MPA FACILITATES COLLABORATION AND SHARING THROUGH ICTs Ministry launches online forum for Diamond Standard participants

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 July, 2015

 

MPA FACILITATES COLLABORATION AND SHARING THROUGH ICTs Ministry launches online forum for Diamond Standard participants

 

The Ministry of Public Administration recently hosted iNter@CT, the first networking forum for ministries and agencies participating in the Trinidad and Tobago Diamond Standard Programme (TTDS). The three-day event, “TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AND INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR” was formally launched at the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business on Tuesday 21st July and included workshops facilitated by CARIRI and the Microsoft Innovation Centre to help participants better apply technology in their service operations.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Public Administration, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan stated that there is plenty room for innovation and greater efficiency through the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the Public Service. Within the MPA, Minister Seepersad-Bachan launched the Diamond Buzz Project, an initiative based on crowd sourcing and open data, where local Information Technology graduates will have a major role to play. They will have access to certain types of government data and will be challenged to find creative ways to make the data available and useful to the public, through technology innovation such as software and applications development.

Presentations and demonstrations by public sector organizations such as NAMDEVCO, iGovTT, and TEMA showed how ICTs are already being used in the successful delivery of existing public services to the public. Features on innovations within the private sector were also well received by the participants. They were able to understand how Microsoft’s CityNext and F1RST Media’s innovative platforms could help public services in many areas including data collection, management, and making nationally relevant information available and accessible to a wider cross-section of citizens.

Minister Seepersad-Bachan stressed the need to provide a better service experience for both customers and employees. “The iNter@CT online forum will allow TTDS stakeholders to communicate and collaborate with one another across and within agencies through a more integrated, shared and digital environment. We know our customers expect the best possible services which can only be delivered by utilising the best available technology to collaborate and share information with one another.”