‘Open Data’ concept on horizon for SVG

A concept which will make data collected by the Government more readily available to persons here and abroad may soon be implemented in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

This was disclosed by Minister of Information and Technology Camillo Gonsalves, during last week’s sitting of the House of Assembly.{{more}}

The concept called Open Data “speaks to creating mechanisms to ensure that government statistical and other data can be used, reused and redistributed by anyone,” Gonsalves outlined.

He noted also that the concept does not apply to random information thrown on the web, but rather information that people can manipulate.

“It has to be data that people can manipulate, that students and universities can use in this sense…”

The open data concept includes issues related to availability and access of data reuse, redistribution and universal participation,” the minister explained.

He noted that he has received support from Jamaica’s former minister of state in the Ministry of Science and Technology Julian Robinson, who put him in contact with the relevant personnel at the World Bank who had assisted Jamaica with their efforts.

Gonsalves added that he is currently in discussion with the relevant persons on issues relating to SVG’s open data readiness and the establishment of an open data portal.(CM)