Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Motto: "Together we aspire, together we achieve"
Anthem: Forged from the Love of Liberty
Capital		Port of Spain 10°40′N 61°31′W / 10.667, -61.517
Largest city		San Fernando [1]
Official languages		English (Official), Spanish (Special Status)[1]
Ethnic groups		Indians, Africans, Venezuelans, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, British, Lebanese, Syrians, Caribs. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Forged from the Love of Liberty is the National anthem of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas San Fernando ( Spanish for Saint Ferdinand) may refer to San Fernando Buenos Aires, city of Greater Buenos Aires An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Indo-Trinidadian people or Indo-Trinidadians is a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have and/or are the descendants of either Afro-Trinidadians refers to a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have "Black" or " African " descent The Cocoa Panyols (or Cocoa Payols) are an ethnic group in Trinidad & Tobago. A French creole, or French-based creole language, is a Creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west British people, or Britons, are the native inhabitants of Great Britain and their descendants or citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Syria Greater Syria, a historical region of the Levant Roman Syria Ottoman Syria Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands
Demonym		Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	George Maxwell Richards
-	Prime Minister	Patrick Manning
Independence
-	from the United Kingdom	31 August 1962
Area
-	Total	5,128 km² (172nd) 1,979 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	1,305,000 (152nd)
-	Density	207. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A parliamentary republic or parliamentary constitutional republic is a form of a Republic which operates under a Parliamentary system of government The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the Head of state of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Commander in chief its armed forces George Maxwell Richards, TC, CMT (born 1931 is the fourth President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This page lists prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago. See also Lists of incumbents, List of Governors of Trinidad and Tobago, List of Governors-General of Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning (born August 17, 1946) is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Political Leader of the Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/km² (47th) 538. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 6/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$18. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 352 billion (113th)
-	Per capita	$19,700 (46th)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 814 (high) (59th)
Currency		Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Time zone		(UTC-4)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTCn/a)
Internet TLD		.tt
Calling code		+1-868

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (pronounced /ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ/) is an archipelagic state^[2] in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American nation of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The dollar ( Currency code TTD) is the Currency of Trinidad and Tobago. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the It also shares maritime boundaries with Barbados to the northeast and Guyana to the southeast. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state The country covers an area of 5,128 square kilometers (1,979 sq mi) and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 smaller islands. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic Republic in the southern Caribbean which consists of numerous landforms Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6% of the total area and 4% of the population. The nation lies outside the hurricane belt. The hurricane belt is an area in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, which is prone to Hurricanes during the

Officially Trinidadians or Tobagonians, the people from Trinidad and Tobago are often informally referred to as Trinbagonians or Trinis (for Trinidadians). Trini is common slang for a person born on the island of Trinidad, part of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is a primarily industrialised country whose economy is based on petroleum and petrochemicals. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-Lenten Carnival and as the birthplace of steelpan, calypso, soca, and limbo. Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is celebrated two days before Ash Wednesday. Steelpans (also known as steeldrums or pans, and sometimes collectively with Musicians as a steelband) is a Musical instrument and Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century Soca is a form of Dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from Calypso music. Limbo is a dance that originated on the island of Trinidad, though Hawaii is often mistakenly associated with limbo

The capital city, Port of Spain, is currently a leading candidate (along with Miami) to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA-ALCA). Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas The Free Trade Area of the Americas ( FTAA) ( Spanish: Área de Libre Comercio de las Américas (ALCA French: Zone de libre-échange des Trinidad and Tobago is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

History

Main article: History of Trinidad and Tobago

Tobago’s cigar-like shape gave it its Spanish name (cabaco, tavaco, tobacco) and possibly its Amerindian names of Aloubaéra (black conch) and Urupaina (big snail) (Boomert, 2000). The history of Trinidad and Tobago begins with the settlements of the islands by Amerindians Both islands were encountered by Christopher Columbus Historian E. L. Joseph claimed that Trinidad’s Amerindian name was Iere derived from the Amerindian name for hummingbird ierèttê or yerettê. However, Boomert claims that Cairi or Caeri does not mean hummingbird and tukusi or tucuchi does. Others have reported that Kairi or Iere simply meant island. Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and

Both Trinidad and Tobago were originally settled by Amerindians of South American origin. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Trinidad was first settled by pre-agricultural Archaic people at least 7,000 years ago,^[3] making it the earliest-settled part of the Caribbean. Ceramic-using agriculturalists settled Trinidad around 250 BCE and then moved further up the Lesser Antillean chain. At the time of European contact Trinidad was occupied by various Arawakan-speaking groups including the Nepoya and Suppoya, and Cariban-speaking groups such as the Yao, while Tobago was occupied by the Island Caribs and Galibi. Indigenous languages of the Americas (or Amerindian Languages are spoken by indigenous peoples from the southern tip of South America to Alaska and The Cariban languages are an indigenous Language family of South America. Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands The Galibi were a Cariban-speaking people who lived in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America ( French Guiana) at the time of European The Amerindian name for Trinidad was Kairi or Iere which is usually translated as The Land of the Hummingbird, although others have reported that it simply meant island. Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas. Christopher Columbus encountered the island of Trinidad on July 31, 1498 and named it after the Holy Trinity. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных Columbus reported seeing Tobago, which he named Bella Forma, but did not land on the island. The name Tobago is probably derived from tobacco, although the English pronunciation is /təˈbeɪgoʊ/, rhyming with plumbago and sago. Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana.

Antonio de Sedeño first settled Trinidad in the 1530s as a means of controlling the Orinoco and subduing the Warao (Whitehead, 1997). Cacique Wannawanare (Guanaguanare) granted the St Joseph area to Domingo de Vera e Ibargüen in 1592 and then withdrew to another part of the island (Boomert, 2000). San José de Oruña (St Joseph) was established by Antonio de Berrío on this land. Walter Raleigh arrived in Trinedado on March 22 1595, casting anchor at Curiapan/Punta de Gallos and described the pitch lake (Piche or Tierra de Brea) and the Annaperima hill. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer This hill was known to the Warao as the home of the sea god Na’barima (Whitehead, 1997; 131). Raleigh soon attacked San José and captured and interrogated de Berrío obtaining much information from him and from the cacique Topiawari (Whitehead, 1997). In the 1700s, Trinidad belonged as an island province to the viceroyalty of New Spain along with modern Mexico and Central America (Besson, 2000). The Dutch and the Courlanders had established themselves in Tobago in the 16th and 17th centuries and produced tobacco and cotton. Courland (Kurzeme Kurland Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Kuršas Kuramaa Kurlandia Курляндия Курляндія Kuurinmaa is one of the historical However Trinidad in this period was still mostly forest, populated by a few Spaniards with their handful of slaves and a few thousand Amerindians (Besson, 2000). Spanish colonisation in Trinidad remained tenuous. In 1762, after three hundred years of Spanish rule San José de Oruña and Puerto de España (Port of Spain) were hamlets rather than towns. Because Trinidad was considered underpopulated, Roume de St. Laurent, a Frenchman living in Grenada, was able to obtain a Cédula de Población from the Spanish King Charles III on the 4th November, 1783. This Cédula de Población was more generous than the first of 1776 and granted free lands to Roman Catholic foreign settlers and their slaves in Trinidad willing to swear allegiance to the Spanish king. The land grant was thirty two acres for each man, woman and child and half of that for each slave brought. As a result, Scots, Irish, German, Italian and English families arrived. The Protestants among them profited from Governor Don José Maria Chacon's generous interpretation of the law. The French Revolution (1789) also had an impact on Trinidad's culture since it resulted in the emigration of Martiniquan planters and their slaves to Trinidad who established an agriculture-based economy (sugar and cocoa) for the island (Besson, 2000). The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an

The population of Puerto de España (Port of Spain) increased from under 3,000 to 10,422 in five years and the inhabitants in 1797 consisted of mixed-races, Spaniards, Africans, French republican soldiers, retired pirates and French nobility (Besson, 2000). The total population of Trinidad in 1797 was 17,718; 2,151 of which were "white", 4,476 were "free blacks and people of colour", 10,009 were slaves and 1,082 Amerindians. In 1797, General Sir Ralph Abercromby and his squadron sailed through the Bocas and anchored off the coast of Chaguaramas. The Spanish Governor Chacon decided to capitulate without fighting. Trinidad became a British crown colony, with a French-speaking population and Spanish laws (Besson, 2000). The conquest and formal ceding of Trinidad in 1802 led to an influx of settlers from England or the British colonies of the Eastern Caribbean. After the abolition of slavery and the collapse of the French planters' cane economy, the 'French Creole' planters and the peasant population of mixed Spanish-Amerindians turned to cocoa cultivation. Although originally a sugar colony, cacao (cocoa) dominated the economy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae CACAO is a research Java Virtual Machine developed at Vienna University of Technology. After the collapse of the cacao crop (due to disease and the Great Depression) petroleum increasingly came to dominate the economy. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit The Depression and the rise of the oil economy led to changes in the social structure. By the 1950s cocoa had become a staple in Trinidad's export market and was responsible for a growing middle-class. Originally settled by Amerindians of South American origin at least 7,000 years ago,^[3] A history of slavery and indentureship has left the country with a mixture of African, Indian, European, Middle Eastern and Chinese people. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to Afro-Trinidadians refers to a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have "Black" or " African " descent Indo-Trinidadian people or Indo-Trinidadians is a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have and/or are the descendants of either The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong All these groups have left an imprint on the national culture, and there is an increasingly high percentage of mixed-race people. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation (from the United Kingdom) in 1962 and a republic in 1976. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Meanwhile, Tobago changed hands between British, French, Dutch and Courlanders from modern-day Latvia. British colonization of the Americas (including colonization under the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland before the 1707 Acts of Union created French colonization of the Americas began in the 14th century and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western During the 17th century Dutch traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the Americas; actual colonization with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common The Duchy of Courland was the smallest nation to colonize the Americas with a colony on the island of Tobago from 1654 to 1659 and intermittently from Latvia ( Latvija officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republika is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region. Britain consolidated its hold on both islands during the Napoleonic Wars, and they were combined into the colony of Trinidad and Tobago in 1889. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. As a result of these colonial struggles, Amerindian, Spanish, French and English place names are all common in the country. List of cities Towns and Villages in Trinidad and Tobago: A B C D E African slaves and Chinese, Indian, and free African indentured labourers, as well as Portuguese from Madeira, arrived to supply labour in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Emigration from Barbados and the other Lesser Antilles, Venezuela, Syria, and Lebanon also impacted on the ethnic make-up of the country. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية

