PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 22, CMC- Trinidad and Tobago Wednesday launched VerifyTT, a key component of the country’s digital public infrastructure that it says forms part of a decisive step toward building a modern, citizen-centred digital state.
Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Minister, Dominic Smith, speaking at the launch, said that the initiative reflects a unified and strategic national effort to transform how citizens access government services.
“This government is aligned in its vision to transform Trinidad and Tobago, and technology will be one of the major ways in which we accomplish this. Alignment does not happen by chance. It is driven by a shared vision, a clear goal, and a commitment to deliver meaningful change for our citizens.”
Smith said VerifyTT directly addresses long-standing challenges within the public service by responding to the growing demand for faster, more efficient, and more accessible government services.
He said that citizens have consistently experienced friction when interacting with public systems, and solutions like VerifyTT are designed to remove these barriers.
“People are at the centre of everything we do. We have listened to the demand, understood the pain points, and are now delivering solutions that improve the daily lives of our citizens.”
Developed within the framework of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the government says VerifyTT represents a foundational platform that enables secure, seamless and integrated digital services across government.
Smith described DPI as critical to national development, noting that it provides the backbone for a modern, technology-enabled public sector.
Smith said that while technology is central to transformation, it must remain grounded in human values, notinng “technology must not surpass our humanity”.
The government has since signalled immediate expansion of VerifyTT’s functionality through strategic partnerships, including an upcoming collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), saying this will allow citizens to apply for certificates of character through the platform in the near future, significantly improving efficiency and accessibility.
Smith also positioned Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader in digital transformation, noting the country’s early adoption of artificial intelligence at the ministerial level and its active participation in global digital forums.
He said Trinidad and Tobago is not merely adopting technology, but actively shaping its evolution.
“We are not going to be mere purchasers of technology. We will be active participants in the new wave of digital transformation,” he said, adding that “today represents the first step in a much larger journey toward a fully digital Trinidad and Tobago.”
Tertiary Education Minister, Professor Prakash Persad in welcoming VerifyTT saying it will streamline the verification process and allow for easier, more efficient access to student records in digital form.
“Those of you who have graduated from university know how long it takes. You apply for your host institution, for the transcript, etc. to be sent to the institution you want to go. And sometimes it can take months.
“Not acceptable, actually. So this process is lengthy and cumbersome and tedious and frustrating, actually. So herein lies the advantage of VerifyTT, the digital credential initiative.
“It changes how credentials are issued, shared and verified. By digitalising the process, the transmission and verification process is shortened from weeks maybe to minutes if it’s done properly,” Persad added.
CMC/ah/ir/2026