Questions/Answers

“Digital Inclusion” is the ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies. A survey, conducted by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) highlighted the dynamics of technology and access in Trinidad and Tobago built through a comprehensive exercise entailing collecting data for the calculation and measurement of the digital divide across the country, Marac being one such area that is considered a technological dead zone thus digitally divided. The Star.tt Community-based ICT Access Centre is an initiative taken by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to create “a knowledge- based society, driven by the innovative use of ICTs to enhance the social, economic and cultural development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago”. While urban and suburban areas are well connected, remote and underserved areas such as Marac are still behind in terms of connectivity as well as ICT-literate citizens, lacking important amenities such as broadband internet access and easy accessibility to government and e-government services causing a massive digital divide. Star.tt Access Centre seeks to contribute to the development of Marac not only by providing access, but training and entrepreneurial opportunities as well. Due to the low level income of the residents in Marac, it wouldn't be feasible for the average household to commute in order to access these services. Star.tt addressed that challenge, by providing these services within walking proximity of the residents home.

The star.tt objectives are: Provision of free “purpose-built” training; Provision of an accessible WiFi lounge/patio and cyber cafe facility that provides free, authenticated 24/7 internet access to the community; Provision of broadband Internet access and related services to the community at no cost; Provision of free technical support for personal electronic devices and Access to GoRTT Information. Another objective of the Star.tt ICT Initiative is increasing the opportunities within rural communities for economic gain. This objective seeks to address persons or groups in rural and underserved communities that have that entrepreneurial spirit. As a direct result of the location being rural as well as the small number of persons living in these areas, the entrepreneurial minded individuals from these areas would be limited in their potential customer base. With the implementation of Star.tt, individuals in Marac now have the opportunity to access a larger market since they are better positioned to market themselves and their product through the development and maintenance of an email address, website, blog or various social media accounts which can all be done using the Cyber Cafe or WiFi Patio components at the Centres.

The vulnerable in society is any sector that is at higher risk of being subjected to discriminatory practices, or economic hardship than other groups within the state. Marac and environs can be considered as such. To date residents are not afforded basic amenities such as regular supply of water, good access roads, telephone reception and broadband internet access. Furthermore, many of the residents can be considered poor as the unemployment rate is high and as such there is a high dependency on the illegal drug trade and social programs for a source of income. After the implementation of the Marac Star.tt Access Centre in 2014 many residents were exposed to ICT and a range of government services such as e-Tax, ttconnect ID Registration, Housing Application, Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Trainee Registration, Gate Registration, TTBizLink, amongst others through partnership with ttconnect a subsidiary of iGovtt .The ‘all services free factor’ of the initiative coupled with the ease of accessibility allows for the poorest to benefit from services offered by the government. Prior to the implementation the centre users would have had to commute to the town to access these services which is 37.4km

The Star.tt initiative is centred around fostering community development and enhancement, through partnership using ICT as the platform. Hence Star.tt works with other organisations such as Ministry of Health, the freedom of information act division of the Ministry of Public Administration and Communication, the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Education to educate the public about key topics. An example of this partnership was a ICT Workshop held with the teachers and principal from the Marac Baptist Primary School entitled “technology in the classroom”. Additionally, Star.tt Marac provides an interface for delivery of public services using (ICT) Information and Communications Technology. Therefore, providing access to high-speed, high-capacity Internet services, which has improved the lives of the residents by giving them the opportunity to access a number of government e-commerce platforms at no cost to the residents. According to the Government’s 2030 ICT vision, the main goal is to accelerate government and public service transformation and thereby strengthen economic competitiveness and promote sustainable development.

The residents of Marac have been experiencing difficulties in accessing government information and carrying out pertinent transactions due to their remote location. In order to obtain information from a government ministry a resident would have to visit either one or both of the service points; The City of San Fernando which is 54.2 km or the Capital of Port of Spain which is 98.9 km away. The completion of one transaction may take approximately three(3) visits; first to gather the necessary information, secondly to carry out the transaction and thirdly to make adjustments if further information is required and/or to receive the final product/service.The length and cost commuting factor has been a major deterring factor to residents. The Star.tt Initiative eliminates this issue in two ways; citizens can visit the Marac Star.tt Access Centre to obtain the relevant information online such as forms and requirements, and in cases where online applications are accepted they can carry out the same. Follow up actions such as printing and online status tracking can also be done. Through Star.tt’s partnership with various Ministries residents visit the centre’s training room for seasonal information sessions about services available so as to foster a better relationship with public servants and by extension the government.

Three groups have been significantly impacted by the initiative; Children and teens, Women and the differently able. Children and Teens now have access to digital information and learning resources which enable eliminates the inequality previously faced as it relates to students from the community not having access to the same resources and opportunities as those in developed urban communities.this is in alignment with goal 4 -Quality Education of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Through access to ICT women are exploring avenues for empowerment. Statistics have shown that since the implementation of the Marac Star.tt Access Centre more women went on to further their academic qualifications.More women went on to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, more women understand the value of the ICT as a vital resource for self enhancement and health and well-being Points can be aligned with SDGs 3,4,5, 9 and 10 One of the major issue affecting the differently abled is being able to access government buildings. The building infrastructure of Marac Star.tt Access Centre caters to the physical needs of the differently abled. The Centre is outfitted with a ramp to all entrance access points, there is specifically designed tables to facilitate wheelchairs, and the toilets are equipped with the necessary handrails.

The Star.tt Initiative is distinctively new to the Marac Community. Although the initiative may have been modelled against an international approach, nationally it is a first. This is the first initiative taken by the country of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that ICT is available in remote parts of the country in keeping with the global agenda. This enterprise ensures that rural areas or not robbed of the opportunity to become equal in terms of being afforded the same amenities as those living in more developed areas-Goal 10 of the SDGs; Quality education-Goal 4, by removing the barrier of limited resources once faced by students and teachers of Marac and Good Health and wellbeing by making the a vast amount of information accessible. Additionally, the partnerships formed aids for a strengthened means of implementation-SDGs goal 17. Emphasis must be made that prior to the Star.tt Centre; accessing government services was difficult. Residents were unable to access any type of reliable internet connectivity while in the community. Persons who would have otherwise not been able to afford services such as internet access, ICT based training, scanning, faxing and printing can now do so as all services are free.

While urban and suburban areas are well connected, remote and underserved areas are still behind in terms of connectivity as well as ICT-literate citizens. The Star.tt initiative was conceptualized as a response to the pervasive low rates of ICT availability and usage in Trinidad and Tobago. Regarding its originality, the Marac Star.tt Access Centre initiative is a adaptation from three other Access Centre, Penal, Guayaguayare, Cumana which initially launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology and was transferred to Ministry of Public Administration and Communication in the year 2015.

Capital expenditure Investment ($TT) Construction 3,082,000.00 Outfitting 206,000.00 ICT Equipment 676,000.00 Operational expenditure (Y1) Staffing 394,000.00 Internet and telefax services 12,000.00 Electricity 207,000.00 Water and Sewerage 155,000.00 Consumables 240,000.00 Manned and Remote Surveillance 955,000.00 Maintenance 328,000.00 Miscellaneous 377,000.00 Sub-total (6,632,000.00) Benefits GDP Growth Addition of citizens to the knowledge economy Community employment Provision of government services

Yes

International studies suggest that a direct correlation exists between Internet penetration levels, ICT adoption, the generation of employment, and the reduction of poverty. The Star.tt initiative initially began in Penal and was transferred to Guayaguayare, Cumana and Marac. Apart from Penal, the three other locations of Star.tt Access Centre is considered to be rural undeserved areas in Trinidad where there is high unemployment which is strongly correlated to poverty. The transferability where based upon the same operational structure where each of the Access Centre in the different locations offers the same services, and opening and closing hours of 8AM to 6PM, Monday to Saturday. The Star.tt Initiative continues to be transferred to other contexts. Implementation of two (2) additional centres is in train.

Based upon the geographical location of the Marac Star.tt Access Centre all indicators presently shows that the initiative can be sustained over a significant period of time. From an economic perspective the sustainability of the Marac Star.tt Access Centre can be Threefold. Firstly, it is to determine whether there will continued need for the services offered. Secondly, whether government would continue to fund the program and thirdly, whether Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will make the initial capital investment. Based upon the economic composition of the community where the main source of revenue is generated through employment in social programmes such as Community Environmental Protection Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), fishing peasant farming and seasonal employment. Therefore, the percentage of residents being able to afford is expected to be in the minority. As it relates to the second point, it is assumed that even though Trinidad and Tobago is said to be in a recession, it is expected that the government will continue to fund the initiative given its benefits to the community. Regarding the third point, in the past ISPs have displayed an unwillingness to expand their operations in communities such as Marac. However, it is uncertain whether in the future if government will open the telecommunication industry to new entrants who might be willing to undertake such investment. From a social perspective social media is the major platform used to communicate among the millennial generation globally and this trend is expected to continue in the long term and as such residents will continue to seek access. In its present form, the Marac Star.tt Access Centre posed no environmental hazard to the community.

The initiative can be sustained through continued partnership with Schools, Churches, Sports clubs and Businesses. With regards to schools, working closely with the Marac Baptist Primary School to ensure that no student is left behind as it relates to their exposure and their ability to use technology. For example, apart from the Marac Star.tt Access Centre the students of the Marac Baptist Primary School have no access to ICT because their in no internet connectivity at the School, therefore making such partnership is essential and in keeping with goal 17 of United Nations development agenda. Students from various communities in and around Moruga visit the Access Centre on a daily basis for various reasons. As we interact with them, we have observed that a number of students have challenges academically and with their overall communication skills. Based upon our observation, the students learning deficiencies in a number of instances are a result of a lack of parental guidance in their academic development, resulting in them being left behind in the primary school system. As a means of fostering the holistic development of the students in our community, we have embarked on this initiative to assist some of the students who we have identified as being in dire need of this type of one and one special attention. Contemporary methods of teaching are becoming obsolete therefore it is important that ICT plays a more integral part in the delivery of the primary and kindergarten syllabus Solidify the training programme through the offering of more relevant content and awarding of accredited certifications.

