The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS) is happy to announce the operationalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of National Security (MNS). This new arrangement was sealed earlier today at the Ministry’s Head Office, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain. Both Senator the Honourable Donna Cox, Minister of Social Development and Family Services and Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security witnessed the signing by Permanent Secretaries at the MSDFS and MNS, Jacqueline Johnson and Gary Joseph.
This MOU will seek to set out the basis for an inter-Ministerial relationship and will facilitate the seamless transmission of travel information and verification with respect to citizens and residents of Trinidad and Tobago applying for the Ministry’s Senior Citizens’ Pension and other social assistance grants offered by the Ministry. This partnership is in keeping with the Vision 2030 goal of promoting integrated services, to facilitate the more effective use of information and communication technologies, through a whole of Government approach.
In her brief address, Minister Cox stated that this MOU is the result of several meetings between both Ministries, which will allow for easier access to real time, accurate information, as the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services continues to work assiduously to achieve greater efficiency cost savings, and improved client satisfaction. She further noted that the MOU not only forms part of the Ministry’s digitization thrust, but would greatly contribute towards reducing challenges associated with irregular applications and payments, thereby improving social services delivery,
During the brief ceremony, Minister Hinds also took the opportunity to provide insight to the shared platform, and further indicated that this MOU would serve as a solution to end corruption in accessing social grants, particularly the Senior Citizens’ Pension.
The public should note that access to this data will allow the Ministry to manage the social services delivery process more efficiently. These initiatives are important aspects of the public service transformation thrust as Government moves toward the attainment of developed country status and digital transformation.
Also present to witness this momentous signing were Deputy Permanent Secretary of the MSDFS, Wendy Guy-Hernandez; Ag. Chief Immigration Office, Vera Persad; and other Heads and Legal Officers of both Ministries.
The Ministry remains committed towards improving the overall efficiency of the social services delivery system.