Politics of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Trinidad and Tobago

Government President (List) George Maxwell Richards Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Parliament Parliament Senate House of Representatives Judiciary Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Judiciary Court of Appeal High Court Elections Elections: 2002, 2007, 2010 Political parties Local Government Corporations Tobago House of Assembly Former Counties Foreign Policy Foreign relations

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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 41 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 has 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 current United National Congress (UNC) or its predecessors. Most political parties, however, have sought to broaden their purview. In the run-up to the 2007 general election, a new political presence emerged called Congress of The People (COP). Led by former Winston Dookeran, the majority of this membership was formed from former UNC members. Despite gaining a significant though minroty share of the vote in various constituencies, the COP failed to capture a single seat.

An early general election was called on 16 April 2010, and was held on 24 May 2010. Two major entities contested the election: the incumbent PNM, and a coalition called the People's Partnership, comprising the UNC, COP, TOP (Tobago Organisation of the People), and two labour and non-governmental organisations:the National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice, led by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The People's Partnership won 29 seats and the majority, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar being sworn in as the country's first female Prime Minister on May 26, 2010. The PNM won the remaining 12 seats and comprises the opposition in parliament.

Executive branch

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	George Maxwell Richards	Independent	17 March 2003
Prime Minister	Kamla Persad-Bissessar	People's Partnership	26 May 2010

The 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

Cabinet ministers of Trinidad and Tobago

• Prime Minister: Kamla Persad-Bissesar
• Attorney-General: Anand Ramlogan
• Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications: Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan
• Minister of Finance: Winston Dookeran
• Minister of National Security: John Sandy
• Minister of Trade and Industry: Stephen Cadiz
• Minister of Local Government: Chandresh Sharma
• Minister of Education: Dr. Tim Gopeesingh
• Minister of Works: Jack Warner
• Minister of Transport: Devant Maharaj
• Minister of Health: Dr. Fuad Khan
• Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs: Vasant Bharath
• Minister of Public Administration: Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan
• Minister of Justice: Herbert Volney
• Minister of Tourism: Dr. Rupert Griffith
• Minister of Community Development: Nizam Baksh
• Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism: Winston "Gypsy" Peters
• Minister of Housing and the Environment: Dr. Roodal Moonilal
• Minister of Planning and Development: Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie
• Minister of Energy: Kevin Ramnarine
• Minister of Labour: Errol MacLeod
• Minister of the People and Social Development: Dr. Glen Ramadhardsingh
• Minister of Public Utilities: Emmanuel George
• Minister of Legal Affairs: Prakash Ramadhar
• Minister ot Science, Technology and Tertiary Ed: Fazal Karim
• Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development: Verna St Rose-Greaves
• Minister of Sports: Anil Roberts
• Minister of Tobago Development: Vernella Alleyne-Toppin
• Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister: Rodger Samuel
• Minister in the Ministry of Finance: Dr. Delmond Baker
• Minister in the Ministry of National Security: Collin Partap
• Minister in the Ministry of Local Government: Rudranath Indarsingh
• Minister in the Ministry of Education: Clifton De Coteau
• Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development Dr. Lincoln Douglas
• Minister in the Ministry of Works: Stacy Roopnarine
• Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications: Nicole Dyer-Griffith
• Minister in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development: Ramona Ramdial
• Minister in the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism: Embau Moheni

Legislative branch

The Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 41 members, 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 to Tobago.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Trinidad and Tobago. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Trinidad and Tobago.

 Summary of the 24 May 2010 House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
People's Partnership Coalition	432,026	59.81	29
People's National Movement	285,354	39.50	12
New National Vision	1,998	0.27	0
Independents	349	0.02	0
Total valid (turnout 69.45%)	719,727	100.00	41
Invalid	2,595
Total	722,322
Source: EBC

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. The current Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago is Ivor Archie. 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 neighbours (Caricom) to be the headquarters site of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was supposed to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the fall of 2003. However, the government has been unable to pass legislation to effect this change.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Regional Corporations and Municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago

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).

• Chris Zambelis, "Jamaat al-Muslimeen on Trial in Trinidad and Tobago," Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Volume 4, Issue 5, March 9, 2006.
• Chris Zambelis, "Al-Qaeda's Inroads into the Caribbean," Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Volume 3, Issue 20, October 21, 2005.
• 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

External links

• The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EB&C), Trinidad and Tobago