The Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development successfully held its second in-person sensitisation session with major financial and lending institutions in Tobago. The event took place at the Mt. Irvine Resort on Monday, 3 November 2025, bringing together key commercial and mortgage banks, as well as credit unions based in Tobago.
This important engagement aimed to foster collaboration with banks and credit unions—critical stakeholders in real estate and property transactions—to support projects that are bankable and compliant with planning regulations and land use policy under the Town and Country Planning Act, Ch. 35:01.
Senior planning officials from the TCPD delivered detailed presentations covering the Division’s role, the planning permission process, the online DevelopTT platform, appeals procedures, and enforcement of planning regulations. Ms Fayola Merrique, Senior Land Use Planner, provided welcome remarks on behalf of the Director of TCPD, emphasising the importance of partnership with financial institutions to promote orderly development, manage risk, and support informed financial decision-making related to land and building assets.
This session forms part of the Communications Project on the Town and Country Planning Division and the Advisory Town Planning Panel, aimed at sensitising and educating the public on planning procedures and requirements.
The TCPD highlighted a significant period of transformation in the country’s planning framework, marked by the partial proclamation of the Planning and Facilitation of Development (PAFD) Act, the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Council of Urban and Regional Planners (TTCURP) to license professionals, and the 2023 introduction of the Automated Construction Permitting System (DevelopTT) for all planning applications processed at the Tobago Regional Office.
Key presentations included:
– Ms Afiya Mc Kenna, Land Use Planner (Tobago Regional Office), who provided an overview of development categories and regulatory functions.
– Ms Camille Fortune-Rollock, Assistant Coordinator, who conducted an interactive session on procedures for granting Planning Permission, emphasising land bona fides and adherence to land use policy.
– Mr Devanand Jagroop, Senior Land Use Planner, who outlined the appeals process for planning decisions.
– Mr Stephon De Four, Enforcement Officer, who discussed enforcement measures under the Town and Country Planning Act.
– Mr Ryan Seenath, Business Operations Officer, who showcased features of the DevelopTT platform launched in 2020, enhancing digital transformation and efficiency with 29 Government Approvers involved in construction permitting.
The event concluded with a lively question-and-answer session addressing topics such as Planning Permission versus Outline Planning Permission, subdivision of land, self-construction, affordable housing, single-family and multi-family dwellings, TCPD correspondence, the DevelopTT platform, appeals process, and Tobago’s unique land development characteristics.
This sensitisation session was held as part of activities marking World Town Planning Day on 8 November—a day observed globally by planning professionals across 30 countries to recognise and promote the vital role of planners in creating healthy, prosperous communities.