At UNDP Trinidad and Tobago, we believe that the answers to the most pressing challenges facing our societies are already present within our communities. Too often, communities are seen as places where problems emerge — whether it’s crime, inequality, or lack of opportunities. But as the “Have Yuh Say” initiative has shown us, communities are not the problem — they are the solution.

This report captures the voices, experiences, and ideas of people from across Trinidad and Tobago. Through the “We Ting” Community Caravan and the “Have Yuh Say” conversations, we listened to citizens speak openly about their hopes, their frustrations, and, most importantly, their vision for a better future. What we heard was clear: people want to be part of shaping the solutions that directly impact their lives.

Our role, as development partners, is to create the conditions where communities can thrive. That means listening to them, investing in their ideas, and co-creating pathways for inclusive and sustainable development. The insights from this report will help guide our work as we continue to work towards “The TT We Want” and, through the “Youth Forum for Democracy and Development,” as we expand our youth and community engagement, and build a safer, more resilient society.

Looking forward, let’s remember positive and sustainable change doesn’t happen to communities; it happens with them, through them and because of them.