In response to the goal of doubling the ICT sector’s contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP, the Developers Hub, more commonly known as D’Hub, offers training, access to tools, as well as income and networking opportunities to local developers and citizens interested in ICT. With Devindra Ramnarine, a Digital Transformation Adviser at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Trinidad and Tobago, and one of the main architects of D’Hub, we discuss this innovative platform, including, the problem D’Hub is trying to solve; the specific government or societal challenges that are being addressed via D’Hub; how D’Hub can be made sustainable; and whether the model can be replicated in other Caribbean or developing countries.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

The digital transformative nature of ICT has been well-documented. However, realising the desired outcomes – in an organisation or a country – can be challenging as it requires a comprehensive strategy, a sustained will and the resources to facilitate implementation over the long term.

Launched in 2023, the Developers’ Hub (D’Hub) is a key initiative under the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Trinidad and Tobago that fosters the development of innovative, secure, and high-quality software solutions that address the needs of the public sector, citizens, and businesses in Trinidad and Tobago. More importantly, it is a collaborative ecosystem designed to empower local developers with the tools, resources and support needed to drive innovative and digital solutions that can have an impact in Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world.

The D’Hub model is new in the Caribbean region but has been receiving global attention for creating an enabling environment for digital transformation, sustainable development innovation and furthering the continued development of Trinidad and Tobago’s digital economy.

 

Introducing our guest

Devindra Ramnarine is a digital transformation consultant with over 30 years of experience in digital technology, digital government and ICT-enabled transformation across the Caribbean region. He is currently the Digital Transformation Adviser (Innovation and Implementation) at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Trinidad and Tobago, where he provides strategic advice, technical architectural support, and project management services.

Devindra has been responsible for establishing the Developer’s Hub (D’Hub), an initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation driven by the Ministry of Finance’s directive to increase the contribution of the ICT sector to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The programme has been strengthening the local software developer community with the goal of creating revenue-earning software development export capability. D’Hub was the proud recipient of the Inter-American Development Bank’s 2023 President’s Award for Service Excellence and Innovation (Pr.AISE) Award for Innovation in the Public Service, and it was recently awarded the 2024 World Summit on the Information Society “Champion” Prize for creating a supportive environment for sustainable development through digital means.

 

Insights into our conversation

It is not often that a Caribbean government launches a comprehensive and long-term initiative to foster digital innovation and entrepreneurship. We have seen code sprints and grants programmes come and go without having any significant or sustained impact. However, when D’Hub was announced, it seemed to want to tackle digital innovation and entrepreneurship from different fronts, including skills development, skills application to solve real-world problems, mentoring and business development.

Devindra, as one of the architects of D’Hub, offers tremendous insight into its inner workings and some of its achievements to date. Below are key questions posed during the course of our conversation.

  1. How did D’Hub come about?
  2. What is the problem D’Hub is trying to solve?
  3. How is D’Hub structured?
  4. What has D’Hub been achieved to date?
  5. What are the specific government or societal challenges the selected developers are trying to address?
  6. Were there gaps or deficiencies that emerged that required the D’Hub model to be adjusted?
  7. How could the D’Hub model be replicated in other Caribbean countries?
  8. Where would you like to see D’Hub in the next 3 to 5 years?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  TechNewsTT; First Caribbean Bank (Trinidad and Tobago);  Wikimedia Commons; creativeart (Freepik); DilokaStudio (Freepik);  Ministry of Digital Transformation (Trinidad and Tobago)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez