Author: Michele Marius

Unlike other Caribbean countries that have been aggressive in developing their fintech space, Trinidad and Tobago adopted a more measured posture in which it emphasised strengthening key enablers that could eventually facilitate accelerated development. However, in recent weeks, it appeared the country took a giant step backwards by proposing a blanket ban on all virtual asset service provider activities, though successful businesses had already been established. With Alexander Gafoor, the President of the FinTech Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FinTechTT), we discuss, among other things, the proposed ban and the challenges that are likely to eventuate; the feedback and recommendations made to the Government by FinTechTT; the broader state of innovation in Trinidad and Tobago; and what the country needs to do to become the fintech powerhouse it was always meant to be.