UPDATE: Bill that allows persons to do business with gov’t anywhere passes

This story has been updated

Premier Andrew Fahie has introduced a piece of legislation that will allow persons to do business with the government from anywhere in the world.

This bill is titled the Electronic Filing Act, 2019 and has now successfully passed through the House of Assembly.

Fahie said the legislation will give persons the option of paying any government-related bill online. These range from Socal Security contributions and utility payments to paying Inland Revenue taxes and everything in between.

“It is long in coming but it is still within its time. So persons don’t have to come to Road Town in Tortola to pay a bill. You could stay whether it is in West End, Belle Vue, East End, Carrot Bay, Cane Garden Bay or you can stay even in Jost Van Dyke … and any other island in the BVI and in the world and actually do business with government now,” the Premier explained.

In addition to remote bill payments, the legislation also provides for persons to download documents online and have them filled out and submitted electronically.

“This bill will only value-add to make doing business with the Government of the Virgin Islands and the entire territory — the private sector — more effective and more efficient,” the Premier added.

This bill is part of the suite of legislation the government is introducing to transform the public sector. 

Other legislation that goes hand-in-hand with this bill includes the Data Protection Act, the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act, among others.