MINISTER of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales on Tuesday formally opened TTPost's upgraded Diego Martin Delivery Office, saying the $1.7 million refurbishment would improve the service offered to 15,000 residents served by the facility. The post office is near the corner of Diego Martin Main Road and Covigne Road.

Gonzales announced the planned restoration of 13 historic buildings across TT for a resumed use as post offices including at Mayaro, Sangre Grande, Tacarigua, Curepe and St Joseph. Also present was Communications Minister Symon de Nobriga – Diego Martin Central MP – who said the building was in Diego Martin West, but would serve all of Diego Martin. He said TTPost must see itself in terms of the needs of a modern society or die, even as he also said the new facility would greatly help people living in the area's somewhat rugged terrain.

TTPost chairman Michael Seales opened the event saying the improved facility would lift the quality of postal services to residents of the area which was in fact TT's newest borough. He said TTPost had played a critical role during the pandemic to help citizens access the Government's social services, and he expected lessons learnt during the pandemic to boost the quality of service to be offered at the facility.

Seales noted the decline in traditional mail over the years due to rival technology and said the challenge was now for TTPost is to remain viable and find new opportunities in a developing economy.

"TTPost's business model is now placing more emphasis on its local and international courier business," Seales said, "And it is complemented by our efforts to provide a one-stop shop for micro small and medium enterprises to export their products to foreign markets."

Promising to generate revenue for TTPost and foreign exchange for TT, he said Caricom research indicated such diversification and growth could lift TT's GDP by up to two-four per cent.

"We urge everyone to use TTPost for all their local and international delivery needs."

Seales thanked all who had helped the office open "on time, within budget and without disruption to any of its services to Diego Martin."

[caption id="attachment_1032793" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Postal workers Charline Labbay, left and Shinika Pierre sort through mail at the newly refurbished Diego Martin Post Office, Diego Martin Main Road, on Tuesday. - Anisto Alves[/caption]

Sigler Jack, outgoing chairman of the Diego Martin Borough Corporation, lauded the newly built corporation headquarters, but hoped residents would soon be able to register births and deaths locally and not have to travel to Arima as now obtains.

Gonzales said the upgraded facility reflected a wider development in Diego Martin, noting new structures housing the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin Health Centre, and Diego Martin Library.

"Do not take development for granted," he urged listeners. "We are too often focussed on the negative."

He said while TT was not a perfect place, based on what he was seeing in Diego Martin, the