ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Trinidad and Tobago. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights (numerical rating), civil liberties (numerical rating), and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Trinidad and Tobago. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago can change their government democratically, although the disputed 2000 and 2001 elections were emblematic of the racial tensions that continued to dominate electoral contests. Trinidad and Tobago, a member of the Commonwealth, achieved independence in 1962. The 1976 constitution established the two-island nation as a republic, with a president elected by a majority of both houses of parliament, replacing the former governor-general. Drug corruption extends to Trinidad and Tobago's business community and a significant amount of money is believed to be laundered through front companies.
