The English-Type Urban Municipalities
San Fernando and Arima Borough Councils
The island’s governor, Lord Harris established the San Fernando Town Council by Ordinance passed on 18th October 1845 which took effect on 1st March 1846. Before that, the town was run by Road Commissioners. San Fernando was elevated to a borough with corporate status by Ordinance Number 10 of 1853(the enabling legislation entitled the Ordinance of the Regulation of Municipal Corporation) which took effect on 30th August of that year. It was made a city on 18th November 1988.
The “Royal Borough” of Arima was created by Royal Charter on 1st August 1888 to commemorate the golden jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. That Royal Borough was the only one of its kind in the British Caribbean. The Charter specified the boundaries of the town and made the borough corporation responsible for the maintenance and further development of the municipal area, having prescribed the assessment of lands and buildings and the collection of property taxes. The enabling legislation entitled the Ordinance of the Regulation of Municipal Corporation of 1853was cited in the Charter for the creation of the Arima borough.
Structure:
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- Elected Councillors and elected Auditors in Arima (The Auditor or Asesor was a feature of the Cabildo system to provide judicial advice to the Governor).
- Headed by a Mayor, elected by Council members from among themselves
Functions:
The functions assigned to the Borough Councils of San Fernando and Arima were similar to those of the Port of Spain City Council, with the following exceptions:
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The Councils in San Fernando and Arima had no responsibility for water
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The Arima Borough Council had no responsibility for electricity
A Town Clerk and supporting personnel were hired in each town to carry out the functions of the Council.
Note: All municipal Corporations are now governed by the Municipal Corporations Act 21 of 1990 and its amendments
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