By: Paul Sarran
July 11, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago, a nation located in the Caribbean, operates under a well-defined two-tiered system of local government. This system is comprised of municipal corporations functioning at the local level, and a central government operating at the national level. Such a structure allows for effective governance and administration throughout the country. At the local level, Trinidad and Tobago is divided into various municipal corporations. These corporations are responsible for overseeing and managing the affairs of specific regions within the nation. They play a crucial role in addressing the unique needs and concerns of their respective communities. By operating at the grassroots level, municipal corporations are better equipped to understand and respond to the local challenges faced by citizens. On the other hand, the central government of Trinidad and Tobago operates at the national level. It serves as the overarching authority responsible for making decisions and implementing policies In the realm of governance, the responsibility for local affairs lies in the hands of municipal corporations, while the central government assumes the role of overseeing national policies and administration. This division of power and authority ensures an efficient and effective system of governance at both the local and national levels. Municipal corporations, also known as local governments, are entrusted with the task of managing and governing specific areas within a country. These areas can range from cities and towns to smaller regions or districts. The primary objective of municipal corporations is to address the unique needs and concerns of the local population, ensuring the provision of essential services and the maintenance of public infrastructure.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the responsibility for a range of local services falls under the purview of the municipal corporations. These entities play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of various aspects of community life. From public health and sanitation to the maintenance of roads and infrastructure, as well as the provision of public transport and fostering community development, the municipal corporations are entrusted with the task of meeting the diverse needs of the local government. There is a mayor or chairman at the helm of each municipality, and council members are elected to represent certain districts within the municipality.
The reform of local government in Trinidad and Tobago is a dynamic process that can undergo variations over time, contingent upon the initiatives of the government and alterations in legislation. According to (Local Government – Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, 2016) The Drafting Policy on Local Government Reform was approved by Cabinet in August of 2016. The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government had public consultations in all fourteen (14) of the country’s Municipal Corporations and on the island of Tobago to develop this draft policy. As a result of these discussions and the information gathered, the Ministry has developed a policy on Local Government Reform that is community-driven and grants the Municipal Corporation more authority while also holding it accountable to its constituents.
Interestingly, some citizens are dissatisfied that the PNM only takes action when elections are called, and they are urging voters to consider candidates’ stances on issues rather than their allegiance to a certain party or ethnic group.
(Paul Sarran is a student pursuing a Political Science degree at the University of the West Indies, OC in St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
He is currently in his final years of college and has intentions to become a political scientist or an independent senator after graduation.)
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