The presence of American military bases in Chaguaramas and Cumuto in Trinidad during World War II profoundly changed the character of society. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Destroyers for Bases Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, September 2, 1940, transferred fifty Destroyers Cumuto is a town and district in Trinidad. Cumuto is west of Sangre Grande and south of Arima. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In the post-war period, the wave of decolonisation that swept the British Empire led to the formation of the West Indies Federation in 1958 as a vehicle for independence. Decolonization refers to the undoing of Colonialism, the establishment of governance or authority through the creation of settlements by another country or jurisdiction The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean Federation that existed from January 3 1958 Chaguaramas was the proposed site for the federal capital. The Federation dissolved after the withdrawal of Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago elected for independence in 1962. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea.

In 1976, the country severed its links with the British monarchy and became a republic within the Commonwealth, though it retained the British Privy Council as its final Court of Appeal. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its

Between the years 1972 and 1983, the Republic profited greatly from the rising price of oil, as the oil-rich country increased its living standards greatly. An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is

In 1990, 114 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, led by Yasin Abu Bakr, formerly known as Lennox Phillip, stormed the Red House (the seat of Parliament), and Trinidad and Tobago Television, the only television station in the country at the time, and held the country's government hostage for six days before surrendering. The Jamaat al Muslimeen (from Arabic جماعة المسلمين is a Muslim organisation within the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with a membership of predominantly Yasin Abu Bakr, born Lennox Philip is the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen a Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. The building known as The Red House is the seat of Parliament in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the Legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Television Company, was a national Television broadcaster in Trinidad and Tobago. On Friday July 27, 1990, 114 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, led by Yasin Abu Bakr and Bilaal Abdullah attempted to stage a Coup d'état

Since 2003, the country has entered a second oil boom, a driving force which the government hopes to use to turn the country's main export back to sugar and agriculture. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Great concern was raised in August 2007 when it was predicted that this boom would last only until 2018.

Petroleum, petrochemicals and natural gas continue to be the backbone of the economy. Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Tourism is the mainstay of the economy of Tobago, and the island remains a favourite destination for many European tourists. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most prosperous and stable democratic nations in the Caribbean.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a liberal democracy with a two-party system and a bicameral parliamentary system based on the Westminster System. The politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a Unitary state regulated by a Parliamentary democracy modelled on that of the UK, The term "liberal" in "liberal democracy" does not imply that the government of such a democracy must follow the political ideology of A two-party system is a form of Party system where two major Political parties dominate voting in nearly all Elections at every In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Westminster system is a democratic Parliamentary system of Government modelled after the British government (the Parliament of the United The Head of State of Trinidad and Tobago is the President, currently George Richards. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the Head of state of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Commander in chief its armed forces George Richards may refer to George F Richards (1861&ndash1950 American religious leader George Henry Richards (1820&ndash1896 The Head of Government is the Prime Minister. This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State This page lists prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago. See also Lists of incumbents, List of Governors of Trinidad and Tobago, List of Governors-General of The President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of the full membership of both houses of Parliament. An electoral college is a set of many electors who are empowered to elect a candidate to a particular Office. The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the Legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. The President is required to appoint the leader of the party who in his opinion has the most support of the members of the House of Representatives to this post; this has generally been the leader of the party which won the most seats in the previous election (except in the case of the 2001 General Elections). Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on Election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Parliament consists of two chambers, the Senate (31 seats) and the House of Representatives (41 seats[2]). The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the Legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Senate of Trinidad and Tobago is the appointed Upper House of the Bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the Bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The members of the Senate are appointed by the president. Sixteen Government Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, six Opposition Senators are appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and nine Independent Senators are appointed by the President to represent other sectors of civil society. The 41 members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people for a maximum term of five years in a "first past the post" system. The plurality voting system is a Single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member

Since December 24, 2001, the governing party has been the People's National Movement led by Patrick Manning; the Opposition party is the United National Congress led by Basdeo Panday. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The People's National Movement is the present-day ruling Political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning (born August 17, 1946) is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Political Leader of the Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government particularly in a Westminster -based Parliamentary system The United National Congress (UNC is one of the two major political organisations in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Basdeo Panday- (born May 25, 1933) was Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition Another recent party called Congress of the People, or COP, led by Winston Dookeran was founded on December 10, 2006. Winston Dookeran is a Trinidad and Tobago Politician and economist. Support for these parties appears to fall along ethnic lines with the PNM consistently obtaining a majority Afro-Trinbagonian vote, and the UNC gaining a majority of Indo-Trinbagonian support. COP had many supporters but not enough to get a single seat in the last elections as being a new party. At present the PNM holds 26 seats in the House of Representatives and the UNC Alliance (UNC-A) holds 15 seats, following elections held on the 5th November 2007.

Voter turnout in General Elections usually comes in at about 60-70%, about average for established democracies.