Yes

A community wide survey was undertaken by Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi to gauge how many persons are aware that the services exist and gauge user experiences. Internally, further evaluation is conducted on a daily basis. Factors such as ICT proficiency Frequency of access to government services , increase of usage of online resources for education and customer satisfaction is measured. Upon completion of ICT based training an evaluation form is administered to trainees which will allow them to indicate whether the topics covered during the training is understood and whether they will be able master the skills taught without any assistance in future. Additionally, a monthly report is compiled highlighting the usage for the given period. Details such as Gender, age, purpose of visit and names are noted. This enables the determination of the frequency of usage of government services and access of online resources to aid education. Another form of evaluation done internally was customer satisfaction survey which was to gauge the level of satisfaction as it related to the quality of services delivered.

The evaluation conducted by Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi revealed that all age groups with the exception of 65 and older utilised the Centre. This has since changed as our internal records shows three persons between ages 65-74 accesses the services monthly. The gender variation was not extreme. However, males frequented the Centre more than females. Most persons per Centre were employed earning incomes between $5000.00 to $10000.00. It is important to note that this is a significant improvement compared to the statistics gathered pre implementation of the initiative where the majority of persons were unemployed. In recent months the unemployment rate has since increased due to the national economic downturn. In terms of ICT proficiency in 2015 most persons gave their knowledge a medium rating of 76% which is again a significant improvement compared to the initial data that was used to justify the need for the initiative. 22% of the users surveyed found the centre to be accessible. All Students utilized the centre and 50% of persons who were aware of the training participated. User satisfaction rating of 90% was attained. Interaction with each user revealed momentous strides in ICT proficiency, frequency and accessibility of government services.

The following key indicators were used to evaluate the initiative : User Satisfaction which defines whether the person visiting the centre is happy with the delivery of the services at the centre. Technology Savvy this factor takes into consideration the respondent’s level of ICT knowledge. The employment and income indicator was used to gauge the salary bracket of the respondent in an effort to determine if access to more information and services will aid in a more secure financial future through the maximization of opportunities. The frequency and utilization indicators were used to evaluate if the extent in which the services were being utilized. The Gender factor shows which group utilized the services

Three state owned organisations were engaged during the start-up phase of the initiative however more partnerships we formed over the years. The Marac Community Council, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Community Development played a vital role through the provision of the physical space to house the centre. Part of the existing Marac Community Centre building was remodelled to accommodate the Sart.tt Centre’s the Training room, Cyber Cafe and Wi-Fi Patio areas were added. iGovTT - The National ICT Company coordinated the setup and configuration of the networks and ICT equipment they also provide government services. Telecommunications Services Company of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) provided the Broadband Services. The latter partnerships include the Marac Baptist School, Kids Academy Early Childhood Educational Centre and the freedom of information act division. Currently the Marac Star.tt Centre is collaborating with Marac Baptist Primary School to host a remedial Math and English program entitled the Education Enhancement Initiative (EEI) using specialized software from the IXL Learning educational technology company procured by members of the Marac Star.tt Staff. EEI seeks to provide an alternative to the traditional teaching methods to meet the needs of the academically challenged students in the community. Presently twenty five (25) students between the ages of five (5) to thirteen (13) are enrolled in the program, each selected by the school’s Principal. In keeping with our Government’s 2030 ICT vision of integrating ICT into education, Star.tt sees the importance of embedding ICT during the formative years of a child’s development. Hence, for this reason the staff works closely with Kids Academy Early Childhood Educational Centre on a weekly basis introducing them to ICT for the purpose of enhance knowledge sharing through fun and learning.

Lessons Learnt ICT play an integral part in bridging the gap as it relates to the accessibility of information. In urban areas there is the availability of the necessary information technology infrastructure to facilitate ICT compared to the rural areas apart from the Marac Star.tt Access Centre which provides high speed internet. Exposure of information aids individuals in rural communities with self development such as entrepreneurship and self actualization. ICT is reliable platform for delivery of public services Measures to Improve. The forging of greater partnership with more government organisations and civic society. The current physical space restricts expansion, Star.tt has exhausted its present usage within the community centre, therefore a conference room is recommended. This additional room will become the venue for hosting symposiums, consultations, training and development initiates. Additionally the centre will serve as a hub for government housing forms and other documents pertaining to the stakeholders both hard-copy and digital. Building long term collaboration with primary schools through the offering of ICT technical support not only in Marac, but also in other primary schools located in neighboring communities. The Marac Access Centre could accelerate the adoption of alternative and renewable energy supplies by utilizing solar panels and energy efficient lighting, by leveraging resources at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries