A Critical Assessment of E-Government in the Caribbean: Success, Challenges and Use of Emerging Technologies

There have been sustained calls on the need for countries in the Caribbean to improve public service delivery as well as the methods by which governments interface with citizens. These modernisations are increasingly being framed in terms of the role of emerging technologies and more specifically, e-government and c-government to transform the operations and effectiveness of governments. As small and developing states, the region is faced with unique institutional and structural challenges to the adoption and implementation of these measures. The results of various e-government strategies have been varied across the board. This paper offers a critical assessment of e-government strategies across the Caribbean focusing on the challenges, success factors and opportunities for implementation. The study explores the challenges and opportunities for advancing in and beyond e- government to c-government and more generally, in utilising emerging technologies and innovations towards improved public governance.