Protecting Trinidad and Tobago against cyberattacks and helping to ensure the widespread availability of digital data while providing support for innovators are all initiatives to be implemented by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Sanjay Singh, said the Ministry will play a key role in helping to protect the nation against cyberattacks.
“We are focused on implementing a robust framework and invest in the talent of our digital infrastructure to foster trust in the digital environment. Equally critical is the development of human capital. This will be accomplished through the training and re-training of civil servants, educators and professionals to lead a technical driven future by upskilling initiatives.”
PS Singh added that the Ministry is focused on implementing new programmes based on verifiable data. To that end, one division of the Ministry is undertaking an important initiative.
“The Central Statistical Office is preparing a geospatial exercise to begin mapping communities in Trinidad and Tobago to make data available electronically. This will track our physical space and can connect to the spatial development and land development goals of the Town and Country Planning Division.”
He noted that the Ministry is also investing in new innovators. He highlighted a specific project: “A programme entitled ‘Shaping the Future of Innovation’ recently handed Grants to 25 local awardees with innovative business ideas within a range of US$50,000 to US$70,000 per recipient. This project is funded by the European Union in partnership with the IDB Lab and the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute, CARIRI, as an implementing agency.”
PS Singh made his remarks as he addressed the closing ceremony of the American Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago’s two-day Tech Hub Islands Summit on Wednesday.