In addition to the Parliamentary system, there are 14 Municipal Corporations, 3 Boroughs and 2 Cities which have a limited level of autonomy. The various councils which make up "Local Government" are made up of a mixture of elected and appointed members. Elections are due to be held every 3 years, but have not beem held since 2002, 2 extensions having been sought by the government. Local Government elections are next due in July 2008

Trinidad and Tobago is a leading member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), of which only the Caribbean Single Market (CSM) is in force. The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies The CARICOM Single Market and Economy also known as the Caribbean Single Market and Economy or CSME is an integrated development strategy envisioned at the 10th Meeting It is also the seat of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which was inaugurated on 16th April 2005. The CCJ is intended to replace the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final Appellate Court for the member states of the CARICOM. Since its inauguration, only two states, Barbados and Guyana, have acceded to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. The CCJ also serves has an original jurisdiction in the interpretation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, to which all members of CARICOM have acceded. The Treaty of Chaguaramas established the Caribbean Community and Common Market later known as CARICOM. However, to date, only one matter has been filed under the original jurisdiction.

Geography

Map of Trinidad and Tobago

Main article: Geography of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago are southeasterly islands of the Antilles or West Indies, situated between 10° 2' and 11° 12' N latitude and 60° 30' and 61° 56' W longitude. Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic Republic consisting of 23 islands in the southern Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the Longitude (ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd or ˈlɒŋgɪˌtjuːd symbolized by the Greek character Lambda (λ is the east-west Geographic coordinate measurement At the closest point, Trinidad is just 11 kilometres (7 miles) off the Venezuelan coast. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Covering an area of 5,128 square kilometres (1,979 sq mi), the country consists of the two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 smaller islands – including Chacachacare, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande (or Gasparee), Little Tobago, and St. Giles Island. Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic Republic in the southern Caribbean which consists of numerous landforms Chacachacare is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago located at 10° 41' north Latitude and 61° 45' west Longitude. Monos is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is one of the "Bocas Islands" which lie in the Bocas del Dragón ( Dragons' Huevos (Spanish Eggs) is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Gaspar Grande or Gasparee is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. Little Tobago (or Bird of Paradise Island) is a small island off the northeastern coast of Tobago, and part of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago The St Giles Island is a small island off the northeast tip of Tobago. Trinidad is 4,768 square kilometres (1,841 sq mi) in area (comprising 93. 0% of the country's total area) with an average length of 80 kilometres (50 mi) and an average width of 59 kilometres (37 mi). Tobago has an area of about 300 square kilometres (115 sq mi), or 5. 8% of the country's area, is 41 kilometres (25. 5 mi) long and 12 kilometres (7. 5 mi) at its greatest width.

Hillside along Diego Martin

The terrain of the islands is a mixture of mountains and plains. The highest point in the country is found on the Northern Range at El Cerro del Aripo which is situated at 940 metres (3,085 ft) above sea level. The Northern Range is the range of tall hills across the northern portion of Trinidad, the major island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. El Cerro del Aripo (940 m asl) is the highest point in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The climate is tropical. There are two seasons annually: the dry season for the first six months of the year, and the wet season in the second half of the year. The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the Tropics. A wet season or rainy season is a Season in which the average Rainfall in a region is significantly increased Winds are predominantly from the northeast and are dominated by the northeast trade winds. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator. Unlike most of the other Caribbean islands, both Trinidad and Tobago have frequently escaped the wrath of major devastating hurricanes including Hurricane Ivan, the most powerful storm to pass close to the islands in recent history in September 2004. Hurricane Ivan was the strongest hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season.

As the majority of the population live in Trinidad, this is the location of most major towns and cities. There are three major municipalities in Trinidad: Port of Spain, the capital, San Fernando, and Chaguanas. Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas The City of San Fernando is the larger of the two major cities in Trinidad and Tobago, and the second largest Municipality The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality (67433 2000 Census) and fastest-growing Town in Trinidad Of these, Chaguanas is the fastest growing. The main town in Tobago is Scarborough. Scarborough Tobago is the largest town on Tobago, one of the two islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad is made up of a variety of soil types, the majority being fine sands and heavy clays. The alluvial valleys of the Northern Range and the soils of the East-West Corridor being the most fertile. The East-West Corridor is the built-up area of north Trinidad stretching from the capital Port of Spain, 15 miles east to Arima.

The Chaconia (Warszewiczia coccinea) flower is the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Northern Range consists mainly of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks, mostly andesites and schists. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of For the extinct cephalopod genus see Andesites. Andesite (ˈændəsaɪt is an igneous, Volcanic rock, of intermediate The schists form a group of medium-grade Metamorphic rocks chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar Minerals such as Micas chlorite The Northern Lowlands (East-West Corridor and Caroni Plains) consist of Pleistocene or younger soft sands and clays with superficial gravel terraces and river and swamp alluvia. The East-West Corridor is the built-up area of north Trinidad stretching from the capital Port of Spain, 15 miles east to Arima. The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period South of this, the Central Range is a folded anticlinal uplift consisting of Cretaceous and Eocene rocks, with Miocene formations along the southern and eastern flanks. The Central Range is a Mountain range on the island of Trinidad. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 The Naparima Plains and the Nariva Swamp form the southern shoulder of this uplift. The Nariva Swamp is the largest Freshwater Wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under The Southern Lowlands consist of Miocene and Pliocene sands, clays, and gravels. The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts is the period in the Geologic timescale that extends These overlie oil and natural gas deposits, especially north of the Los Bajos Fault. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, The Southern Range forms the third anticlinal uplift. It consists of several chains of hills, most famous being the Trinity Hills. The Trinity Hills are a range of hills in southeastern Trinidad. The rocks consist of sandstones, shales and siltstones and clays formed in the Miocene and uplifted in the Pleistocene. Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. Shale (also called mudstone) is a fine-grained Sedimentary rock whose original constituents were Clay minerals or Muds It is characterized by Siltstone is a Sedimentary rock which has a composition intermediate in grain size between the coarser Sandstones and the finer Mudstones and Oil sands and mud volcanoes are especially common in this area. Note See the Volcano article for information on Magmatic volcanoes such as Mount St

