Paying taxes on-line, licensing bikes and cars over the Internet and applications for work permits sent at the touch of a button came one step closer to reality yesterday after Government announced it had chosen a company to provide a "portal".

The long talked about e-Government gateway will allow the public to interact with Government websites and is aimed at making life easier for residents and the Government departments.

Bermudian information technology company SBI with Plumtree was awarded the government contract yesterday after Cabinet made its selection following an "exhaustive" selection procedure.

"This demonstrates the degree and depth of on-Island expertise we have, but also our ability to partner with the leading players in the industry," said Minister of Telecommunications and E-commerce, Renee Webb. "The e-Government portal will be the most visual and exciting component of the e-Government programme which this Government will continue to roll out."

Ms Webb said that the portal will be a focal point for both residents and businesses and will include information and services provided by Government departments.

And she added that direct services "such as payment of taxes, licensing of vehicles and applications for work-permits will also be able to be done through this portal.

"The portal project has demonstrated a tremendous amount of interest from both within and outside of Bermuda," added Ms Webb.

She said 18 applications were received from both local and international companies and it took considerable effort and diligence from the project team to choose a single vendor she said.

"The effort and imagination shown by the international players in particular, clearly demonstrated the high regard they had for Bermuda and the e-Government project," added Ms Webb.

"The e-Government portal is an integral and important component of the overall strategy this Government will be taking forward on e-business."

Ms Webb said that along with the recent publication of the E-Business Green Paper that the innovative technology they were installing in the school system and their continuing commitment to increased Internet access they will "ensure all Bermudians benefit from e-business and IT technologies."

In May the battle for the portal contract was down to two consortiums. A short list of six candidates were chosen from the original 18 proposals, and these contenders were then narrowed down to a final two: SBI, working with Plumtree international consultants; and Microsoft Consulting, working with three local partners, ICS, Logic Communications and SBI.

SBI is a local company headed by Jamie Thain, who at the time described the bids as a "win win" situation as they have a role in both of the final two proposals.

Both international and local technology companies were involved in a battle for the e-commerce ministry in an attempt to win the lucrative contract. Phase I of the contract which involves consolidating all the different government web sites into one portal and planning phase II will be worth $750,000.