Senator the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to nurturing Trinidad and Tobago’s next generation of technology talent, following a meeting with Trinity East student Malachi Senhouse, creator of the award-winning VendaTT application.
Senhouse, a Form Five student, developed VendaTT to help local market vendors promote and sell their produce, demonstrating how young people can use technology to address practical challenges within their communities. His innovation earned him top recognition in an app-building competition hosted by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI).
Minister Smith welcomed Senhouse to the Ministry on Thursday, praising the young innovator for applying his technical skills to a real-world challenge and encouraging him to continue developing his capabilities in technology and innovation.
“Malachi represents the kind of talent we want to identify, encourage and create opportunities for across Trinidad and Tobago. He saw a challenge affecting people in his community and used technology to develop a practical solution. That combination of creativity, problem-solving and technical ability is exactly what we need as we build a more innovative and technology-driven society,” Minister Smith said.
During his visit, Senhouse toured the Ministry and interacted with staff, including members of the ICT Department, which gave him further exposure to careers and opportunities in the technology sector. Minister Smith also indicated the Ministry’s willingness to offer Senhouse an internship when he is ready to gain workplace experience.
Minister Smith later held a one-on-one discussion with Senhouse about his ambitions, future plans and interest in technology. Senhouse, who was accompanied by his mother, was also presented with a token of congratulations in recognition of his achievement.
Minister Smith said the Ministry will continue to support initiatives that expose young people to emerging technologies, strengthen their skills and create pathways for them to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s technological development