The Port of Spain Corporation is the municipal authority responsible for the administration of the capital city of Port of Spain. The Corporation has taken on a strong leadership role within the project, chairing the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and exhibiting dedication to working with both the national government and the community to support the creation of the community plan.
The Corporation has provided resources and support and has played a major coordination and documentation role in supporting two student community planners who were hired by the project. Furthermore, various departments within the Corporation are now interacting directly with the community on particular issues " such as solid waste management. This has resulted in a beneficial two-way relationship, resulting in effective new ways to achieve solutions to community concerns.
Community Intervention Transforming Youth (CITY) is a partnership between the Social Justice Commission of the Catholic Church and the St. Martin de Porres Parish. CITY began with a consultation of religious communities, cultural groups, and NGOs, which grew out of community concern about crime in the Gonzales community. Arising from this consultation a number of initiatives for youth have been implemented, including the hiring of a social worker to build bridges with existing community groups and to build their capacity.
Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) is responsible for development planning and development control in Trinidad & Tobago. TCPD has provided general oversight and technical support to the project process ¯ training two City planners in the use of land use survey forms, and providing assistance with geographic information systems (GIS). TCPD has also been supportive of the involvement of other National Government entities, including the Ministry of Local Government, which has become actively interested in testing and replicating the process in other communities.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has been supportive of and involved in the project in various capacities, including participation in the Project Steering Committee, student participation in research activities, and input with respect to documentation of project methodology, and facilitation of presentations and seminars for young planners.
The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) has provided project management and coordination support throughout the process, and has undertaken transfer of skills, methodology and tools to project partners in the following areas: Asset-Based Community Development; Community-based Strategic Planning; Local Area Planning; Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED); Facilitation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution; Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Inter-Sectoral Coordination and Investment; Media relations and communications; Participatory Urban Design; and Stakeholder engagement and public consultation.