Senior citizens in Tobago are the first to receive devices as part of an e-CARE initiative launched by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT).
Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Dominic Smith, visited Tobago for the distribution of devices under the e-CARE initiative, which, he announced, will be rolled out nationally.
“Often people, in the past, have considered Tobago an afterthought. You are not an afterthought. You are our brothers and sisters in the fight of transforming Trinidad and Tobago, making it digitally ready.”
The initiative was held in conjunction with the Tobago Information Technology Limited (TITL).
Minister Smith said in the first instance, 100 devices will be distributed to senior citizens across the island.
“The mandate is to give it out to as many persons as possible. I think TATT has a mandate as well and they would have in terms of the intricacies in terms of the how and the when of the rollout which would be provided to the public.”
Also at the event, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and TITL signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at supporting senior citizens in learning how to use the devices.
Secretary of Education, Skills and Innovation Orlando Kerr noted that the devices are about more than staying connected to loved ones.
“A senior accessing health information without assistance, an individual navigating government’s online services independently.”
Secretary Kerr believes that while young people should be exposed to technology, the digital transformation of the country cannot happen without senior citizens.
Tobago West Member of Parliament Joel Sampson also endorsed the initiative.
“It just shows the government’s commitment to collaborate with the people of Tobago to ensure that whatever services are provided in Trinidad, the same services are offered to the people here on the island of Tobago.”
Five devices were distributed on Monday as part of the launch, with the remaining 95 to be handed out in the coming days.