#12 A Government’s Call for Change Meets Private Innovation for Trinidad’s Democracy
Through initiatives like the D (developer) Hub competition, Trinidad and Tobago’s government invited private sector innovators to address civic challenges, paving the way for a groundbreaking crowdsourced data platform. Born from a minister’s vision for a reporting app, this platform empowers citizens to report issues like potholes or manholes in real time, fostering transparency and accountability. With over 2,000 reports in just 10 months, it transforms community concerns into data-driven insights for policymakers. From “Lily” reporting a dangerous manhole to state entities like water authorities acting faster, this public-private partnership strengthens democracy by amplifying citizen voices. Guided by faith, humility, and a commitment to social good, the creators share lessons on overcoming bureaucracy and their vision for scaling citizen-driven solutions globally. Tune in to explore how government-led initiatives and private innovation are building a more responsive democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.
PODCAST
Odeta Ise
5/15/20255 min read
WSA Winning Year: 2024
Award: The World Summit Award
Category: Government & Citizen Engagement
Producers: Emeka Farrier & Aaron Williams
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
On WSA website: https://wsa-global.org/winner/local-tt/
In Trinidad and Tobago, the government’s willingness to embrace change through initiatives like the D Hub competition sparked a powerful collaboration with private sector innovators, giving rise to Local TT, a crowdsourced data platform that empowers citizens and reshapes governance. This platform, born from a minister’s vision for a simple reporting app, enables real-time reporting of community issues, fosters transparency, and equips policymakers with data to address public needs. Through the lens of inspiration leading to insight, Local TT’s story showcases how government-driven innovation can catalyze transparent digital democracies worldwide, with Trinidad and Tobago as a compelling example. Rooted in faith, humility, and a commitment to social good, the founders’ journey illustrates the transformative impact of public-private partnerships in building a more accountable democracy.
A Government’s Vision Ignites Change
Trinidad and Tobago’s government has long recognized the need to bridge the gap between citizens and public services, where bureaucracy and outdated systems often stifle civic engagement. Through initiatives like the D Hub competition, which drew over 400 tech-savvy applicants to solve government challenges, the Ministry of Digital Transformation set the stage for innovation. One such spark came when a minister proposed a reporting app to streamline citizen complaints, inviting private sector talent to turn this vision into reality. Local TT emerged as a response, transforming a simple idea into a platform that empowers citizens to report issues like potholes, broken streetlights, or manholes, while making the process transparent and accountable.
Consider “Lily,” a citizen who encounters a dangerous manhole while driving to work. In the past, reporting it would have meant navigating a maze of offices or emails with no guarantee of action. With Local TT, Lily snaps a photo, adds context, and submits the issue in seconds. The platform geotags the report, vets it for legitimacy, and assigns it to the appropriate authority, all visible to the public. Other citizens can follow the progress, creating a sense of community and accountability. In just 10 months, Local TT has logged over 2,000 reports, compared to fewer than 100 manual submissions the previous year, demonstrating the power of government-led digital solutions to amplify citizen voices.
The Power of Collaboration
The government’s proactive approach, exemplified by the D Hub competition and funding from the Inter-American Development Bank, created a fertile ground for private sector innovation. Local TT’s founders, guided by a “say yes” philosophy, seized this opportunity to build a platform that goes beyond a basic app. Their agility allowed them to deliver a solution in record time, despite bureaucratic hurdles and initial skepticism. “Sometimes you just need to say yes and let the chips fall where they may,” one founder shared, reflecting a resilience rooted in faith and a belief that every challenge holds a solution.
This public-private partnership has yielded remarkable insights. Local TT’s first phase focuses on data gathering, providing policymakers with a clear picture of community needs, from the number of broken streetlights to their impact on residents. With over 22,000 users, the platform creates a digital trail that holds institutions accountable, especially as Trinidad and Tobago approaches an election on April 28, 2025. State entities like water and light authorities, integrated into the platform, are responding faster, fostering trust and demonstrating the tangible impact of collaborative governance. Phase two, streamlining workflows to resolve issues, requires tackling entrenched processes, a challenge the founders are prepared to meet with their rapid, solution-oriented approach.
Values That Drive Impact
At the heart of Local TT are values of faith, humility, and a commitment to social good. The founders, driven by their Christian faith, view their work as a mission guided by a higher purpose. “God is at the center of our lives,” they shared, noting how faith fuels their persistence through setbacks like bureaucratic resistance or resource constraints. This belief shapes their approach, turning challenges into opportunities to build character and resilience.
Their humility is evident in their openness to learning, drawing inspiration from global models like India’s open source frameworks and similar platforms in Morocco and the Netherlands. They credit the government’s meritocratic initiatives, such as the D Hub’s transparent selection process, for showcasing local talent and fostering inclusivity. Women like Janelle, a project manager who leads with precision and humility, are blazing trails in Trinidad’s tech scene, reinforcing the founders’ commitment to diversity and collaboration.
Local TT’s focus on social good over profit underscores their entrepreneurial ethos. “Get to market, and the rest will follow,” they assert, having poured personal funds into the project and juggled multiple jobs to sustain it. Their urgency, “If we don’t do it now, then when?”, reflects a dedication to serving their community, especially as young entrepreneurs balancing family responsibilities.
Insights for Transparent Digital Democracies
Local TT’s journey offers profound lessons for governments and innovators worldwide. First, it demonstrates the power of government-led initiatives to catalyze change. Trinidad and Tobago’s D Hub competition and digital transformation efforts, supported by transparent processes and international partnerships, created a model for engaging private talent. This willingness to innovate sets a precedent for other nations seeking to build transparent digital democracies.
Second, the platform highlights the transformative potential of citizen-driven data. By logging 2,000 reports and enabling real-time tracking, Local TT empowers citizens to demand accountability while providing policymakers with insights to prioritize resources. The involvement of private entities like water authorities amplifies this impact, showing how public-private partnerships can bridge gaps in service delivery.
Finally, the founders see artificial intelligence (AI) as a key to scaling impact. From automating issue assignments to identifying workflow bottlenecks, AI could make the platform more efficient and accessible, allowing citizens to simply snap a photo and query data through intuitive interfaces. While government constraints limit immediate implementation, the founders are exploring these advancements independently, showcasing their forward-thinking approach.
A Model for the World
Local TT’s story is a testament to how a government’s commitment to change can inspire private innovation, creating solutions that strengthen democracy. Trinidad and Tobago, with its high digital proficiency and government-backed initiatives, stands as a compelling example for other nations. The platform’s success, recognized with a national award from the Inter-American Development Bank, points to its potential to transcend borders. The founders envision Local TT as a global citizen-generated data platform, empowering communities worldwide to shape governance through transparent, data-driven systems.
From a government’s call for change to a platform that amplifies 2,000 voices and counting, Local TT shows that inspiration, rooted in faith and collaboration, can lead to insights that drive lasting impact. As governments and innovators look to build transparent digital democracies, Trinidad and Tobago’s example offers a roadmap, proving that public-private partnerships can transform citizen engagement and accountability.
