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Trinidad and Tobago

 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago

Last reviewed: 09 July 2008

Country information

POLITICS

Trinidad and Tobago maintains close relations with its Caribbean neighbours and major North American and European trading partners. As the most industrialised and second-largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago takes a leading role in the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and supports CARICOM economic integration efforts. It is also active in the Summit of the Americas process and supports the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Trinidad & Tobago was one of the first CARICOM states to formally enter into the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006.

After independence in 1962, Trinidad joined the UN and the Commonwealth. In 1967, it became the first Commonwealth country to join the Organisation of American States (OAS). In 1995, Trinidad played host to the inaugural meeting of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and has become the seat of this 35-member grouping, which seeks to further economic progress and integration among its states.

Elections were last held on 5 November 2007. The PNM won by 26-15 over the UNC. The voter tun-out was 66% - 4% lower than the last elections in 2002. PM Manning was returned to office with a mandate and sworn in on 7 November 2007. The next elections are due in 2012.

Government

From 1962 until 1976, Trinidad and Tobago, although completely independent, acknowledged the British monarch as their head of state. In 1976, the country adopted a republican constitution, replacing Queen Elizabeth with a president elected by parliament. The general direction and control of the government rests with the cabinet, led by a Prime Minister and answerable to the bicameral parliament. The 36 members of the House of Representatives are elected to terms of at least five years. Elections may be called earlier by the President at the request of the Prime Minister or after a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives. The President from among outstanding members of the community appoints the Senate's 31 members.  Professor George Maxwell Richards was voted in as Prsident by the Electoral College for a second consecutive five year term in March 2008.

Elected councils administer Trinidad's seven counties and four largest cities.

The country's highest court is the Court of Appeal, whose Chief Justice is appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister. Final appeal on some matters is decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Trinidad and Tobago house the Caribbean Court of Justice, which was established to act as a court that can handle trade disputes amongst CARICOM member states (Original Jurisdiction), and that will eventually serve as a supreme appellate court to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London (Final Appellate Court). The court's jurisdiction is currently limited to only Barbados and Guyana.

Tobago was given a measure of self-government in 1980 and is administered by the Tobago House of Assembly. In 1996, Trinidad and Tobago's Parliament passed further legislation giving Tobago a greater degree of autonomy.

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Contacts

Trinidad and Tobago

Address:

42 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8NT

Telephone:

 

Fax:

(020) 7823 1065

Email: tthc.info@btconnect.net

Office hours:

Mon–Fri: 0900–1700