United Nations “web measure” index of the the state of online services from a Development, Education, Foreign Affairs, country’s government, the information Natural gathered on GOB websites indicate that Ministry of the Public Service, Ministry of GOB the Tourism (Belize Tourist Board) and Ministry of “Emerging and Enhanced” stages of Transport and Communications (NEMO) are online service delivery (the first two Stages offering on the four Stage scale). 5 printable forms. The Belize National Library is currently transitioning While it does not seem to be part of an overall e-Government strategy, certain GOB Ministries and Departments are expanding the scope of their electronic service delivery offerings. The Ministries of Attorney General, Resources electronic Economic (Meteorology downloadable Office), and Service offers an electronic library service and the Belize Meteorology Department offers a “two way interaction service” for citizens requesting weather reports, which puts their sites between Stage Two and Stage Three of the UN’s “Web measure model: Stages of e-government evolution” scale. 6 5 EMERGING PRESENCE is Stage I representing information, which is limited and basic. The e-government online presence comprises a web page and /or an official website; links to ministries/departments of education, health, social welfare, labor and finance may/may not exist; links to regional/local government may/may not exist; some archived information such as the head of states' message or a document such as the constitution may be available on line, most information remains static with the fewest options for citizens. ENHANCED PRESENCE is Stage II in which the government provides greater public policy and governance sources of current and archived information, such as policies, laws and regulation, reports, newsletters, and downloadable databases. The user can search for a document and there is a help feature and a site map provided. A larger selection of public policy documents such as an e-government strategy, policy briefs on specific education or health issues. Though more sophisticated, the interaction is still primarily unidirectional with information flowing essentially from government to the citizen. Belize ICT National Strategy There is still much to do to enable full eGovernment in Belize. information is now Currently, accessible basic on-line. However, ministries do not yet offer highly valuable electronic transactions such as benefits registration, application for training 6 TRANSACTIONAL PRESENCE is Stage III that allows two-way interaction between the citizen and his/her government. It includes options for paying taxes; applying for ID cards, birth certificates/passports, license renewals and other similar C2G interactions by allowing him/her to submit these online 24/7. The citizens are able to pay for relevant public services, such as motor vehicle violation, taxes, fees for postal services through their credit, bank or debit card. Providers of goods and services are able to bid online for public contacts via secure links. Please refer to: http://www2.unpan.org/egovkb/egovernment_overvi ew/webmeasure.htm 31