Local Government Structure; Trinidad

With the advent of the Local Government Elections in a few weeks time I thought that by providing a refresher on the system would be important for the uninformed and (like me) the ones who forgot.

 

In Trinidad there is a division of (City, Borough & Regional) Corporations that form the local government. There are fourteen in all, subdivided into Localities each represented by an elected Councillor. The Councillors in each Municipality select Aldermen, mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and vice-chairmen as necessary.

 

The fourteen are as follows: Three Borough Corporations (Arima, Point Fortin & Chagaunas), two City Corporations (San Fernando & Port of Spain) and nine Regional Corporations (Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia and Tunapuna/Piarco). They all comprise 125 localities making up the full structure of the Local Government in Trinidad.

 

Localities

Arima North West

Calvary

Tumpuna

O'Meara

Arima Central

Malabar

Arima North East

 

 

Localities

Felicity/Endeavour

Montrose

Charlieville

Cunupia

Munroe Road/Caroni Sav. Road

Edinburgh/Longdenville

Enterprise South

Enterprise North

 

 

Localities

Perseverance/St Marys /Waterloo

Edinburgh/Chickland

Freeport/Calcutta

Felicity/ Calcutta/Mc Bean

California/Pt Lisas

Balmain/Esperanza/Forres Park

Claxton Bay/ Pointe-a-Pierre

Las Lomas/San Raphael/Talparo

Longdenville/Mamoral

Caratal/Tortuga

Gasparillo Bonneaventure

Piparo/San Pedro/ Tabaquite

 

Localities

Alyce Glen/Petit Valley

Chaguaramas/Glencoe

Moka/Boissiere#2

St. Lucien/Cameron

Goodwood/La Puerta

Covigne/Rich Plain

Diamond Vale

Cocorite/Petit Valley

Belle Vue/Boisierre#1

Localities

Rio Claro North

Rio Claro South

Biche/Charuma

Mayaro/Guayaguayare

Cocal/Mafeking

Ecclesville

 

 

 

Localities

Debe West

Debe East/Barrackpore West

Palmiste

Hermitage/La Fortune

Rochard/Barrackpore East

Union Hall/Bronte

Penal

Quinam/Morne Diablo

 

 

Localities

Cap-de-ville

Egypt

Techier/Guapo

Hollywood

Fanny Village

Newlands/Mahaica

 

 

Localities

Belmont South

Belmont North & West

Belmont East

Port of Spain North

Port of Spain South

Port of Spain Central

St. Ann's River North

St. Ann's River South

St. Ann's River Central

St. James West

St. James East

Woodbrook

 

 

Localities

Corinth/Cedar Hill

Ben Lomond/Hardbargain/Williamsville

Inverness/Princes Town

Reform/Manahambre

Lengua/St. Julien

5th Company

Moruga

Hindustan/Indian Walk/St. Mary's

New Grant/Tableland

 

 

 

Localities

Marabella East

Cocoyea/Tarouba

Marabella West

Marabella South/Vistabella

Springvale/Paradise

Les Efforts East

Mon Repos/Navet

Pleasantville

Les Efforts West/La Romain

 

 

Localities

Toco/Fishing Pond

Valencia

Sangre Grande North

Sangre Grande North East

Sangre Grande South

Manzanilla

Cumoto/Tamana

 

 

Localities

Morvant/Upper Malick

St. Barb's/Chinapoo

Barataria

Maracas/Santa Cruz/La Filette

San Juan East

St. Ann's/Cascade/Mon Repos West

Success/Trou Macaque

Beetham/Picton

Aranguez/Warner Village

Petit Bourg/Champs Fleur/Mt. Lambert

San Juan West/Caledonia

Febeau/Bourg Mulatresse

 

Localities

Apex/Fyzabad

Avocat/San Francique North

Brighton/Vessigny

Erin

Siparia West

Cedros

Otaheite/Rousillac

 

 

Localities

Bon Air/Arouca/Cane Farm

Lopinot/Five Rivers

Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa

Maracas/St. Joseph

St. Helena/Warrenville

Mausica/Malony

Valsayn South/Carapo

Caura/Paradise/Tacarigua

Wallerfield/La Horquetta

La Florissante/Cleaver

Auzonville/St. Benedict

Valsayn North/Curepe/Pasea

Macoya/Trincity

 

Now that we know what to expect, bear in mind all those political pundits and prognosticators coming out of the woodworks to join the band of talking heads. Just like the politicians they talk about, they’ve lost all credibility with me. Their flawed scientific approach during the last election seems to suggest to me private agendas.

 

Look out for the duds masquerading as bombshells, self-important intelligentsia pretending to be political scientists, illiterate media hogs claiming to be journalists, obscene, seditious racists labeling themselves “Talk Show Hosts”, abacus-toting-crystal-ball-carrying pollsters who couldn’t tell the difference between a margin of error and a marginal seat, and lastly baby-kissing-hand-shaking-promise-making-self-seeking politicians trying to look statesman-like. Brace yourself; the airwaves will soon be reawakened to the sloganeering, browbeating, finger pointing, gyrating ad nauseam and all else that makes up the body grotesque that is elections, Trinidad. Hopefully with a lot less nausea to accompany it.