Although it is located just off-shore from South America, Trinidad and Tobago is not considered to be part of the South American continent by virtue of its geographical and historical heritage. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a See Bicontinental countries. This is a list of countries spanning more than one continent, sometimes referred to as transcontinental states.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain Cityscape 2008

Trinidad's economy is strongly influenced by the petroleum industry. Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses and has one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America Tourism and manufacturing are also important to the local economy. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from good management and a large trade surplus. Agricultural products include citrus, cocoa, and other products. Sugar cane was once a prominent crop of Trinidad but commercial production has ceased since 2007

Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses and has one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America. Recent growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Additional petrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stages of planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these resources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food and beverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of employment. The country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. ^[4] The expansion of Atlantic LNG over the past six years created the largest-single sustained phase of economic growth in Trinidad and Tobago. It has become the leading exporter of LNG to the United States, and now supplies some 70% of U. S. LNG imports.

Trinidad and Tobago has transitioned from an oil-based economy to a natural gas based economy. In 2007, natural gas production averaged 4 billion standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d), compared with 3. 2 bcf/d in 2005. In December 2005, the Atlantic LNG fourth production module or "train" for liquefied natural gas (LNG) began production. Train 4 has increased Atlantic LNG's overall output capacity by almost 50% and is the largest LNG train in the world at 5. 2 million tons/year of LNG.

Reductions in subsidies to state enterprises have contributed to fiscal soundness and lent credibility to the government's ongoing divestment program. In Finance and Economics, divestment or divestiture is the reduction of some kind of Asset for either financial goals or ethical objectives Companies all or partially divested since 1987 include the National Fisheries Company, BWIA West Indies Airways (now Caribbean Airlines), National Flour Mills (NFM), the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, TT Methanol Company, Trinidad Cement, the Iron and Steel Company of Trinidad and Tobago (ISCOTT), and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). BWIA West Indies Airways, called "B-wee" by locals was the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Airlines is the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago, with its main hub at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. In the most general sense of the word a cement is a binder a substance which sets and hardens independently and can bind other materials together Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. BWIA was dissolved by the government and replaced by a new carrier. In May 1997, the government sold its remaining 69% interest in the Trinidad and Tobago Methanol Company to a consortium consisting of the local firm CL Financial and Germany's Ferrostaal and Helm. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. NFM was divested by an additional 14% in 1997, bringing the government's holding down to 51%. The government has created a holding company to bring its remaining shares in several formerly wholly government-owned enterprises to market.

Trinidad and Tobago's infrastructure is good by regional standards. The international airport in Trinidad was expanded in 2001. Piarco International Airport is the main airport serving Trinidad and Tobago located in Piarco, a town in northern Trinidad, about 25 km There is an extensive network of paved roads with several good four and six lane highways including one controlled access expressway. Emergency services are reliable, but may suffer delays in rural districts. Medical Care at public hospitals is modern, with high investment in equipment, but suffers from emigration of personnel. Private hospitals are available and reliable. Utilities are fairly reliable in the cities. Some areas, however, especially rural districts, still suffer from water shortages. The government is addressing this problem with the construction of additional desalinization plants. Infrastructure improvement, especially rural roads and telephone service, drainage and sewerage, are among the government's budget priorities.

Telephone service is relatively modern and reliable. Cellular service is widespread and has been the major area of growth for several years. Digicel and Laqtel were granted cellular licenses in 2005, breaking TSTT's monopoly. Digicel is a Mobile phone network provider in the Caribbean region LaqTel Ltd ("LaqTel Communications" is a privately held up-start Mobile phone and wireless service provider of Trinidad and Tobago. Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (generally known as TSTT) is the largest Telephone and Internet service provider in The Internet has come into widespread use, although service can be slow at peak times. The government has been slow to open up this market to competition as well.

Trinidad and Tobago does not import or export any electricity. Conferences are being held by the government to find alternative energy sources, with a heavy focus on renewable energy.

