New Digital Platform VerifyTT Set To Transform Access To Public Records
Trinidad and Tobago will officially be stepping away from the « brown envelope » era.
On Wednesday, iGovTT, through the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, launched VerifyTT, the nation’s first digital public infrastructure verification platform aimed at providing citizens with instant access to official records, eliminating the need for physical paperwork and long lines at government offices.
Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed by the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service at Wednesday’s launch.
Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Dominic Smith says the creation of this first-of-its-kind platform in the region aims to meet the demands of citizens.
« And how do we meet it in a way that betters the lives of each and every citizen? I can say to you today that this Government and this Ministry puts people first. And we have seen the demand of the population, and we have seen the pain points that affect their daily lives. Solutions like VerifyTT solve many of those problems that have been plaguing our society. »
Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training Professor Prakash Persad noted that the platform will eliminate the manual verification system in favour of a secure digital system, allowing students and graduates immediate access to verifiable digital credentials through a digital wallet.
« It allows them to have greater mobility because now the credentials can be shared both to employers locally and abroad. So VerifyTT represents a strategic step in modernising how we should manage and validate academic and skill-based credentials in Trinidad and Tobago. It is intended to be, Mr. Minister, sir, the national standard here. »
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein noted that this also streamlines documentation and verification for his Ministry.
« This particular event will also play a very critical role not only when it comes to the civil registry, which issues birth certificates, it issues death certificates, it issues marriage certificates, but also – I don’t want to say we beat you at it, Dominic – but I can boast that certified copies for land records that are issued by the Office of the Registrar General already have imprinted on them QR codes which can be integrated within this VerifyTT system. »
From birth certificates to academic credentials, VerifyTT is positioned to modernise T&T’s digital public infrastructure.
