www.lifhaus.com.sb

The Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet has relaunched its website.  Speaking with Lifhaus the PM's office said this will be a "soft launch" as advised by the developers of the website.  "We will be working closely with the developers up to the point when all the information we would like to be displayed on the website is collated, published and available for the general public."  However, the Prime Minister has been especially keen on ensuring that the news component of the website must be available immediately and this has prompted the developers to opt for a soft launch.

"We put out a tender early in 2008 and attracted a number of bids including two from overseas.  At that time we felt that it would be helpful to provide a local firm with an opportunity to develop the website.  grafixFarm Designs put up a very convincing proposal and they were awarded the contract.  However, it has been very difficult to complete the project due to some unforseen circumstances.  This is an important step forward." said a government spokesmen who spoke with Lifhaus.

The redeveloped website is built on the same platform it was initially built on "but we were unable to retrieve the old materials that were part of the old website so we are beginning from the start again on this project."  Speaking with Lifhaus the developers said "...there is enough local expertise to carry out a project like this one and our developers are very keen on producing a world class website for the Prime Minister's office.  It is obviously an important office and it must reflect work of the highest quality."

The developers have also revealed that the website is now hosted locally with Our Telekom "we felt that it was important that the site was hosted locally because assistance will be readily available.  The government also already has close working relationship and accounts with Our Telekom."

"We have undertaken short training with the staff of the PM's office and they are confident that they will be able to maintain content on the website.  There will come a time when we will also hand over the technical responsibilities to designated people within the PM's office."

The developers and the Government Communications Unit are now working closely on ensuring that the full website is launched early next year.  Lifhaus has visited the website and sees great potential in the site and commends the developers for a great job.

The website can be accessed on www.pmc.gov.sb