The government's economic strategy is based on fiscal and monetary discipline, private sector investment, and export-led growth.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Trinidad and Tobago

Of the country's 1. Age structure 0-14 years 25% (male 151736 female 146135 15-64 years 68% (male 410668 female 389303 65 years and over 7% (male 34559 3 million inhabitants (as of 2005), most (96%) reside on the island of Trinidad with most of the remainder (4%) in Tobago. The ethnic composition of Trinidad and Tobago reflects a history of conquest and immigration. Two major ethnic groups - Indo-Trinidadians and Afro-Trinidadians - account for almost 80% of the population, while people of Mixed-race, Euro-Trinidadian/European, Chinese Trinidadian/Chinese and Arab-Trinidadian/Syrian-Lebanese descent make up most of the rest of the population. Indo-Trinidadian people or Indo-Trinidadians is a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have and/or are the descendants of either Afro-Trinidadians refers to a generalized term used to describe Trinidadian people whom appear to have "Black" or " African " descent The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe. Chinese Trinidadians or Sino-Trinidadian are Trinidadian (s of Chinese Ancestry who were born in or have immigrated to Trinidad & Tobago Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية According to the 1990 census, Indo-Trinidadians make up 40. 3% of the population, Afro-Trinidadians 39. 5%, Mixed-race people 18. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. 4%, Euro-Trinidadian 0. 6% and Chinese,Lebanese, Syrians and others 1. 2%. Euro-Trinidadians, especially those descendants of the former plantocracy, are often referred to as French Creoles, even if they are descended from Spanish, British, or German settlers. A plantocracy, also known as a slavocracy, is a ruling class political order or government composed of (or dominated by plantation owners The mixed-race Cocoa Payols are descendant of the original Spanish settlers and later immigrants from Venezuela. The Cocoa Panyols (or Cocoa Payols) are an ethnic group in Trinidad & Tobago. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Today, the Trinidadian Portuguese population includes both whites and mixed people. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west The small Amerindian population is largely mixed-race. The Carib population, which is descendant of the indigenous inhabitants, is primarily organised around the Santa Rosa Carib Community. Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands The Santa Rosa Carib Community is the major organisation of indigenous people in Trinidad and Tobago.

Emigration from Trinidad and Tobago, as with other Caribbean nations, has historically been high; most emigrants go to the United States, Canada and Britain. "Emigrant" redirects here For the Butterflies, see Catopsilia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Emigration has continued, albeit at a lower rate, even as the birth-rate sharply dropped to levels typical of industrialised countries. Largely because of this phenomenon, as of 2007, Trinidad and Tobago has a low population growth rate (0. This is a list of countries and self-governing dependent territories by Population growth rate, with estimates taken from the 2006 edition of the United Nations World 37%).

English is the country's only official language, but Bhojpuri, locally known as Hindi, is also spoken by a few Indo-Trinidadians and widely used in popular music such as chutney and chutney soca. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Bhojpuri ( is a regional language spoken in parts of north-central and eastern India. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is The main spoken language is a dialect or a creole which reflects the African and European heritage of the nation. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of The major spoken language in Tobago is English. Both languages contain elements from a number and variety of African languages; Trinidadian English, however, is also largely influenced by French and French Creole, Spanish (still spoken in the south as well as other parts of the island), and by Bhojpuri/Hindi. The creole languages and other vernaculars are normally spoken in informal situations, and there is no formalized system of writing (as in standard English). Although Patois (a variety of French Creole) was once the most widely spoken language in Trinidad (and also on the Venezuelan Paria coast), there are various remnants of the language in everyday vernacular. A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin. Due to Trinidad's location on the coast of South America, the country has been slowly redeveloping a connection with the Spanish-speaking peoples, but has been impeded by the fact that in 2004, only 1,500 inhabitants spoke Spanish. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a In 2004 the government initiated the Spanish as a First Foreign Language (SAFFL) initiative [3], with a public launch in March 2005. Government regulations now require Spanish to be taught to all beginning at the primary school level, while thirty percent of public employees are to be linguistically competent within five years. The government also announced that Spanish is to become the second official language of the country by 2020 alongside English. Venezuelans often come to Trinidad and Tobago to learn English, and many English schools have expanded to feature both English and Spanish.

Because of the country's colonial heritage, the names of towns in Trinidad are in roughly equal proportions of English (Chatham, Brighton, Green Hill, St. Mary's), French (Blanchisseuse, Sans Souci, Pointe-à-Pierre, Basse Terre), Spanish (Puerto España, San Fernando, Sangre Grande, Rio Claro, San Juan,) East Indian (Fyzabad, Barrackpore, Indian Walk, Madras Settlement) and Amerindian languages (Tunapuna, Guayaguayare, Carapichaima, Mucurapo, Chaguaramas). In Tobago, English names predominate. However, there are several names however which suggest its colonial past: Belle Garden, Bon Accord, Charlotteville, Les Coteaux Palatuvier (French), Auchenskeoch, Blenheim (Dutch).

