GFS & GPS team up with MMG to offer quicker, more convenient payment options

The Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), on Wednesday took a significant step in easing public stress by introducing cashless payments to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
Through Mobile Money Guyana (MMG), Guyanese can now enjoy more time-efficient, convenient means of transactions from the comfort of their homes, offices or other locations of their choice for services provided by the GPS and GFS.
Some of these services include paying for petroleum licences, safety certificates, and music and dance permits.

General Manager of MMG, Bobita Ram commended the two agencies for their commitment to modernisation and efficiency as they move towards a more accessible and convenient future for all Guyanese.
“Both of these institutions are major parts of our infrastructure as a nation, and the introduction of this convenient and reliable way of paying was done with the citizens of Guyana, [first] and foremost in the minds of the decision-makers,” Ram said.
Now, payments for services provided by these agencies can be made either from an individual’s MMG account or through one of MMG’s 1200 agent locations within their agent network which spans across the country.
“Let’s just take a simple example: I need to pay for a petrol licence. Instead of travelling to the Guyana Fire Service, and we know how congested traffic can get, I simply log into my MMG account, go to Government Services, choose Guyana Fire Service, choose petrol licence and make the payment,” Ram said.
“Immediately, the personnel at the Guyana Fire Service will see my payment and release my petrol licence. It’s that easy,” Ram added.
Acknowledging the time taken to usually pay for these services, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn noted that this new alternative option is a strategic move to improve the lives of all Guyanese.
“We have been moving to improve at a strategic management level, at the level of the Government, at the level of putting resources in respect of assets, to improve services [and] improve life in all aspects,” Benn said.
“And if we bring greater efficiency in relation to engaging with persons, even if it’s at a virtual level, it gives us more time and space to focus quickly and more effectively on issues related to improving the overall quality of life and the quality of service delivered,” Benn said.

Meanwhile, Ram further noted that adding another payment method is a huge step in highlighting the power of collaboration.
Last week, the National Assembly passed the Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2023, which primarily seeks to protect a person’s right to privacy in regards to the processing of their personal data.
Ram noted that this new Bill will pave the way towards creating the proper legislative framework to support the implementation of e-governance.
“We firmly believe that financial technology platforms, such as MMG, present multiple advantages in contributing to the Government’s efforts at reinforcing trust and accountability and modernising the public sector. We at MMG recommit our support in this regard,” Ram said.
Ram added that public confidence in MMG continues to grow, with the organisation serving over 110,000 persons countrywide.
Last December, in another collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry, MMG launched mobile payment services for the General Register Office (GRO) and Immigration Support Services.
Meanwhile, in June, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry advanced its delivery of the Old Age Pension through MMG as well, while in July, GuyOil’s eight company-owned service stations and at its Adventure Depot also began to facilitate MMG payments for their products and services.