The City Assessor’s Department

The City Assessor’s Department has been making significant strides in its core activity over the past three years by continuously increasing the Corporation’s collectible revenues based on assessed property rates.

A number of new and improved commercial hereditaments were re-assessed and rated and the city was extended to include the new areas of Flagstaff Hill, Federation Park, Saddle Road and Long Circular Road.

The Mission Statement of this Department reads as follows: "By the Year 2000 and beyond, we wish to make the Port of Spain Corporation fifty per cent (50%) self-supporting".

The City Assessor’s Department is responsible for the assessment of Port of Spain’s approximately 12,000 hereditaments for the purpose of levying and collection of rates, and for the preparation and maintenance of the House Rate Book.

Under Section 78 of Act No. 21 of 1990, the Assessor is authorised to determine the annual rateable value of a rateable hereditament in terms of an assessment of its gross annual rental value, taking into account a number of provisions set out in the Act and "less such allowances for voids and loss of rent as the Assessor may think reasonable to make".

The Department has a staff of 22, including the Assessor, two technical officers and one draughtsman.