Social Development website promises improved service

In keeping with its mandate to digitise TT, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services has recommissioned its website to better facilitate the needs of the differently abled, particularly the visually impaired, Minister Donna Cox said on Monday.

Speaking at the launch of the website at the ministry at St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, Cox said the updated digital platform features several tools to enhance interaction with the public and improve the quality and efficiency of services.

She said the website was redesigned in consultation with stakeholders from various agencies and groups for the differently-abled and was confident it would bridge the gap between the ministry and the public.

She adamitted there had been many complaints from people who "for a multitude of reasons" had been unable to access the ministry's services and tried repeatedly to contact the ministry without success.

Now, she said, "Among the website's capabilities is its capacities to facilitate e-learning and digitisation of all our social grants and services.

"It will allow us to interface with all ministries and state agencies and thus allow us to participate in the exchange of real-time data in a secure environment. This is a quantum leap in terms of a whole-of-government approach, as it will not only result in immediate and measurable improvements in terms of customer relations and service delivery, but also contribute to saving time and reducing physical interaction, especially during this covid19 time."

Cox said the website was one of several government projects aimed at improving digital connectivity across TT and promised more initiatives were under way to strengthen government services and "reset our economy through the strategic use of technology to bring our grants and services several steps closer to those considered most vulnerable.

"Going forward, the country will witness an explosion of ICT enabled services being made available through the wider citizenry in keeping with government's thrust towards the complete digitisation of the economy."

Also speaking at the launch was executive officer of the TT Blind Welfare Association Kenneth Suratt, who thanked the ministry for involving his association as consultants in developing the website.

Suratt also commended the government's inclusion of the visually impaired in its projects and was optimistic such measures would empower the differently abled.

"When we have access to information, what that does is give blind people the opportunity to participate in the process, an opportunity to be educated.

"We as persons who are disabled would like to contribute to GDP. We don't want to just be stretching our hands to collect a grant.

"While we collect the grant, we can also be training, and the Blind Welfare Association is ready and willing to work with the ministry to train blind people to be contributors to TT."

The website, developed by the Ministry of Social Welfare in collaboration with iGovtt and the Digicel Foundation, features audio-generated instructions.