• About the Chief Technical Officer
• Responsibilities of the Chief Technical Officer
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About the Chief Technical Officer

The Chief Technical Officer serves as an Adviser to the Permanent Secretary on all aspects of Engineering Projects.

The Chief Technical Officer also has responsibilities which are defined in several Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

SERVING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TRINIDAD TRANSPORT BOARD
Under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act (MVRTA) Chapter 48:50, the Chief Technical Officer is designated as the Chairman of the Trinidad Transport Board. This Board is appointed by Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The MVRTA advises on the following matters:

• License duties regarding motor and other vehicles
• Customs and Excise Duties regarding transport vehicles and fuel
• Traffic management such as the co-ordination of all forms of passenger and goods transport
• The construction and maintenance of roads and related costs
• Providing authorization for the use of special types of motor vehicles and trailers

 
SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE MINERALS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Under the Minerals Act (Act No. 61 of 2000), the Chief Technical Officer is an automatic member of the Minerals Advisory Committee. This Committee advises on matters which pertain to the management of the State's mineral resources.

OTHER POWERS OF THE CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER UNDER THE MVRTA
Under the MVRTA, the Chief Technical Officer may also:
 

• Grant a Special Permit to the owner of a tractor, goods vehicle or trailer for transporting an indivisible load of heavy machinery in excess of the maximum gross weight of fifteen tonnes (motor vehicle) and an eight tonnes (trailer). The Permit is granted subject to specific conditions and upon fee payment.
• Grant a Special Permit to the owner of any machine used for industrial purposes to be moved from one place to another. The Permit is granted subject to specific conditions and upon fee payment.

 
APPEALS UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT
The Chief Technical Officer has the power to appeal decisions made by the City or Town Engineer when they serve notice to a builder or owner to discontinue works if such work is deemed in violation of the Municipal Corporations Act Chapter 25:04. In such a case, the builder or owner can appeal to the Chief Technical Officer concerning the merits of the notice to discontinue. Following investigations, the Chief Technical Officer will either withdraw, vary the notice, or dismiss the appeal. 
 
The Chief Technical Officer also functions in other positions as appointed by the Permanent Secretary such as in various Tender Committees within the Ministry of Works and Transport and external Committees such as at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM).