–with official opening of Bartica Government Service Centre
THE Bartica Government Service Centre has been officially opened, bringing several key government services closer to residents of Region Seven.
The one-stop centre, which has been operational since August, brings together the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), General Register Office (GRO), Electronic Identification (E-ID) enrolment, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and Immigration services under one roof.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, addressing the gathering at the opening, noted that the facility is helping to remove the burden previously faced by residents who had to travel outside the region to access essential government services.
“Today, that heavy burden is officially being lifted. We are bringing the State one-stop government service centre to Bartica, bringing the Guyana Revenue Authority, GRO Registration, EID Enrollment, NIS, and Immigration Services under one roof,” the minister said.
The centre is already seeing significant transactions with approximately 6,000 processed in just over two weeks, according to Minister Bharrat.
He emphasised that the figure demonstrates the demand for accessible government services within the region.
Minister Bharrat highlighted the time and cost residents can save by accessing services locally.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally, during his remarks, noted that the Centre is part of the government’s wider effort to decentralise public services and make them more accessible to citizens.
“This isn’t meant to just open this building and you can come in here and get your service. You no longer have to travel to Georgetown as would, or Linden, or another region,” the minister said.
Minister Ally further noted that government’s efforts will extend beyond physical service centres, with the aim of allowing citizens to access services digitally from their homes.
“We want you to be able from the comfort of your home, not even have to visit the service centre, but from the comfort of your home, to have access to all of your documents… have access to your EID, your passport, your birth certificate and your driver’s licence,” Minister Zulfikar stated.
The Bartica Government Service Centre forms part of the national rollout of one-stop government service centres, aimed at bringing essential public services closer to citizens, and improving the efficiency and convenience of service delivery. (DPI)
