Postal codes in Trinidad and Tobago

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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:

Contents

• 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.

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] It was piloted in Point Fortin in 2013 [2] and later tested in four other Trinidad communities, as well as the island of Tobago. It is now launched as of 2021 throughout all of the regions and municipalities of Trinidad and throughout Tobago. [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 Postal code demo.png
Structure of Trinidad and Tobago Postal Codes
Mr. James Doe
71 Beechwood Road
Goodside Gardens
DIEGO MARTIN 150110
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
_______________________
Mrs. Jane Doe
21 Darcy Avenue
Central Park
Balmain
COUVA 550214
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." [5]

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. [6]

“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 digits of the postal code)

Postal Districts Map- Trinidad Postal Districts Map- Trinidad.jpg
Postal Districts Map- Trinidad
Postal Districts of Tobago Postal districts map tobago.png
Postal Districts of Tobago
List of Postal Districts
PD CodePD NAME
10PORT OF SPAIN
11CARENAGE
12MARAVAL
13UPPER SANTA CRUZ
14LOWER SANTA CRUZ
15DIEGO MARTIN
16ST. ANNS
17WOODBROOK
18ST. JAMES
19NEWTOWN
21GONZALES
22MARCANO QUARRY
23MORVANT
24BELMONT
25SAN JUAN
26LAVENTILLE
27BLUNDELL
28EL SOCORRO
29SEALOTS
30ARIMA
31CUREPE
32VALSAYN
33TUNAPUNA
34TACARIGUA
35AROUCA
36MALONEY
37LA HORQUETTA
41VALENCIA
42GUAICO
43CUMUTO
44BICHE
45SANGRE GRANDE
46MANZANILLA
50CHAGUANAS
51CARONI
52CUNUPIA
53CARAPICHAIMA
54CALIFORNIA
55COUVA
56CLAXTON BAY
57GASPARILLO
58TABAQUITE
59WILLIAMSVILLE
60SAN FERNANDO
61MARABELLA
62SOUTH OROPOUCHE
63LA BREA
64GUAPO
65LA ROMAIN
66CEDROS
67PALO SECO
68DEBE
69FYZABAD
70POINT FORTIN
71PENAL
72SIPARIA
73SANTA FLORA
81MAYARO
82TABLELAND
83NEW GRANT
84BARRACKPORE
85PRINCES TOWN
86RIO CLARO
87MORUGA
90SCARBOROUGH
91CANAAN / BON ACCORD
92LES COTEAUX / GOLDEN LANE
93MORIAH
95ROXBOROUGH
96CASTARA
97SPEYSIDE
98CHARLOTTEVILLE

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bagoo, Andre (March 29, 2012). "Postal Code Coming Soon". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  2. 1 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. "Postal Code Implementation". TTPost. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  4. Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (March 28, 2012). "Trinidad & Tobago Postal Code System (TT-PCS)". TTPost.net. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  5. Ramdass, Anna (May 15, 2016). "TTPost Still Working on Zip Code System". Trinidad Express. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  6. Baal, Reshma (May 13, 2011). "TT to Have Postal Code Addressing System". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved March 29, 2012.