivity and efficiency with the system.

This system will make the ministry more accountable, strengthen transparency, and ensure that policy decisions are based on accurate, timely data.

To ensure accurate data is inputted into the system, the ministry is now training more persons.

“Today, it is really an important opportunity for us to celebrate yes, but for use to understand the magnitude of work that must happen after this. This is a digital roadmap, and we are doing things in the right way, carefully thought out and meticulously designed,” Minister Persaud stated.

The system further incorporates communities where the ministry’s services are available in Guyana while data will also be used to take services to potential communities.

Real time information will also be generated for the government to better serve citizens.

IDB Country Representative, Lorena Solórzano during remarks hailed the initiative as a major accomplishment not only for Guyana but for the entire Caribbean region.

“This moment is the result of sustained multiyear partnership that has started [with] initial inceptions in 2018 very slow, and in 2020,” Solórzano said.

Over the past five years, the Ministry of Human Services has focused on strengthening both its human capacity and technological systems.