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The $200 million-plus allocation to the Ministry of Digital Transformation would be used to make Trinidad and Tobago globally competitive and increase its gross domestic product (GDP), line minister Hassel Bacchus has assured.
He was speaking on Tuesday in Parliament at the Standing Finance Committee on the Appropriation Financial Bill for 2022.
Bacchus said the ministry’s purpose was to facilitate development of information communication technologies (ICT) that was accessible to the population, businesses and government.
“The mandate is to facilitate the development of a digital TT one where the population has access to, and the skills to use ICT in their everyday lives, where the ICT structure is of high quality – it's robust, it's secure – where more businesses are using ICT, and to become more globally competitive, where the ICT sector is an increasing contributor to national gross domestic product (GDP).
“The government is using ICT for improved service delivery, transparency and efficiency. The ministry carries out its mandate in close partnership with other ministries, departments and agencies, the private sector and international agencies among other places,” Bacchus said.
The ministry's allocation for fiscal 2022 is $281,722,620. It was introduced in July after the Prime Minister ordered the spilt of the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation.
Bacchus, a former TSTT executive, added that with the support of other ministries and agencies, including the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) and the National ICT Company of TT (iGovTT), the ministry would ensure the development of a digital society, economy and government.
“A digital society addresses the need to ensure that citizens are able to effectively access and use information communication technology; digital economy focuses on digitisation/digitalisation and private sector agencies in TT, other economic opportunities as they would arise, new and emerging technology such that our local entrepreneurs and investors can benefit; and digital government, of course will address the key areas of infrastructure operations with very specific focus on service,” he said.
Bacchus justified that the draft estimates and expenditure was necessary for infrastructure and other good, services and equipment to run effectively.
He said while the number of staff was at 31, there was no further additions to the staffing complement.
“The idea of having new digital type processes associated with the way these ministries are run, means we try to run as lean as possible, meaning that a lot of the positions that we have established would have within them different roles compared to a normal ministry.
“The idea is not to have a very large membership but having the correct people in the correct positions to be able to achieve the strategic mandate. I do not foresee significant expansion of the establishment at this time,” Bacchus explained.
Among the estimates for expenditures for the ministry were repairs and maintenance to acce
A November 26 letter from the presidency asked the head of Uganda's national drug authority to 'work out a mechanism' to clear the importation of the vaccines.
China has about five COVID-19 vaccine candidates at different levels of trials. It was not clear what vaccine was being imported into Uganda.
One of the frontrunners is the Sinopharm vaccine developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates said the vaccine has 86% efficacy, citing an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.
China has used the drug to vaccinate up to a million people under its emergency use program.
On Tuesday, Morocco said it was ordering up to 10 million doses of the vaccine.
Record cases
Uganda on Monday registered 701 new COVID-19 cases, the highest-ever daily increase, bringing its national count to 23,200.
The new cases were out of the 5,578 samples tested for the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry said in a statement.
Tuesday's tally was 606, the second-highest ever number of new infections, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the east African country to 23,860.
Health authorities have blamed ongoing election campaigns which have drawn huge crowds for the rise in infections.
Federal regulators on Wednesday sued Facebook, seeking forced divestment of its Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services. In a separate case,... View Article
The post US govt, states bring antitrust action against Facebook appeared first on TheGrio.
The decision to have matric pupils rewrite the Mathematics Paper 2 and Physical Science Paper 2 exams was not taken rationally and was the result of \"bullying\" tactics by quality assurer Umalusi.
Megan Thee Stallion shared the letter she received from Rep. Maxine Waters, who told her that she's proud of her for speaking out for Black women.
[Monitor] By Ambrose Musasizi
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said they had recorded a high number of COVID-19 infections amongst people aged between 15-19, in the previous two days
[263Chat] Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has condemned the 'heartless and cruel' demolition of houses in Harare urging those responsible to halt the operation.
[Radio Dabanga] Khartoum -- According to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary militia only Sudanese forces, consisting of the army, the RSF, the General Intelligence Service (GIS*), and the police will be responsible for protecting civilians after the withdrawal of the UNAMID peacekeeping force at the end of this year.
[African Union] I. INTRODUCTION
When will new generations of Afro-Italians finally be heard and recognized as full and active members of Italy’s culture and society?
The post Building Black Futures in Italy appeared first on Public Books.
[This Day] The federal government yesterday expressed its readiness to open talks with the United States for the delisting of Nigeria from the religious freedom blacklist.
Have you ever seen a pig dance a jig? I don’t mean to be rude,…
The post Where Have the Jobs Gone? appeared first on Houston Forward Times.
