Recomiendan creación de “Task Force Digital” para manejo de datos
Por: Representante Jesus Manuel Ortiz Puerto Rico ya tiene el coronavirus en su territorio. Esa realidad ha desatado innumerables acciones de parte del gobierno y de los ciudadanos. La idoneidad de estas podría ser material de otra conversación. Hoy quisiera comentar sobre la ausencia de acciones gubernamentales para hacer disponibles datos importantes para que el […]read more…
Dear Fiscal Board, if you want the Government to carry out structural reforms, commit to digital oversight
Today I celebrate my 38th birthday. A few weeks earlier I realized that my driver’s license expired on this day. This is my story on the renewal process and what steps we should take to fix a broken service impacting the lives of millions of Puerto Ricans. Click here for spanish version. On December of […]read more…
It’s about getting the right people involved
August comes to a close and we’re now entering the 9th month of the year. Hard to believe we’re already two-thirds of the way in 2018! As we gear up for the third and final leg of 2018, I’d like to share some upcoming events and insights on what we’re up to. GBA Meetup – […]read more…
Communities are as powerful as the people who empower them
My presentation at Code for America Summit – June 1, 2018 Communities are as powerful as the people who empower them, and through our coworking space, coding academy and digital policy firm, we do just that in Puerto Rico. We work closely with Code for America and the US Digital Service. We support and empower […]read more…
Identity Management – Common Ground between President of the Senate and the Fiscal Oversight Board
An article published in Noticel last year lists some of the multiple occasions where the President of the Senate has had strong contrasts of opinion with José Carrion, the President of the Fiscal Oversight Board (JSF). Among them, I highlight: The contracts in the legislature The additional cuts requested in the Fiscal Plan The elimination […]read more…
Instituto de Estadísticas ¿para qué?
Para lograr reformas institucionales en todo el gobierno en la era digital, hay tres pilares principales que deben estar en sintonía entre todas las dependencias: Data – refiérase al manejo de data Digital – refiérase al desarrollo de aplicaciones y programas Tecnología – refiérase a la infraestructura donde residen los datos y aplicaciones Este […]read more…
House of Representatives to hold hearings on Blockchain
Representative Eddie Charbonier, from the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, presented House Resolution 829 (RC829) to hold open discussions with State Legislators regarding where blockchain technology can serve the mission of state government, from redesigning services to work better and cost less to providing for new economic development opportunities. The Government Blockchain Association is seeking […]read more…
Testimony presented before the Fiscal Oversight Board
I’d like to thank the Chairman and all members of the Board for holding this hearing to “Review how we can best use technology to redesign and rebuild a better Puerto Rico”. I’d like to open up with the following quote from Tom Steinberg of mySociety, a British based NGO: What do we mean by […]read more…
Fortuño talks about his failure in establishing the CIO structure by law
Two different governors in 2009 and 2013 proposed the creation of a central technology structure to help digitize government services, yet both failed in the endeavor. In an interview with former Governor Luis Fortuño, we discussed the position of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the Government, the challenge of establishing the position and structure […]read more…
Three actions to initiate digital transformation
Think for a moment that you have the power to rebuild your government all over again. How would you do it? With specific examples on how technology can lead to savings of up to 90% and provide a significant boost to the economy and tourism, Tom Loosemore, former deputy director of the UK Digital Service, […]read more…
A Digital Message to the Fiscal Oversight Board
Over the past 12 years, we have witnessed multiple failed attempts by local government administrations in Puerto Rico to offer more efficient online services to citizens, following recurring promises in election campaigns. Two different governors in 2009 and 2013 proposed the creation of a central technology structure to help digitize government services, yet both failed […]read more…
My question to President Obama at South by Southwest
Puerto Rico is 140 billion in debt and facing serious challenges in delivery of services – a US Digital Service team can help drive efficiency and transformation, as well as lead the way in enhancing local civic engagement. Would you ensure such a team is part of the potential Fiscal Control Board? Puerto Rico is […]read more…
Former Puerto Rico CIO welcomes congressional action in tackling debt crisis
This article was written by Dennis Costa for Caribbean Business print edition and adapted for this blog. U.S. Congressional Legislation Opens Door to Tech-Based Governance in Puerto Rico Former Commonwealth CIO: “U.S. Actions on Puerto Rico Fiscal Crisis Should Bring Local Government Operations into 21st Century” In an attempt to solve Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis […]read more…
A Puerto Rico Fiscal Control Board needs a Technological “Seal Team Six”
Below is my interview from PR News Roundup with @gillamhall who is currently writing book on PR debt crisis. The lack of audited financials for Puerto Rico is a key concern for members of the US Congress and for bond market participants. Five hundred twenty-one days after fiscal year 2014 ended Puerto Rican officials no longer provide an estimate of when the documents will […]read more…
How the Government of Puerto Rico can deliver financial statements in “real time”
There is a popular saying in Silicon Valley: there are developers whose work has an impact ten times (10x) greater than that of an ordinary programmer. If we want to fix the Puerto Rico Fiscal Crisis, we need a 10x quality technology team. Consider composition of a champion basketball team, the Golden State Warriors: 1 […]read more…
