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Open AccessArticle
Public Trust and Sustainable Digital Governance: Examining Open Government Data in Caribbean Small Island Developing States
by
Darron Rodan John
Darron Rodan John
Darron Rodan John received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Engineering a [...]
Darron Rodan John received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Engineering and his Master’s degree in Information Management from National Dong Hwa University in the Republic of China (Taiwan). He is now pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration with a focus on Information Management at National Dong Hwa University. He has worked as a Lecturer at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies. His research topics mainly include technology acceptance and adoption, digital banking services, digital transformation, e-government, digital literacy, and information systems management. His academic work centres on understanding how technological, behavioural, and contextual factors influence the adoption of digital systems, particularly in developing and small-island contexts.
,
Fang-Ming Hsu
Fang-Ming Hsu
Dr. Fang-Ming Hsu (許芳銘) is a professor of information management and Dean of the College of at [...]
Dr. Fang-Ming Hsu (許芳銘) is a professor of information management and Dean of the College of Management at National Dong Hwa University. His research interests mainly focus on Information Systems Management, Knowledge Management, Text Mining, and Electronic File Management. He received his PhD in Management from the Institute of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, Graduate School of Business Administration; a Master's degree from the Institute of Computer Engineering, National Chiao Tung University; and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the same university.
Yuh-Jia Chen
Yuh-Jia Chen
Dr. Yuh-Jai Chen (陳玉佳) is an associate professor of information management at the College of a [...]
Dr. Yuh-Jai Chen (陳玉佳) is an associate professor of information management at the College of Management, National Dong Hwa University. His research focuses on Applied Statistics, Data Analytics, Business Ethics, and Organisational Behaviour. He holds a PhD in Applied Statistics and Applied Psychology from Columbia University.
Department of Information Management, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng 97401, Hualien County, Taiwan
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Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 6307; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126307 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 May 2026
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Revised: 2 June 2026
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Accepted: 8 June 2026
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Published: 18 June 2026
Abstract
Public trust is essential for the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of open government data (OGD) initiatives, particularly in small island developing states (SIDS), where digital governance systems often operate under infrastructural and institutional constraints. Despite growing global research on OGD trust, limited research has examined how the quality dimensions of information systems’ success models shape citizens’ trust in OGD platforms within Caribbean SIDS. This study examines the hypothesised relationships between service quality, system quality, information quality, data quality, and public trust in OGD using an extended information systems success model (ISSM). Data were collected through an online survey of 904 respondents across Caribbean SIDS and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that all proposed relationships were statistically significant. Data quality showed the strongest statistical association with public trust, followed by system quality. Service quality was also significantly associated with system, information, and data quality. In addition, system, information, and data quality showed significant indirect statistical relationships in the association between service quality and public trust in OGD. This study extends the ISSM framework by conceptualising data quality as a distinct construct within OGD environments. The findings provide practical insights for governments seeking to strengthen transparency, citizen engagement, and sustainable digital governance through higher-quality OGD systems and datasets. The results further highlight the role of open government platforms in improving public service delivery by providing citizens with complete, accurate, and accessible data, interactive feedback mechanisms, and effective data visualisation tools that support informed decision-making and public participation.
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MDPI and ACS Style
John, D.R.; Hsu, F.-M.; Chen, Y.-J.
Public Trust and Sustainable Digital Governance: Examining Open Government Data in Caribbean Small Island Developing States. Sustainability 2026, 18, 6307.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126307
AMA Style
John DR, Hsu F-M, Chen Y-J.
Public Trust and Sustainable Digital Governance: Examining Open Government Data in Caribbean Small Island Developing States. Sustainability. 2026; 18(12):6307.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126307
Chicago/Turabian Style
John, Darron Rodan, Fang-Ming Hsu, and Yuh-Jia Chen.
2026. "Public Trust and Sustainable Digital Governance: Examining Open Government Data in Caribbean Small Island Developing States" Sustainability 18, no. 12: 6307.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126307
APA Style
John, D. R., Hsu, F.-M., & Chen, Y.-J.
(2026). Public Trust and Sustainable Digital Governance: Examining Open Government Data in Caribbean Small Island Developing States. Sustainability, 18(12), 6307.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126307
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