Religion

Main article: Religion in Trinidad and Tobago

Many different religions are present in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-religious Nation. The largest religious groups are the Roman Catholics and Hindus; the Anglicans, The largest two are the Roman Catholics (26%) and Hindus (22%); the Anglicans (8%), Muslims (5%), Seventh-day Adventists (4%), Presbyterians, Jehovah's Witnesses and Methodists are among the smaller faiths. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Kingdom Hall is the term for the meeting place for Jehovah's Witnesses. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Two African syncretic faiths, the Shouter or Spiritual Baptists and the Orisha faith (formerly called Shangos, a less than complimentary term) are among the fastest growing religious groups, as are a host of evangelical and fundamentalist churches usually lumped as "Pentecostal" by most Trinidadians (although this designation is often inaccurate). Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought The Spiritual Baptist (or Shouter Baptist) faith is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic Religion which combines elements of traditional West African The Spiritual Baptist (or Shouter Baptist) faith is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic Religion which combines elements of traditional West African An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Fundamentalist Christianity, also known as Christian Fundamentalism or Fundamentalist Evangelicalism, is a movement that arose mainly within British and Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism

Human rights

The Cat o' nine tails is still used to flog prisoners. The cat o' nine tails, commonly shortened to 'the cat' is a type of multi-tailed whipping device that originated as an implement for severe Physical punishment On 11 March, 2005 the Government of Trinidad & Tobago was ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to pay US$ 50,000 for "moral damages" to a prisoner who had received 15 strokes of the "Cat" plus expenses for his medical and psychological care (http://www.worldlii.org/int/cases/IACHR/2005/4.html). The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is an autonomous judicial institution based in the city of San José, Costa Rica. {{Caesar vs. Trinidad and Tobago - Series C No. 123 [2005] IACHR 4 (11 March 2005) }} It is unclear whether the Court's decisions were met. However, the "Cat" has not been used for several years, and the use of the birch has also fallen into disuse. Prisoners sentenced to death for capital crimes used to be hanged, but recent attempts to execute persons sentenced to death have been blocked by the Privy Council, with sentences being commuted to life imprisonment.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Trinidad and Tobago (see Gay rights in Trinidad and Tobago) and under Article 8 (18/1) of the Immigration Act, homosexuals are not allowed to enter the country. Homosexuality is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. However homosexuals have not been actively targeted by the laws However, homosexuals have not been actively targeted under current law.

Culture

Members of a Costume band parade on the streets of Port of Spain during its pre-Lenten Carnival

It is also the birthplace of calypso music and the steelpan, which is widely claimed to be the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century. Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is celebrated two days before Ash Wednesday. Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century Steelpans (also known as steeldrums or pans, and sometimes collectively with Musicians as a steelband) is a Musical instrument and The diverse cultural and religious background allows for many festivities and ceremonies throughout the year. Other indigenous art forms include soca (a derivate of calypso), Parang (Venezuelan-influenced Christmas music), chutney, Rapso music, which was made famous by Cheryl Byron and pichakaree (musical forms which blend the music of the Caribbean and India) and the famous Limbo dance. Soca is a form of Dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from Calypso music. Parang is a type of music with Caribbean and Latin American cultural influences Chutney music is a form of music indigenous to the southern Caribbean (primarily Trinidad & Tobago) which derives elements from soca and Indian Rapso is a form of Trinidadian music that grew out of the social unrest of the 1970s Cheryl Byron (died June 17 2003) was a visual artist She started her studies in her native land Trinidad & Tobago. Pichakaree (or pichakaaree) is an Indo-Trinidadian musical form which originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Limbo is a dance that originated on the island of Trinidad, though Hawaii is often mistakenly associated with limbo

The artistic scene is vibrant. Trinidad and Tobago claims two Nobel Prize-winning authors, V.S. Naipaul and St Lucian-born Derek Walcott. The Nobel Prize in Literature (Nobelpriset i litteratur is awarded annually since 1901 to an author from any country who has in the words from the will of Alfred Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul Kt, TC (born August 17, 1932 in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago) better known Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Derek Alton Walcott (born January 23, 1930) is a West Indies poet playwright writer and visual artist who writes mainly in English. Mas' designer Peter Minshall is renowned not only for his Carnival costumes, but also for his role in opening ceremonies of the Barcelona Olympics, the 1994 Football World Cup, the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics, for which he won an Emmy Award. Peter Minshall (1941-) is a Trinidadian Carnival artist who describes his medium as "the Mas " and prefers to be called a "masman" The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Barcelona, The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in the United States from June 17 to July 17 1994 The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an International The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIX Olympic Winter Games were a Winter Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 2002 Hasely Crawford was the first Trinidadian to win the Olympic Gold Medal in the men's 100 m dash. Hasely Joachim Crawford (born August 16, 1950) is a former athlete from Trinidad and Tobago.

Sport

Olympic Games:

Main article: Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympics

Hasely Crawford won the first Olympic gold medal for Trinidad and Tobago in the men's 100 m dash in the 1976 Summer Olympics. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Trinidad and Tobago first participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1948, before they attained their independence from Great Britain The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Gold Medal is an Album by American band The Donnas, released in 2004 (see 2004 in music) The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Montreal, Quebec Nine different athletes from Trinidad and Tobago have won twelve medals at the Olympics, beginning with a silver medal in weightlifting, won by Rodney Wilkes in 1948 ^[5], and most recently, a bronze medal by George Bovell III ^[6] in 2004. A Silver medal is a Medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests (typically athletics competitions such as the Olympic Games, Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was held in London George Bovell III (born July 18, 1983) is the ninth person ever to win an Olympic medal for Trinidad and Tobago. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated Ato Boldon has won the most Olympic and World Championship medals for Trinidad and Tobago in athletics with eight in total - four from the Olympics and four from the World Championships. Ato Jabari Boldon (born December 30, 1973) is a retired athlete from Trinidad and Tobago, the 1997 200 m World Champion and four-time Olympic Boldon is also the only world champion Trinidad and Tobago has ever had in athletics competition. He won the 1997 200 m World Championship in Athens, Greece.

Cricket: Cricket is one of the most popular sports of Trinidad and Tobago, with intense inter-island rivalry with its Caribbean neighbours. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Trinidad and Tobago plays both One Day International and Test cricket as a member of the West Indies team. Note Most of the information here pertains to men's cricket ODI matches are also played in Women's cricket. Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as The Windies or The West Indies, is a multi-national Cricket team representing The national team plays at the first-class level in regional competitions. The Trinidad and Tobago cricket team is the representative cricket team of the country of Trinidad and Tobago. First-class cricket refers to the class of Cricket matches of three or more days scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players and officially adjudged first-class by Trinidad and Tobago along with other islands from the Caribbean co-hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was a Men 's Cricket Tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007 using the sport's Brian Lara, world record holder for the most runs scored both in a Test and in a First Class innings, is from Trinidad and Tobago and is often known as the Prince of Port of Spain and as one of the best cricketers in Trinidad and Tobago. Brian Charles Lara (born 2 May 1969 ( nicknamed, "The Prince of Port-of-Spain" "The Prince of Trinidad" or simply "The Prince" is a Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas

Football: The national football team qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup for the first time by beating Bahrain in Manama on 16 November 2005, making them the smallest country ever (in terms of population) to qualify. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is controlled by the Trinidad The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament The Bahraini national football team (منتخب البحرين لكرة القدم is the national team of the Kingdom of Bahrain and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Manama ( Arabic: المنامة, Transliteration: Al-Manāmah) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain with Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The team, coached by Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, and led by Tobagonian-born captain Dwight Yorke, drew their first group game - against Sweden in Dortmund - 0-0, but lost the second game to England on late goals, 0-2. The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. Leo Beenhakker (born August 2, 1942 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) is an international Dutch football coach currently Dwight Eversley Yorke (born November 3 1971 in Canaan, Tobago) is a Trinidad and Tobago football player They were eliminated after losing 2-0 to Paraguay in the last game of the Group Stage. Prior to the 2006 World Cup qualification, T&T came agonisingly close to qualifying in a controversial 1974 campaign ^[7] and again for the 1990 competition needing only a draw at home against the United States but losing 1-0 ^[8]. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Trinidad and Tobago hosted the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship. The FIFA U-17 World Championship 2001 was held in the cities of Port of Spain, Malabar, Marabella, Couva, and Bacolet

Horse Racing: Trinidad has Santa Rosa Park, a horse racing track. This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. There is also goat racing and crab racing in Tobago.

Sailing: As Trinidad and Tobago is just south of the hurricane belt it is very popular with international cruising yachtsmen, especially from August to October. Sailing is the art of controlling a Sailing vessel. By changing the Rigging, Rudder and dagger or centre board a Sailor manages the force Consequently there have been a number of repair centres and other facilities developed, the majority of these are situated in Chaguaramas. This international community is also part of the tourism industry along with eco tours and carnival.

Holidays

The following holidays are observed in Trinidad and Tobago.

• Calendar of Events - Official Trinidad & Tobago

Notes

References

• Besson, Gérard & Brereton, Bridget. 1992. The Book of Trinidad. 2nd ed. Port of Spain: Paria Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 976-8054-36-0.
• Besson, Gerard. 2000. The 'Land of Beginnings'. A historical digest, Newsday Newspaper Sunday August 27, 2000.
• Lans C: Creole Remedies of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Mendes, John. 1986. Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary. Arima, Trinidad.
• Boomert, Arie. 2000. Trinidad, Tobago and the Lower Orinoco Interaction Sphere: An archaeological/ethnohistorical study. Alkmaar: Cairi Publications.
• Saith, Radhica and Lyndersay, Mark. 1993. Why Not a Woman? Port of Spain: Paria Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 976-8054-42-5.
• Whitehead, 1997. The Discoverie of the Large, Rich and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana. By Sir Walter Raleigh. Edited by Neil L. Whitehead. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
• Article and downloadable pdf file on corporal punishment in Trinidad and Tobago by Harvard Law School
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights orders Trinidad to pay compensation for flogging and humiliation of prisoners in March 2005
• Amnesty International report recording use of Cat o' nine tails on woman and young boy in Trinidad
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights' decisions and documents
• ILGA

External links

• Trinidad and Tobago travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official Tourism Website - www.gotrinidadandtobago.com
• Official Tourism Website - Maps of Trinidad and Tobago - www.gotrinidadandtobago.com
• Official Government Website
• Central Statistical Office, Government of Trinidad and Tobago
• National emblems of Trinidad and Tobago
• Trinidad Cultural Website
• Trini News
• The Trinidad and Tobago Webdirectory
• Select National Bibliography
• Official Site of the Soca Warriors football team
• Football - Soca Warriors Online

See also:

• BBC Country Profiles: Trinidad and Tobago
• CIA World Factbook: Trinidad and Tobago
• Trinicenter.com
• Trinidad and Tobago Information
• Trinidad News