In 1979, the Workers Bank, now known as First Citizens Bank, introduced “Mary-Anne All Day All Night Service,” Trinidad and Tobago’s first automated telling machine.
People did not know it back then, but that would be the first of a long line of information communication technology (ICT) systems which would use technology to make citizens’ lives easier.
TT has come a long way since then, not only with ATMs, but with technology in general. Now people can not only withdraw money from banks, but can transfer money from TT to another country. They can find out the status of their NIS contributions, apply for relief grants, school grants, food cards and even begin processes to start a business, all from the comfort of their homes.
From digital workplaces to government systems operating online to people themselves spending hours of their day communicating and interacting with each other online, TT has, without a doubt, the means to keep pace with the ever changing world of technology, even in these uncertain times.
Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation Hassel Bacchus told Business Day that while infrastructure, technology, re-education and legislation would improve ICT systems and how they benefit people in TT, people need to be educated on and trust the systems that are developed and maintained by our local technicians and talents in the ICT industry.
“You would find that the same people that would physically go into a line to pay their electric bill – even though there are three digital means to pay that bill – would be the same people that would buy their shoes on Amazon.
"So it is not that people are scared of technology. What it is, is that there must be a level of trust and confidence that, if I use digital means to do this thin,g it will be completed.”
[caption id="attachment_893228" align="alignnone" width="1024"] VIRTUAL MEETING: A computer monitor shows the virtual 42nd Public Accounts Committee meeting in progress in this file photo. PHOTO COURTESY OFFICE OF THE PARLIAMENT -[/caption]
Over the years, governments have seen the value of using ICT systems to transform the way things work. As early as 2003, the Fast Forward programme under the Ministry of Public Administration had a list of objectives which TT benefits from today. It aimed to provide citizens with affordable internet access, focus on the development of children's knowledge and awareness of ICT, maximise the potential of citizens through the use of ICT and encourage innovation to develop a knowledge-based society and promote citizen trust, access and interaction through the use of ICT.
The objectives evolved in 2018, when the ministry published its ICT plan for 2018-2022. The ministry sought to increase the use of ICT in the country – not only through personal use, but in the development of e-government.
It sought to use ICT to encourage competition in the business sector and develop an infrastructure enabled by legislation and sup
