PETER CHRISTOPHER
Senior Multimedia Reporter
peter.christopher@guardian.co.tt
Finance Minister Colm Imbert is set to become the chairman of the board of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) next month.
Imbert made the revelation while addressing the signing ceremony for the LACIF Grant Agreement, which will see the government receive €3 million from CAF and the European Union for the implementation of T&Ts interoperability platform, e-identity programme and government data platform.
"I was reminded in a meeting with CAF yesterday that the chairmanship of the board of directors is rotated among countries, and next month, the Finance Minister of Trinidad and Tobago will be the chairman of the board of directors of CAF," said Imbert, who confirmed that T&T's Finance Minister will hold the role for one year.
Minister Imbert estimated the grant will see an estimated $24 million invested towards crucial digitalisation projects.
"This $24 million will go a long way with respect to the preparation for these projects, these three projects. The inter-operability platform, the E-identity platform and the government data sector and all the inter operability platform is, is simply allowing government ministries and departments to share information in a safe and secure manner. So you can gather information, you can share information, and it's encrypted so that people can get into it, hopefully you won't be a victim of ransomware attacks," said Imbert, "And so with this e-identity programme, I don't need to explain what that is. It's electronic identity. So where, right now you have a driver's permit, you have an ID card, this will be an electronic identity system, and it will be regional."
The signing was also attended by Minister of Digital Transformation, Hassel Bacchus, and Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne who both hailed the push granted to T&T by CAF and the EU.
Bacchus said the grant would play a significant role in developing and deploying digital solutions for T&T and the wider Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration.
However, Minister Browne noted while recent trade policy announcements have created a climate where collaboration between states is being challenged globally, this ceremony underlined the importance of reaffirming partnerships in such a complex global environment.
"Some alliances are changing almost overnight. Against that backdrop, it is always important to emphasise or share principles and to reaffirm partnerships that continue to make a positive difference for make a positive difference for the people of Trinidad," said Dr Browne who said the investment could be crucial to free movement within the region.