Politics of Trinidad and Tobago

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, from which the country gained its independence in 1962. Under the 1976 republican Constitution, the British monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The country has remained a member of the Commonwealth, and has retained the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as its highest court of appeal.

The general direction and control of the government rests with the Cabinet, led by a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are answerable (at least in theory) to the House of Representatives. The 36 members of the House 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. In 1976, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18. The Senate's 31 members are appointed by the President: 16 on the advice of the prime minister, six on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and nine independents selected by the President from among outstanding members of the community. Local government is through nine Regional Corporations and five municipalities. Tobago was given a measure of self-government in 1980 and is governed by the Tobago House of Assembly. In 1996, Parliament passed legislation which gave Tobago greater self-government. In 2005 Parliament approved a proposal by the independent Elections and Boundaries Commission to increase the number of seats in the House of Representatives from 36 to 41.

Party politics have generally run along ethnic lines, with most Afro-Trinidadians supporting the People's National Movement (PNM) and most Indo-Trinidadians supporting various Indian-majority parties, such as the currentUnited National Congress (UNC) or its predecessors. Most political parties, however, have sought to broaden their purview.

In recent months a new political presence has emerged called Congress of The People (COP). The majority of this membership was formed from former UNC members . The COP however failed to capture a single seat in the recent 2007 elections.

Executive branch

President
George Maxwell Richards|
2003
-
Prime Minister
Patrick Manning|
December 2001The President is elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the person with the most support among the elected members of the House of Representatives is usually appointed Prime Minister. The cabinet appointed from among the Members of Parliament which constitutes elected Members of the House of Representatives and appointed Members of the Senate
"Election Results:"George Maxwell Richards elected president;

The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago

*Prime Minister: Patrick Manning
*Attorney-General: Bridgid Annisette-George
*Minister of Foreign Affairs: Paula Gopee-Scoon
*Minister of Finance: Karen Nunez-Tesheira
*Minister of National Security: Martin Joseph
*Minister of Trade and Industry: Lenny Saith
*Minister of Local Government: Hazel Manning
*Minister of Education: Esther Le Gendre
*Minister of Works and Transport: Colm Imbert
*Minister of Health: Jerry Narace
*Minister of Agriculture: Arnold Pigott
*Minister of Public Administration: Kennedy Swaratsingh
*Minister of Information: Neil Parsanlal
*Minister of Tourism: Joseph Ross
*Minister of Community Development and Culture: Marlene MacDonald
*Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment: Emily Gaynor Dick-Ford
*Minister of Energy: Conrad Enill
*Minister of Labour: Rennie Dumas
*Minister of Social Development: Amery Browne
*Minister of Public Utilities: Mustapha Abdul-Hamid
*Minister of Legal Affairs: Peter Taylor
*Minister ot Science, Technology and Tertiary Ed: Christine Kangaloo
*Minister of Youth and Sports: Gary Hunt
*Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Lenny Saith
*Minister in the Ministry of Finance: Mariano Browne

Legislative branch

The Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 36 members (to be increased to 41 seats after the next election), elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 31 members: 16 Government Senators appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, six Opposition Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and nine Independent Senators appointed by the President to represent other sectors of civil society.

The 15 member Tobago House of Assembly has limited autonomy with respect toTobago.

Political parties and elections

"note:" Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members (12 elected) serving four-year terms; in the 2005 elections the PNM won.

Judicial branch

The country's highest court is the Court of Appeal, whose chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Final appeal on some matters is decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Trinidad and Tobago was chosen by its Caribbean neighbors (Caricom) to be the headquarters site of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was supposed to replace the Privy Council in the fall of 2003. However, the government has been unable to pass legislation to effect this change.

Administrative divisions

Trinidad is divided in five Municipalities Arima, Chaguanas, Port of Spain, Point Fortin, San Fernando and nine Regional Corporations Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo, Diego Martin, Penal-Debe, Princes Town, Rio Claro-Mayaro, San Juan-Laventille, Sangre Grande,Siparia, and Tunapuna-Piarco.

Local government in Tobago is handled by the Tobago House of Assembly.

Political pressure groups and leaders

Jamaat al Muslimeen (Yasin Abu Bakr) (Leader of the islamist coup d'état attempt in 1990).
* [http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369924 Chris Zambelis, "Jamaat al-Muslimeen on Trial in Trinidad and Tobago,"] "Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor," Volume 4, Issue 5, March 9, 2006.
* [http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369812 Chris Zambelis, "Al-Qaeda's Inroads into the Caribbean,"] "Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor," Volume 3, Issue 20, October 21, 2005.
* [http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369844 Chris Zambelis, "Radical Islam in Latin America,"] "Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor," Volume 3, Issue 23, December 2, 2005.

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO