Who runs local government in Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad has 14 municipal corporations (2 cities, 3 boroughs and 9 regional corporations), while Tobago has its own elected Tobago House of Assembly, which is in the Constitution and runs most public services on the island. Municipal councillors are elected in local elections; mayors and chairpersons are chosen by the councils.
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago · Unitary parliamentary republic · Caribbean
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Tobago House of Assembly | Assemblymen elected by district; the Chief Secretary leads the Executive Council | Runs most services on Tobago except national security, foreign affairs and some revenue matters (Chapter 11A of the Constitution). |
| Municipal corporations in Trinidad (14): city corporations (Port of Spain, San Fernando), borough corporations (Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin), regional corporations (9) | Councillors elected by electoral district; aldermen chosen by the parties according to councillors elected; mayor (cities/boroughs) or chairperson (regions) chosen by the council | Local roads and drains, waste, markets, cemeteries, public health, disaster management, building inspection, municipal police. |
Three questions about local power in Trinidad and Tobago
Are local leaders elected?
Councillors and Tobago House of Assembly members are elected. Aldermen, mayors and chairpersons are chosen indirectly.
Which laws set up local government?
Municipal corporations are created by the Municipal Corporations Act 1990; the Tobago House of Assembly is in the Constitution and the THA Act 1996. Village councils are informal community bodies.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Voters at local and Tobago elections. The Minister of Rural Development and Local Government can give general or specific directions to councils under the 1990 Act and settles disputes between corporations.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no traditional authority with legal powers. Religious leaders from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities have a strong social role. The First Peoples (indigenous) community in Arima has a recognised chief (the Santa Rosa Carib Community), but this is a cultural and representative role, not a governing one.
Community and neighbourhood power
Village councils and community-based organisations are registered with the Community Development Division and often take part in local projects. A 2016 government policy and 2022 reform legislation aimed to give municipalities more powers, including over property tax and planning.
Points to know
- Tobago has far more self-government than Trinidad's municipalities: it has its own budget and policy-making Assembly.
- Under the 1990 Act the minister can direct municipal councils on any matter of government policy.
- Local government spending was about 7% of total government spending in 2015/16.
Local terms
- Regional corporation
- A municipal council for a mainly rural region of Trinidad, led by a chairperson.
- Alderman
- A council member chosen by the parties, not directly by voters, in proportion to councillors elected.
Sources
- The local government system in Trinidad and Tobago: country profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- Trinidad and Tobago's Constitution of 1976 (rev. 2007), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Elections and Boundaries Commission, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Trinidad and Tobago, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Trinidad and Tobago's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.