Trinidad and Tobago is contributing to regional dialogue on the future of digital government, artificial intelligence, innovation and inclusive digital development at CTU ICT Week 2026, taking place in Cayenne, French Guiana, from September 20–24.
The annual event, hosted by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in collaboration with the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane, brought together Caribbean governments, policymakers, regulators, technology leaders and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and shape the region’s digital development agenda. This year’s programme focuses on advancing resilience, inclusion, innovation and cybersecurity in Caribbean digital development.
Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the event by Senator the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence and President of the CTU, alongside Irwin Williams, Head of Software Development at iGovTT, and Ria Karim, Chairman of iGovTT, who attended virtually.
iGovTT Contributes to the Caribbean Digital Transformation Dialogue
iGovTT’s participation reflects Trinidad and Tobago’s continued engagement in regional conversations around the development of trusted, connected and citizen-centred digital government.
As the organisation supporting key elements of the country’s digital transformation agenda, iGovTT is focused on building the digital foundations that enable government services to become more accessible, secure, connected and responsive to citizens.
The organisation’s work spans areas including digital public infrastructure, digital trust, digital services, artificial intelligence and connected government, while creating opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago to share its experience and learn from digital transformation initiatives across the region.
Women Shaping the Caribbean’s Digital Future
Attending virtually, Ria Karim, Chairman of iGovTT, brought a strong leadership and inclusion perspective to the CTU Network of Women Leadership Seminar, participating in the panel “Women Shaping the Caribbean’s Digital Future: Leadership, Policy and Global Influence.”
Karim distinguished between representation and influence, noting that while representation in leadership is important, meaningful influence requires having a voice, making a substantive contribution and having the institutional support to translate that contribution into action.
“Representation matters. We are still not where we need to be, but representation alone cannot be the destination. It is not about women simply occupying positions that were historically occupied by men. It is about having enough authority, confidence and institutional support to change the questions being asked, challenge assumptions and influence what ultimately gets built.”
She also highlighted the importance of bringing diverse lived experiences into the design of digital government systems and services.
“Our experiences as women leaders and professionals are very seldom the same as those of men. The burden of care, the responsibilities we carry and the realities we navigate shape how we experience the systems and services being designed around us. It creates an entirely different experience of bureaucracy and inefficiency, and amplifies frustrations when things don’t work.”
Karim also challenged regional networks to move beyond simply networking to becoming genuinely networked – creating stronger connections that translate into mentorship, sponsorship, support, opportunities and ultimately greater regional capability and global influence.
She emphasised the value of sharing experiences across borders, noting that lessons learned from navigating challenges within individual countries can become a resource for strengthening regional capacity.
Putting Citizens at the Centre of Digital Transformation
Irwin Williams, Head of Software Development, participated in a panel discussion on Digital Government and Public Service Transformation, sharing practical insights into Trinidad and Tobago’s experience in developing connected, citizen-centred digital services.
Williams highlighted iGovTT’s role in supporting the country’s digital transformation journey and the importance of developing digital solutions around the way citizens actually interact with government.
He also highlighted ANANSI — Trinidad and Tobago’s National Digital Assistant — developed to connect citizens with government information, services and solutions across multiple ministries, departments and agencies.
ANANSI reflects iGovTT’s broader approach to digital transformation: using technology not simply to digitise existing processes, but to make government easier to navigate and more responsive to citizen needs.
The discussions at CTU ICT Week also reinforced the importance of interoperability, digital trust, cybersecurity and inclusive design as Caribbean countries continue to develop their digital government ecosystems.
Building a More Connected Caribbean Digital Future
iGovTT’s participation at CTU ICT Week provided an opportunity to share Trinidad and Tobago’s experience while contributing to a wider regional conversation on how technology can strengthen public services and improve citizen experiences.
For iGovTT, the discussions reinforced the importance of building digital foundations that are trusted, connected and citizen-centred, while leveraging home-grown expertise and regional collaboration to advance public service transformation.
The event also provided an important platform for Caribbean countries to exchange experiences, identify common challenges and explore opportunities for greater collaboration as the region moves towards a more digitally connected future.