By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has revealed that more than 53,000 transactions have already been completed at the Government’s Service Centres across Guyana, pointing to growing demand for more accessible and efficient public services.
The President said the centres are playing a key role in bringing essential government services closer to citizens, reducing the need for lengthy travel while allowing persons to access several agencies at a single location.
According to President Ali, the volume of transactions recorded since the centres became operational demonstrates the importance of decentralising public services and improving the overall experience for citizens.
He said the Government will continue expanding and improving the initiative as part of its broader push to modernise public service delivery and make essential services more accessible in communities across the country.
Highlighting the impact of the Port Mourant Government Service Centre in Region Six, which opened in June, President Ali disclosed that more than 15,000 transactions have already been completed at that facility alone.
“Already, since we established that Government Service Centre, not even three months yet, we have more than 15,000 transactions that were completed,” the President said.
The Port Mourant facility allows residents to access several services under one roof, including passport and immigration services, birth, death and marriage certificates, electronic identification (e-ID) services, as well as services provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS), among others.
President Ali also disclosed that the Government is exploring the expansion of services available at the centres, including the possibility of introducing commercial banking services.
He said discussions are underway with a commercial bank to have representatives stationed at the centres, allowing residents to safely open bank accounts while conducting other business.
“So that when you go there, you can open your bank accounts safely. We are working to improve the level of service,” President Ali said.
The expansion of the Government Service Centres forms part of the administration’s wider digitalisation and decentralisation agenda aimed at making public services faster, more convenient and increasingly accessible to Guyanese regardless of where they live.
