Units

Communications Unit

The Communications Unit is responsible for managing the internal and external communications of the organization.  The objective is to establish and maintain favorable relationships with stakeholders.

The responsibilities of the Unit include:

  • Communications planning
  • Employee communications
  • Advertising
  • Event management
  • Research
  • Media Monitoring
  • Media Relations
  • Customer service
  • Managing content of corporate website
  • Crisis communications

Disaster Management Unit

The Disaster Management Unit at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government was established in 2008 to facilitate and maintain a robust disaster risk reduction capability at the local government level. The responsibilities of these Disaster Management Units include:

  1. Provide expert Disaster Risk Reduction advice to the Administration of the Municipal Corporations.
  2. Collaborate with other first responders in providing local-level assistance to citizens impacted by hazards.  First responder agencies include the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services (TTFS),the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force,(TTDF),the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
  3. Manage the operations of the Municipal Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC) when activated.
  4. Educate communities on all phases of the disaster management cycle.
  5. Carry out activities in accordance with the disaster management policy of the Ministry of Local Government

 

Engineering Unit

The Engineering Unit is responsible for providing all engineering solutions for the infrastructure needs of the Municipal Corporations and is in charge of implementation of Civil/Structural Engineering projects from inception to commissioning, provision of technical advice and assistance to Municipal Corporations in all aspects of infrastructure projects they plan to undertake.

  1. Appraisal and evaluation of engineering problems and the planning for the implementation of the solutions.
  2. Conceptualization and engineering designs for the solution.
  3. Preparation of drawings, cost estimates and tender documents.
  4. Evaluation of bids received and recommendation on courses of action for award of contracts.
  5. Project management and oversight supervision of projects in progress.

 

Finance and Accounts Unit

The Finance and Accounts Unit is responsible for ensuring that payment for all goods and services procured by the Ministry are paid for in a timely and transparent manner.

The Finance and Accounts Unit is responsible for, and is not limited to, the following:

  1. Payment of Wages and Salaries for Head Office Staff,
  2. Payment of Wages for the Unemployment Relief Programme,
  3. Application for release of funds for the Recurrent Expenditure, Public Sector Investment Programme, and the Infrastructure Development Fund.

 

General Administration Unit

The General Administration Unit carries out several functions, which ensure that the Ministry’s various activities are performed effectively and efficiently.  The Unit’s responsibilities fall under the following areas:

  1. Accommodation
  2. Acquisition of Lands
  3. Insurance/Inspection of Vehicles
  4. Office Management
  5. Tenders
  6. Registry services
  7. Complaint Investigation
  8. Security

 

Human Resource Management Unit

The Human Resource Unit is responsible for the planning, selection, training and development, terminal benefits, employee relations and ensuring that there is adequate staff for the Ministry and the Municipal Corporations.

Internal Audit Unit 

The function and purpose of the Internal Audit Unit is to ensure that all business activities of the nine (9) Regional Corporations, the Borough of Chaguanas, and the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government* are carried out fairly and transparently in accordance with the requirement of the law and all relevant Statutory Regulations and Agreements. The Internal Audit Unit reports directly to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

The work consists of:

  • Investigations
  • Verifications
  • Internal control checks on key systems using the comprehensive Audit approach. Reports from these checks are submitted to all relevant Managers.

 

These reports are structured in the form:

  • Findings
  • Implications
  • Recommendations
  • Manager Response

Investigations and verifications are carried out at these Regions under a federal type jurisdiction by the Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry of Local Government upon the request of the Permanent Secretary.

*The Port of Spain City Corporation, San Fernando City Corporation, Arima Borough Corporation and Point Fortin Borough Corporation all have internal audit units of their own.

 

Local Area Regional Planning & Development Unit

The Local Area Regional Planning & Development Unit (LARPDU) utilizes the land use planning process and its outputs to facilitate the creation of more sustainable communities throughout Trinidad. The Unit applies a holistic, “bottom-up” approach to planning which encourages meaningful stakeholder participation at every stage of plan development and project implementation. The work of the Unit is focused on activities that:-

  1. Facilitate the development and implementation of Local Area and Regional Plans.
  2. Develop policy on local infrastructure provision, management, operations and access by users.
  3. Fulfil the responsibility to review and contextualize the Planning and Facilitation of Development Bill to ensure continued development of a suitable framework for regional and local area plans.
  4. Guide the Councils of the Municipal Corporations in the preparation of local area plans.
  5. Develop programmes of work to facilitate the coordinated implementation of the Municipal Investment Plans.

Important Documents 

Form-Based Urban Planning Codes for Trinidad & Tobago Development Management

Form- Based Urban Planning Codes for Trinidad & Tobago Green Design

Local Area Planning Framework

 

Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Unit        

The main strategic objectives of the Information & Communications Technology Unit are to:

  • develop and implement an electronic information infrastructure to make it possible to share information and computer resources,
  • to reduce redundant operations at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, and
  • to assist the Municipal Corporations with the implementation of Information and Communications Technology initiatives.

The functions of the management Information Systems Unit include:

  1. Analysis of Business requirements
  2. Network implementation and support
  3. Software implementation and support
  4. Hardware configuration, implementation and support
  5. In-house training in Application Development Software (Productivity Tools)
  6. Evaluation for the procurement of Hardware and Software
  7. Research and development of systems to enhance and improve productivity
  8. Information Systems Audit and Control
  9. Troubleshooting computer, network and user problems

Project Planning Unit  

The core functions of the Project Unit include:

  1. The examination of annual Development Programme estimates to ensure effective programming of physical and other activities including related expenditure.
  2. The collection, analysis and presentation of data relating to the programming and executing of projects.
  3. The maintenance of office records relating to the physical and financial aspects of programs and projects.
  4. The preparation of quarterly and annual reports on the Development Programme/PSIP
  5. Ensuring that contractual obligations are kept by contractors.
  6. The examination of Draft Estimates
  7. Assisting in the resolution of any problems hindering the progress of projects
  8. Liaising with sub-intendants of State lands and the Central Tenders Board in expediting the preparation and implementation of projects.
  9. The inspection and appraisal of projects to ensure successful completion within estimated costs, evaluated time schedules and budgetary allocations.
  10. The identification and correction of cost variances.