Counties
Lord Harris, the Governor of Trinidad, in his 1849 attempts at local administration, divided the island of Trinidad into counties; and counties were further sub-divided into wards. Each county was controlled by a Warden who was appointed by, and accountable to the governor. The warden was the Governor’s representative and his duties included:
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Collection of land and building taxes (To assist in financing road-building and education)
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Prevention of squatting
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Provision and maintenance of roads, drains, and bridges
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Mass education through Ward schools (the warden was the first Government school master)
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Public sanitation
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Provision of security
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Liaison between citizens and Central Government
County Councils
The Moyne Commission Report (West India Royal Commission) of 1938 recommended the establishment of elected County Councils as a means of increasing citizen participation in the conduct of their affairs, to prevent the recurrence of social disturbances experienced in the 1930s. The (1944) O’Reilly Franchise Commission also recommended the setting up of County Councils, elected on the basis of Local Government reform which included Universal Adult Suffrage.
So, it was almost one hundred years after the colony was divided into counties for administrative purposes, that County Councils were introduced in Trinidad & Tobago through Ordinance#18 of 1945, In addition to the three existing municipalities, seven County Councils were established:
- Tobago
- St George (Divided into St George East and St George West in 1973)
- St Andrew-St David
- Nariva-Mayaro
- Caroni
- Victoria
- St Patrick
Those County Councils initially provided a mere advisory function to Central Government on matters of roads, drainage, water, markets, social services, health, and housing. Roads were the responsibility of Local Road Boards.
On the recommendation of the Spurling Committee of 1947, County Councils were granted executive powers by Ordinance #39 of 1952. That Ordinance defined the Wards as electoral divisions, outlined electoral procedures, and prescribed the functions of the County Councils. It abolished the Local Road Boards.
Structure:
- Elected Chairman
- Councillors representing electoral divisions (2 per Ward)
- County sub-divided into Electoral Divisions, synonymous with Wards in Trinidad and Parishes in Tobago
Functions:
- Formation, maintenance and repair and lighting of all roads (including Crown Traces) and bridges, other than main roads and the bridges thereon
- Refuse collection and disposal
- Public health and sanitation
- Provision and maintenance of retail markets, abattoirs, public cemeteries, recreation grounds and public spaces
- Giving assistance, financial and otherwise, towards the provision of community, district or village halls
- Control of the erection and use of hoardings and exhibition of advertisements
- Distribution of truck-borne water to areas without pipe-lines
- To encourage the establishment of Village and community councils
- Other functions and duties as may be prescribed by the Governor
Three Standing Committees were prescribed, and their responsibilities distributed in alignment with the functions listed above. They were:
-Roads Committee
-Health Committee
-Finance and General Purposes Committee
-Provisions were also made for Sub-Committees
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