Local Government Reform Update

Latest News

8th July 2024 - Discussions have commenced regarding the transfer of certain services from the Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to the 14 Municipal Corporations, as part of the Local Government Reform initiatives.

The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government (RDLG) is working closely with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) and the Housing Development Committee (HDC), to coordinate this transition. Representatives from RDLG, 14 Municipal Corporations, MHUD, and HDC convened to deliberate on the logistical aspects of this initiative. This strategic move aims to enhance operational efficiency and bring services closer to communities.

Why we need local government reform

Local government corporations of the future must be modern, results-oriented, people-centered, service-driven organizations. The system must therefore be restructured and reorganized to reflect:

• Better service delivery in the local area;

• Greater autonomy and more freedom to manage and control their own affairs;

• More meaningful participation in local government by all stakeholders;

• Local government corporations that can adjust to changes and meet the new challenges as they arise;

• Local government corporations that are properly equipped to provide essential services efficiently and cost-effectively;

• Local government corporations that promote the all round development of the people and organizations within their boundaries.

The reformed local government corporation will be given new areas of responsibility and will feature:

• Properly staffed and managed human resource departments that can competently discharge their duties and responsibilities;

• A properly functioning Municipal Police Force;

• Full scale information technology departments;

• Public Awareness, Education and Stakeholder Relations Departments to ensure proper communication flow at all times;

• A legislative framework that empowers Local Government Corporations.