New Postal Code Coming in January 2012

[Southboy]

Have been thinking about this for a long time and was to see that there are movements to put it into effect.


New postal code coming in January
Published: Tue, 2011-05-03 22:28

Trinidad and Tobago will begin using a new postal code system for the delivery of mail from January, according to TTPost general manager–operations Robert Hernandez. He explained that as one of the 191 members of the worldwide Universal Postal Union T&T is required to effect change to its addressing system by developing the postal code system. Hernandez said that was being done with the assistance of the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, through Independent Geographic Tracking System consultants Professor Jacob Opadeyi and Rehanna Jadoo. Hernandez and Jadoo made a presentation on the system to members of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Executive Council last Friday. Jadoo said there was no standardised address system in use in T&T, She said: “What is being used are numbers, lightpole numbers and mile markers. “Trinidad and Tobago must have an efficient system of accurately and quickly locating addresses and this gap can be filled by a code system,” she stressed.

She explained that Trinidad and Tobago would be divided into 72 delivery zones or points—64 in Trinidad and eight in Tobago—and there would be a six-digit code with the first two numbers identifying the postal district, the second two the delivery loops and the third set of numbers identifying the delivery zone or point. Hernandez said TTPost would host a seminar at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, on May 11, for the various stakeholders to explain the new system that would be introduced as a pilot project next January in Diego Martin and Siparia.

He said the code system would see every address going into a database and would allow for analysis of potential business opportunities, such as direct marketing. It also would be useful as a commercial tool for businesses and statutory boards, he said. Hernandez added that every building should have a number and street name, since the lack of good addressing seemed to be a constraint to business development. THA Chief Secretary Orville London described the TTPost presentation as informative and thanked the company for coming to the assembly with its plan. He said while the system was a very good thing, marketing it would be quite a challenge.

From the Trinidad Guardian May 3rd, 2011.

http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/05/0...coming-january


Abdul-Hamid: Postal code coming
By Clint Chan Tack Thursday, February 11 2010

CABINET has approved a proposal for a postal code system for Trinidad and Tobago. Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid made this announcement at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s last Thursday.

The minister explained that such a code “will facilitate the efficient and effective location of buildings for the purposes of postal deliveries, emergency operations and utilities services management.” Noting that TT Post has been taking steps to improve the country’s postal service infrastructure, Abdul-Hamid said: “This is aimed at providing increased access to postal services and ensuring a more timely and efficient delivery of mail.”

“In order to ensure that all citizens have access to proper postal services, in particular the attainment of an efficient postal delivery system, the exact location of addresses is critical,” he stated. Minister Abdul-Hamid observed that notwithstanding the small size of this country, “ not everyone is aware of the location of towns and villages.” “There is a great dependence on word of mouth and the use of landmarks along with various numbering systems. which are not always present or visible,” he said.

Abdul-Hamid further stated that factors such as population growth, changes in land use, housing development and industrialisation have rendered this informal system of addresses “increasingly inefficient.” The minister said while TT does not have a standardised address structure, there is consensus that “a standardised format for addresses” contributes to a reliable address information system.

Stating that such a format must be developed carefully so as not to cause any confusion in the system, Abdul-Hamid said one proposal was for a postal code to be placed as the “last line of existing addresses.” The minister explained that there were several benefits to the implementation of a postal code in the country. One of those benefits was “decreased emergency response times” by the Police Service, Fire Service and ambulances once an exact address could be quickly ascertained.

Public utilities such as the TT Electricity Commission and the Water and Sewerage Authority will be able to use the postal code to monitor the quality of the service they provide in different communities and make adjustments where necessary. The minister said the code will also assist bodies such as the Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Central Statistical Office to obtain reliable data in terms of voter registration and census results respectively.

He added that TTPost, Fedex and DHL will be able to use the code to improve the processing and delivery of mail. Abdul-Hamid said the system will be field-tested before it is officially implemented. The total cost to develop the postal code system is $496,000

http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,115672.html