Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Legislative Framework
The Valuation of Land Act was amended by Act No. 17 of 2009, empowering the Commissioner of Valuations to assess properties using an Annual Rental Value (ARV) system and validating the use of this system for property valuations between 1970 and 2009. Prior to this amendment, valuations were conducted using a site valuation system.
Further amendments were introduced through Acts No. 5 of 2018 and No. 21 of 2022, which, among other provisions, established a Valuation Tribunal and required certain State agencies to provide relevant information to the Commissioner of Valuations to support the valuation process.
Professional Standards
:root { --primary: #1a365d; --grey: #5a5a5c; --light: #f8f9fa; --white: #ffffff; --trans: all 0.3s ease; } .body { margin: 0; font-family: 'Segoe UI', system-ui, sans-serif; background-color: #f0f2f5; } /* Branding */ .header { background: var(--white); padding: 12px 5%; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 20px; border-bottom: 3px solid var(--primary); } .header img { height: 70px; } .header span { font-weight: 800; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 1.2; font-size: 1rem; color: black; } /* Navbar */ .nav-container { background: var(--grey); position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 20; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); overflow: visible; } .nav-inner { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; padding: 0 5%; min-height: 64px; } #menu-toggle { display: none; } .hamburger { display: none; color: white; font-size: 1.8rem; cursor: pointer; } .nav-list { display: flex; list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; } .nav-item { position: relative; } .nav-link { color: white !important; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 18px; display: flex; align-items: center; height: 64px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.8px; transition: var(--trans); } .nav-link:hover, .nav-item:hover > .nav-link { background: var(--primary); } /* Dropdowns */ .dropdown { display: none; position: absolute; top: 100%; left: 0; background: var(--white); min-width: 320px; box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15); padding: 10px 0; list-style: none; border-top: 4px solid var(--primary); } /* Desktop Hover Behavior */ @media (min-width: 1025px) { .nav-item:hover .dropdown { display: block; } } /* JavaScript toggle target class */ .dropdown.is-active { display: block !important; } .drop-link { display: block; padding: 12px 20px; color: #334155 !important; text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.9rem; transition: var(--trans); border-left: 3px solid transparent; } .drop-link:hover { background: #f1f5f9; padding-left: 25px; border-left-color: var(--primary); } .sub-menu { background: #fdfdfd; padding: 0; list-style: none; } .sub-menu .drop-link { padding-left: 45px; font-size: 0.85rem; color: #64748b !important; } /* Search */ .search-box { flex-grow: 1; max-width: 300px; margin-left: 20px; min-height: 45px; display: flex; align-items: center; } /* Mobile Layout Modifications */ @media (max-width: 1024px) { .nav-inner { flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 10px 5%; } .hamburger { display: block; } .nav-list { display: none; width: 100%; flex-direction: column; background: var(--grey); margin-top: 10px; } #menu-toggle:checked ~ .nav-list { display: flex; } .nav-link { height: auto; padding: 15px 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.1); justify-content: space-between; } /* Append a visual indicator for dropdown expansion on mobile */ .nav-item:has(.dropdown) .nav-link::after { content: '▼'; font-size: 0.6rem; margin-left: 8px; transition: transform 0.3s ease; } .nav-item:has(.dropdown.is-active) .nav-link::after { transform: rotate(180deg); } .dropdown { position: relative; box-shadow: none; background: #f8fafc; width: 100%; padding: 0; border-top: none; } .search-box { max-width: 70%; margin: 0; } } Valuation surveying is a specialised profession within the Built Environment sector. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago represents the three major categories of surveyors within this sector: Land Surveyors, Quantity Surveyors and Valuation Surveyors.
All professional staff within the Valuation Division are members of the Institute and adhere to internationally recognised standards established by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, in addition to the professional guidelines set by the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago.
Role of the Commissioner of Valuations
The Commissioner of Valuations is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Valuation Division. The role includes developing strategic plans and formulating, implementing and monitoring policies relating to the valuation of lands and properties across Trinidad and Tobago.
Key Responsibilities
- Administering the Valuation of Land Act
- Preparing and maintaining the Valuation Roll
- Conducting revisions of the Valuation Roll every five years
Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Registrar General’s Department (RGD)
Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is the official source for all vital events occurring in Trinidad and Tobago. As the sole custodian of the nation’s civil, land, and commercial records, we provide essential registration and certification services to citizens and stakeholders locally and internationally.
Our Registries
Civil Registry
Responsible for the registration and recording of life events, as well as the issuance of certified copies of vital records.
- Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Adoptions
- Muslim Divorces
Land Registry
The sole custodian of all land records and instruments in Trinidad and Tobago.
- Registration and Recording: Managing documents for Common Law and the Real Property Act (RPA).
- PBRS Search Facility: Electronic searching of Deeds, Mortgages, Caveats, and Certificates of Title.
- Certified Copies: Enhanced security with QR code verification.
Companies Registry
Providing oversight and registration services for the business community in adherence to international standards.
- Entity Registration: Maintenance of Companies, Businesses, NPOs, and Trusts.
- Compliance: Supervising compliance and conducting on-site inspections.
- CROS: Digital platform for identity registration, signatures, and filing.
Online Services & Modernization
We have facilitated over 161,000 online transactions since 2020, serving applicants as far as Australia, Malaysia, and Peru.
Tobago Sub-Office Updates
We are committed to improving service delivery at our Tobago location through:
- Increased staffing and improved communication channels.
- Significant infrastructure and service upgrades scheduled for 2025.
Key Stakeholders
Working in partnership to maintain data integrity: