Ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning.
It is my pleasure to participate in the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding on the Digital Transformation of Land-Related Services between the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme.
This occasion marks an important step in advancing the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s thrust to build a modern, responsive and citizen-centred system of land administration.
Undoubtedly, land is one of a nation’s most important and valuable assets. It is connected to housing, agriculture, infrastructure, environmental management, business development and the creation of intergenerational wealth. Understandably, the systems through which land is registered, managed and transferred have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as on investment and the conduct of business.
I join my distinguished colleagues in acknowledging the challenges expressed by the public in navigating processes that can be complex, time-consuming and difficult to access. The modernisation of land-related services will allow citizens to obtain information more conveniently, reduce the need for repeated visits to public offices and facilitate the more timely processing of applications and transactions, while strengthening record-keeping and improving coordination across public institutions. This will also provide better information for planning and decision-making by policymakers, with the ultimate goal of improving the efficiency, responsiveness and accountability of these institutions.
This initiative complements the wider Trinidad and Tobago Digital Transformation Project, which seeks to improve the ease, efficiency and security of government services. It reflects a whole-of-society approach that recognises that digital transformation must serve everyone, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income households and residents of rural and underserved communities. Above all, it embraces the central principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that no one, no one should be left behind.
The initiative also aligns closely with the Government’s strategic pillars. First, it advances the Government’s commitment to Modernising Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Services by using technology to improve the delivery of essential public services. Second, it supports Unlocking Productive Investment and Jobs, recognising that a transparent and efficient land administration system has the potential to reduce uncertainty, facilitate development and improve the ease of doing business. Third, it contributes to Commercialising and Optimising Public Assets by supporting the more strategic, productive and accountable management of the State’s land resources. In addition, the stronger systems, greater transparency and reduced administrative costs envisaged under this initiative will support the Government’s objective of Restoring Confidence and Fiscal Stability.
Of particular significance is the participation of the United Nations Development Programme in this collaborative undertaking. Trinidad and Tobago has long valued its partnership with the United Nations system and the support it has provided to our national development. In this connection, the wider digital transformation programme demonstrates the practical value of international cooperation, providing an important foundation upon which individual ministries can modernise their operations. The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs therefore remains committed to facilitating partnerships of this nature.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are wholly committed to building a public service that is modern, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the people. In this regard, the digital transformation of land-related services is an important part of that wider national undertaking.
I therefore commend wholeheartedly Minister Hosein, Mr. Blanco of the UNDP, and all those who contributed to realising this partnership and I look forward to the meaningful and measurable outcomes that will redound to the benefit of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
Let today signal our shared determination to move from agreement to action and from longstanding challenges to lasting solutions.
I thank you.
