Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to “closing the economic, geographic, and social gaps that have left too many behind.”
Speaking to an audience of Government Ministers, diplomats, UN representatives, and members of civil society at the Caribbean Launch of the UNDP’s Regional Human Development Report 2025 titled Under Pressure: Recalibrating the Future of Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, he said the report comes at an important time, as countries face growing challenges such as global uncertainty, climate change, economic shocks, and rapid technological change.
“It is not just a report, it is a call to action, a reminder that development is not only about income or growth rates, but about multidimensional wellbeing. It challenges us to put people at the centre of our strategies, to build resilience, and to ensure our economies serve humanity, not the other way around. In the Caribbean, we know what it means to live under pressure. As small island states, we face the front lines of climate change, financial shocks, trade disruptions. Therefore, resilience speaks to our capacity to withstand these global shocks and emerge stronger.”
From improving public procurement and embracing digital tools to strengthening food security and climate resilience, Minister Swaratsingh said the Government’s agenda is clearly “people-first.”
“In Trinidad and Tobago, we are defined not by our challenges, but by how we respond to them. That is why this government, under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister, has been moving with urgency, reforming public procurement, advancing in government digital payments, strengthening safety and security, and putting food security and climate action in the heart of our economic diversification strategy. The RHDR calls us to think beyond the immediate, to plan not only for growth but for human flourishing. It challenges us to put resilience at the core of our development playbook. As the Prime Minister said during the campaign, we must build not just for today, but for the Trinidad and Tobago our children deserve, a nation that bends but does not break. Planning is the bridge between aspiration and action.”
Minister Swaratsingh emphasised the critical role of data in guiding effective decision-making.
“Without accurate, timely, and inclusive data, we are navigating in the dark. With it, we can identify inequalities, anticipate risks, and measure progress in a way that is transparent and accountable. Data empowers us to ensure that no community, no family, and no individual is invisible in our national development story. And resilience is strengthened when decisions are informed by reliable data – data on disaster risk, food security, health outcomes, education access, and environmental challenges. This data helps us to understand where vulnerabilities lie and how best to direct resources so that we build stronger systems and protect those most at risk.”
The Planning Minister said the UNDP’s Regional Human Development Report 2025 will serve as a “roadmap to a more just, inclusive, and resilient future.”