Why The Visitors Dress Code for T&T Government Offices Must Change?

 

Have you ever gone to a government office in Trinidad and Tobago and was told;

“You cyar come here dressed like that.”

If you wear short pants, a tank top, or slippers, services are denied, no questions, no discussions or excuses.

To be sure, Trinbagonians are proud to be independent; we broke away from our colonial masters in 1962. We are able to design our culture, customs, and way of life. 

Unfortunately, we are independently stupid when it comes to government offices.

 You are about to learn how colonial laws, passed to protect the image of government employees, are being misconstrued to control how visitors to these offices dress. 

 The dress code for government offices in Trinidad and Tobago is a relic of our colonial past. Introduced by the British in the 19th century, the strict dress code helped to create a more orderly and disciplined workforce.

 Our colonial overseers also wanted to promote respect for authority among the local population. The dress code prohibited a wide range of clothing, including sleeveless tops, shorts, and skirts above the knee. It also prohibits some clothes considered too revealing or casual for employees.

Employees must maintain a professional atmosphere in government offices. Like any private business, government employees should have a dress code. The rationale is simple; the dress code intended to:

• Create a more orderly and disciplined workforce.
• Promote a sense of respect for authority among the local population.
• Protect the modesty of women.
• Prevent distractions in the workplace.
• Project a professional image for the government.

Not one of those reasons mentions visitors to the offices. So why do we allow this practice to go on for so long? The raw truth is as much as we are proud to be free, we don’t sweat the small stuff. Imagine that for so many years, no citizen has felt it necessary to take the issue to court. It is admirable that a society can live-up to a word declared when we became independent; TOLERANCE. We are very tolerent.

Government employees deliver essential services, but they cannot be allowed to make the rules that governs public behavior. Imagine this, you go to a bank and the security says that you cannot be served because you are wearing shorts. Citizens are illegitimately denied essential services every day. 

Without the "right" clothing we are unable to access services like licenses, immigration, customs, and Inland Revenue. In fact, this is true for almost every government office, the office enforces the dress code on visitors. Are we being denied the right to dress any way we want to?

For members of the public, it is much easier to comply. To go home, change rather than spend the time arguing with security guards who follow instructions and love the fleeting power moments over "customers" who dares to object.

Change is coming, there have been calls to reform the dress code in Tobago. In 2022, the New Tobago House of Assembly (THA) announced that it would remove the dress code for its offices.

 Note, “its offices” documented proof that the dress code is for government employees, not the general public. There are no laws that can mandate how the public show up at a government office. 

 Since our independence, our citizens have been continually; tricked, embarrassed, inconvenienced, and humiliated every day.  

This situation has remained the same for two reasons. First government employees are misinterpreting whose behavior the dress code was intended to affect. And secondly, we are here today because we accept the words/rules of people in authority. They are doing it, so they must know much more than a mere citizen. 

. The reality is that there is no legislation exists that governs the public dress code; except for camouflage outfits. 

 We are at a crossroads, the cat is out of the bag, and we need someone to pick up the baton, and take a stand. 

We are a progressive nation, we must stop, reflect and make adjustments. Imagine leaving Mayaro to come to Port-of-Spain to the immigration office to be told, you need long pants. Or, you may be referred to an enterprising entrepreneur nearby who will rent you a shoe if you buy socks. 

We need to change this. 

Here is an opportunity for a citizen to challenge the practice, take a specific government office to court for denying services. There may be a monetary incentive but most importantly, the result will be that all government offices will henceforth be mandated to serve its citizens regardless of their dress.

Have you ever been denied services? Were you ever inconvenienced? Pick up the challenge. Get your name on our history books, the country will be grateful to you. 

At the very least, comment about your experience below.