[Africa In Fact] Strong medicine: the COVID-19 effect
[Premium Times] According to her, the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca one were presently being negotiated so that poor countries don't have to stand in a queue behind rich countries.
(Trinidad Express) The office of the Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tabeland was severely damaged by fire on Thursday.
The article Suspicious fire damages Trinidad MP's office appeared first on Stabroek News.
[Nation] Growing up, Teresia Wanjiru wanted to become a doctor. She believed that a good career would be their ticket out of Mathare slums, where she and her siblings were raised by a single mother.
OPINION (NNPA) - The year 2020 brought renewed global focus to issues of social justice in America. Racial disparities and inequities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic to the killings of George Floyd and so many other of Black and Brown Americans at the hands of police officers have all contributed to the evolving social justice […]
THE Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is employing more technology to effectively carry out its mandate, which is focused on trade facilitation, revenue collection and border protection, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Customs Commisisoner Velma Ricketts Walker told JIS News that several business processes have been fast-tracked to enable the entity to safely and efficiently serve its various stakeholders.
Major Jamaican chicken producers are pressing the Government for 100 per cent inspection of all poultry imports in the wake of a damning report by the Integrity Commission citing fraud, duty evasion, and a permit process that lacks integrity and...
MULTI-AWARD-WINNING Afro-pop artiste Isheanesu “Ishan” Chigagura says while the success of his yesteryear hit Kure may has spurred him to the top on the music scene he is not pressured to try and reproduce similar magic on future projects. BY KENNEDY NYAVAYA Kure, which won him 10 awards locally, would be a hard act to follow, and Ishan sought to deflect the pressure to replicate its success. The 23-year-old vocalist broke into the limelight last year with Kure, a collaboration with rapper Ti Gonzi. In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style yesterday, Ishan, who recently released an extended play (EP) titled Bhundu Pop, said creating a sound that connects with an audience was his main goal. “I have never felt pressured to match or surpass a song, the pressure I only have is to become a better version of myself each and every day,” he said. “The goal is always to make good music that I connect with and in turn connects with everyone, and I am happy that music we have made as well connects with people the way I did while I was making this project.” The nine-track EP that he produced alongside Gangster Madeit, Texas, Rayo, Lloyd Soul, Boi Tricky and Young DLC features artistes such as Gze, Gemma, Tamy Moyo and Nutty O. Ishan said the EP, that was inspired by his upbringing in rural Mvurwi was a culmination of work that had been shelved over the years. “I was raised in Mvurwi and we would wake up everyday going to herd cattle. Those moments inspired me to become the musician I am today. So by Bhundu I mean those bush moments,” he said. Although he concedes that like many local musicians plans to grow his brand have been dealt a huge blow by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ishan envisions a better 2021. “There is more growth to be expected as an artiste and brand-wise, so that means more songs, more collaborations and a bit of business ventures. We are, however, going to begin with the release of more visuals to complement the Bhundu Pop EP,” he said. Follow Kennedy on Twitter @ken_nyavaya
In an effort to further public dialogue on penal reform across the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has invited international experts and local thought leaders to offer their views on major issues that need to be addressed in order to improve correctional outcomes.
The article Socioeconomic instability and adult deviant behaviours appeared first on Stabroek News.
[Thomson Reuters Foundation] From encouraging exercise to improving sanitation, cities are at the forefront of boosting residents' health
[Vanguard] The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and education experts have called equal opportunities for girls and women to access quality education in order to actualise their potentials in the society, stating that 9.5 million girls aged between 10 and 17 are out-of-school in the country.
[Radio Dabanga] Khartoum -- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met separately with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and chairman of the Sovereign Council Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan yesterday during his visit to Sudan.
MINISTER of National Security Dr Horace Chang says that the Government will not pursue a policy of focusing on crime kingpins, but on dismantling entire criminal outfits.Dr Chang told the House of Representatives Tuesday night that the result of focusing on the gang leaders usually see an increase in crime and violence, as the gangsters become out of control and turn on each other for various reasons.
[Algerie Presse Service] Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said Sunday that Algeria noted \"with great concerns\" that significant funds are still being transferred to terrorist groups as ransoms for the liberation of hostages, a scourge that undermines counterterrorism efforts.
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to Brussels yesterday for a dinner with the head of the European Union executive that could pave the way to a post-Brexit trade deal - or tip the two sides toward a chaotic economic rupture at the end of the month.
[Dalsan Radio] Somalia has told off foreign diplomats over what it says was intervention in the ongoing row with Kenya
[Nyasa Times] The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) and the Lilongwe and Blantyre Small Scale Business Operators are set to take to the streets beginning December 16, 2020, to protest the decision by President Lazarus Chakwera to ignore their call to take action on illegal immigrants who are plying trade in the country's strategic cities and towns.
