The Digital Readiness Assessment Report for Trinidad and Tobago

March 2022

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Principles and Recommendations

Author: UNDP

The Digital Readiness Assessment Report for Trinidad and Tobago (March 2022, UNDP) provides a structured evaluation of the country’s digital transformation journey. It uses the UNDP Digital Transformation Framework and assesses five pillars: infrastructure, government, regulation, business, and people, alongside foundational digital catalysts: data exchange, digital legal identity, and digital payments.

Purpose and methodology

The report is a survey-based diagnostic tool developed by the UNDP Chief Digital Office. It draws on desk research, stakeholder surveys, and public surveys. While not representative of the entire population, the surveys included government, private sector, civil society, and citizens, offering broad perspectives. Its aim is to give high-level insights into digital strengths and challenges, spark discussion, and guide national strategy and international cooperation.

Key findings

  1. Overall status
    • Trinidad and Tobago is at the ‘systematic’ stage of digital readiness. This means the country is advancing in key digital areas with clear foundational strengths and identified priorities.
  2. infrastructure
    • Strong foundations: multiple submarine cables, Internet Exchange Point, data centers, 100% 3G coverage and 75% 4G coverage.
    • Challenges: last-mile connectivity, affordability for rural users, and uneven service quality.
    • Innovation ecosystem: incubators, university R&D, and government innovation programmes exist but need greater visibility and alignment with private sector needs.
  3. government
    • Creation of a dedicated Ministry of Digital Transformation shows political commitment.
    • Initiatives like TTConnect, TTBizLink, GovPayTT, and TT TravelPass mark strong progress.
    • Weaknesses: fragmented coordination across ministries, limited open data delivery, insufficient human/financial resources, and a lack of advanced digital skills in the civil service.
  4. regulation
    • Progress in data protection, e-signature, and e-payments legislation.
    • Need to accelerate cybersecurity governance and align sector regulators with digital economy goals.
    • Absence of robust open data policies and enforcement.
  5. business
    • SMEs benefit from digitised business registration and lending schemes.
    • Gaps remain in reliable connectivity, access to credit, and digital literacy.
    • Opportunities: engage the digital diaspora, expand fintech, and demonstrate the value of digital tools for SMEs.
  6. people
    • Strong digital literacy foundations: high mobile use and social media engagement.
    • Inequalities remain in rural areas, among older citizens, and in school connectivity.
    • Programmes like Universal Service Funds and ICT Access Centres are promising, but more coordination is needed for lifelong digital upskilling.

Recommendations

The report provides a range of actions, including:

  1. Infrastructure – Develop a new digital infrastructure strategy, reform telecoms for infrastructure sharing, map connectivity gaps, and assess the Universal Service Fund’s effectiveness.
  2. Government – Establish a clear national digital strategy, use ‘exemplar’ digital services as models, improve procurement transparency, and build Centres of Excellence in public administration.
  3. Regulation – Update laws on data protection, cybercrime, and electronic transactions; improve once-only legislation for e-government.
  4. Business – Create digital business service centres, innovative financing schemes for MSMEs, and formal ICT cooperatives.
  5. People – Expand school digitalisation, lifelong digital skills strategies, and stimulate a creative digital economy.

Overall significance

The assessment concludes that Trinidad and Tobago has a solid digital foundation compared to other countries of similar income and among Small Island Developing States. However, it must close rural access gaps, strengthen open data, and expand human capital to fully realise the benefits of digital transformation. The country is seen as well-placed to become a regional leader in whole-of-government and whole-of-society digital transformation.