Diego Martin and Siparia will be elevated to Borough status.
This after the Miscellaneous Provisions (Establishment of the Borough of Diego Martin and Borough of Siparia) Bill, 2021 was passed in the Senate last evening.
Local Government and Rural Development Minister Faris Al-Rawi said “In the context of this bill, what I can tell you is that local government reform is the genuine issue, are you for or against it? Is the borough status of the law for or against it?”
The bill was passed through the committee of the whole, with no amendments proposed, read a third time, and passed.
Independent Senator Anthony Vieira said while some people might criticise the name change as being cosmetic, he thought it would add gravitas to the areas.
“It’s a matter of prestige and status, which are serious matters, especially where it can cause feelings of respect and trust in others. It’s also another step towards the idea of decentralization. TT suffers from over-centralisation, and it leads to people feeling disinterested and apathetic, as the decision-makers live too far away from the people on the ground.”
He said it was vital to give consideration to the people who would represent people at the local level.
“Come election time, it will be essential to get good people to represent their communities. We want council members who are willing to work together as a team, to put aside personal agendas, and to have clear and regular communication with their communities. We want critical thinkers who can consider the long-term impacts of their decisions.”
Vieira said Diego Martin was sufficiently populated and diverse to form a borough. He said if that was the wish of the residents, he didn’t see why it couldn’t be accommodated by the legislation.
Former Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said the matter of making the two areas boroughs was raised during his time in office and he would be happy to see it brought to fruition.
He said the bill, which contained only seven clauses, was the culmination of intense research and deliberation by legal personnel who worked to ensure that the legal framework was robust.
Hosein added: “The bill will not shift any boundaries nor will it infringe on the powers given to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, but it will fulfill the wants of the burgesses of the area through their elected representatives.”