Trinidad and Tobago officials propose construction permit reforms

Trinidad and Tobago officials are proposing reforms to the construction permitting process to combat corruption and reduce economic delays. Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen warned that some public officers have manipulated the system for personal gain, describing the practice as an illegal cost of doing business. She urged citizens to report any attempts at extortion to the police.

In support of these reforms, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh stated that removing the County Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) as a separate statutory requirement for routine approvals could save developers approximately $100 million annually. Swaratsingh noted that since 2020, thousands of applications were referred to the CMOH, with many exceeding service standards and contributing to significant delays. He emphasized that the Public Health (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2026, aims to eliminate duplication rather than remove public health safeguards.