Postal codes in Trinidad and Tobago

In 2012, the government of Trinidad and Tobago approved the introduction of postal codes starting later that same year. In addition to the postal code implementation the country has embarked on a nationwide address improvement initiative adopting the Universal Postal Union (UPU) S-42 international standard of addressing. The UPU is an arm of the United Nations and is the coordinating body of postal services worldwide. The intent of this exercise is to correct poor addressing in Trinidad & Tobago and assign to each address a six-digit postal code. This change will result in the following:

• All buildings will carry a building/civic number
• Numbering will be sequential and logical
• Less reliance on mile markers, lot numbers, lamp post numbers and "corner of" in addressing.

It is currently launched in the boroughs of Chaguanas, Point Fortin and Arima; Sangre Grande, Penal–Debe, Mayaro-Rio Claro, San Fernando and Princes Town regional corporations; and Tobago.

As announced in 2012, each code would be a six-digit number, with the first two digits indicating one of 72 postal districts (64 in Trinidad, eight in Tobago).[1] Although it was piloted in Point Fortin in 2013[2] and later tested in four other Trinidad communities, as well as the island of Tobago, government officials said in 2016 that the required mapping was not yet complete, and the legislative framework for the changes had never been implemented.[3]

Example

According to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, an envelope using the postcode may be properly addressed thus:[1]

Structure of Trinidad and Tobago Postal Codes
Mr James Doe
71 Beechwood Road
Goodside Gardens
DIEGO MARTIN 150110
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
_______________________
Mr Jane Doe
22 Poinsettia Crescent
Westmoorings
CARENAGE 110702
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO


In the example above, the digits "15" refer to the delivery office in Diego Martin; "01" to a certain delivery route served by that office; and "10" to a certain building or zone along that delivery route.[4]


History

Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation officially launched the system March 28, 2012, promising that residents and businesses would receive a postcard informing them of their new postal code "before the end of the year".[1] In May 2016, the estimated completion date was given as "within a year or two."[3]

In May 2011, TTPost said it planned to develop a postal code system in part because it is more efficient to sort mail using automated sorting machines, and in part because many areas in Trinidad and Tobago use vague or imprecise descriptive addresses based on "word of mouth and the use of landmarks". TTPost also said it also hoped develop a universal standard for addressing.[5]

“Many of our business and residential addresses regularly include features such as lamp pole numbers, street addresses without a building number, lot numbers and mile markers and the phrase ‘corner of’ as means of identification," said Trinidad and Tobago Public Utilities Minister Nizam Baksh in 2013. “Such elements may be easily understood by those living in a community, but they not only make mail delivery tedious, but can also slow down the response of fire service and ambulance personnel who are responding to an emergency in the area."[2]

Postal workers' representatives noted that along with increased efficiency in mail sorting, the system is expected to accompany a loss in mail sorter jobs. Advocates of the postal code system touted several side benefits. Classifying every address in a geographical postal code could aid in statistical analysis of crime and health care, for example.[1]


List of Postal Districts

District Code and Name (First two (2) digits of the postal code)

Postal Districts Map- Trinidad
Postal Districts of Tobago
30 Arima
35 Arouca
84 Barrackpore
24 Belmont
44 Biche
27 Blundell
54 California
91 Canaan / Bon Accord
53 Carapichaima
11 Carenage
51 Caroni
96 Castara
66 Cedros
50 Chaguanas
98 Charlotteville
56 Claxton Bay
55 Couva
43 Cumuto
52 Cunupia
31 Curepe
68 Debe
15 Diego Martin
28 El Socorro
69 Fyzabad
57 Gasparillo
21 Gonzales
42 Guaico
64 Guapo
63 La Brea
37 La Horquetta
65 La Romain
26 Laventille
92 Les Coteaux / Golden Lane
14 Lower Santa Cruz
36 Maloney
46 Manzanilla
61 Marabella
12 Maraval
22 Marcano Quarry
81 Mayaro
93 Moriah
87 Moruga
23 Morvant
83 New Grant
19 Newtown
67 Palo Seco
71 Penal
70 Point Fortin
10 Port Of Spain
85 Princes Town
86 Rio Claro
95 Roxborough
60 San Fernando
25 San Juan
45 Sangre Grande
73 Santa Flora
90 Scarborough
29 Sealots
72 Siparia
62 South Oropouche
97 Speyside
16 St. Anns
18 St. James
58 Tabaquite
82 Tableland
34 Tacarigua
33 Tunapuna
13 Upper Santa Cruz
41 Valencia
32 Valsayn
59 Williamsville
17 Woodbrook

References
  1. Bagoo, Andre (March 29, 2012). "Postal Code Coming Soon". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  2. Wilson, Sascha (January 11, 2013). "Point Fortin First in T&T to Adopt New Postal Code". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  3. Ramdass, Anna (May 15, 2016). "TTPost Still Working on Zip Code System". Trinidad Express. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  4. Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (March 28, 2012). "Trinidad & Tobago Postal Code System (TT-PCS)". TTPost.net. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  5. Baal, Reshma (May 13, 2011). "TT to Have Postal Code Addressing System". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
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