- Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago
- In the Commonwealth
- Facts and Figure
- Trinidad and Tobago became a member of the Commonwealth in 1962
- Trinidad and Tobago became an independent country on the 31st of August 1962
- Trinidad and Tobago has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1934, and has won 38 medals over that time
- Sir Vidia Naipaul, born in Chaguanas in August 1932, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001
- Earl Lovelace won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize with his novel, Salt, in 1997; and Lawrence Scott was a regional winner in 1999
- Brian Lara, born in Santa Cruz, Trinidad, in May 1969, was Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 1994 and 1995
- Ato Boldon took the Commonwealth Games Men’s 100 Metres record (9.88 seconds) in the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998
- Scholarships and fellowships are awarded by Trinidad and Tobago to citizens of other Commonwealth countries under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
- The country has sustained rapid economic growth; its economy grew at an average 7.9% p.a. during the decade 1998-2007, the fastest rate among Commonwealth countries
- Trinidad and Tobago consumes more oil per head than any other Commonwealth country – not unexpectedly as it is an oil-producing nation
- Jacqueline Wilson, Director of Governance and Institutional Development, Commonwealth Secretariat 2007-
- Kenneth Lum, former Director of Science and Technology, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Vijay Krishnarayan, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation
- Edwin W Carrington, Secretary-General of CARICOM 1992-
- 1995 Second Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting in Port of Spain
- 1996 Fifth Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting
- 2009 CHOGM held in Port of Spain in November
Hon. Keith Rowley
Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all visitors to the Commonwealth of Nations website, which provides an ideal platform for generating insight into the political and economic backgrounds of Commonwealth Member States.
Our twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, located at the southernmost tip of the Caribbean archipelago, enjoys a stable political environment, deeply rooted in the values of democracy and good governance which form the basis of the Commonwealth’s core principles. As a proud Member of the Commonwealth, we continue to strive to uphold the pillars of democracy by respecting the fundamental human rights of our citizens through universal education and the promotion of gender equality. Furthermore, the government of Trinidad and Tobago works assiduously to ensure that the foundation of good governance laid out by the Harare Declaration of 1991 is built upon in all facets of our political and judicial system. It is our continuous endeavour to maintain these values of the Commonwealth which has contributed in large part to our development on political, economic and social levels.
Not only are we a secure democratic nation, but Trinidad and Tobago also has the most stable economy in the Caribbean. Thanks to our location which makes us a natural launching pad to the Caribbean and the Americas, we are proud to have the most developed, industrialised economy of the region. Whilst we have reaped the benefits of Trinidad and Tobago’s booming petroleum and petro-chemical industries, we continue to rapidly diversify, expanding our manufacturing, maritime, food and beverage, creative and service industries, among others. Similarly, Tobago’s firmly established tourism industry continues to flourish as it remains a top tourist destination with its barely-touched natural beauty.
In seeking not only to diversify and strengthen our economy, but also to maintain our commitment to democracy, Trinidad and Tobago is working closely with the Commonwealth and its various organs to achieve these goals. Indeed, the Commonwealth’s unflagging support and collaboration provides an invaluable stepping stone for Trinidad and Tobago as we aim to increase our presence on the world stage. We are a vibrant, cosmopolitan nation, rapidly going from strength to strength, and I therefore wish to invite you to explore all that Trinidad and Tobago has to offer, whether it is an opportunity to invest and do business, or simply enjoy the hospitality and scenic beauty of our twin-island Republic.
The above message was provided by the previous Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Trinidad and Tobago in the Commonwealth
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Senior international officers
Commonwealth meetings hosted
Commonwealth Projects
Building Capacity for Financial Literacy (2007/08)
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago was seeking to launch a comprehensive national financial literacy programme. This project intended to develop a financial literacy programme aimed at improving the ability of individuals in Trinidad and Tobago to make more informed decisions and act more astutely in financial matters affecting their livelihood.
Capacity Building – National Herbarium Library (2005/06)
The purpose of this Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned project was to build the capacity of the University of West Indies National Herbarium Library to become a modern institution in keeping with international standards for library management and archiving, such that would also meet information management needs related to teaching, research and community use. A policy document for operating, managing and maintaining standards in the National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago (NHOTT) reference library collection was also prepared.
Developing Enterprise Competitiveness for Small Business (2005/06)
A series of technical assistance initiatives which focused on competitiveness and enterprise level activity in Trinidad and Tobago to develop and implement practical strategies and solutions for small businesses in the country. A Caribbean e-commerce strategy for small businesses was delivered, aimed at building capacity in Trinidad and Tobago’s small business sector.
Expert – Accelerated Land Distribution Programme (2002)
A legal expert provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat assisted in strengthening the capacity of the government to manage and control all state owned agricultural lands through the granting of security of tenure to farmers who occupy state owned agriculture land. The Accelerated Land Distribution Programme (ALDP) will be supported to execute leases and provide legal advice on matters relating to the programme. The legal advisor assisted in assessing existing land laws, issuing standard agricultural leases, training staff at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and at the Ministry of Food Production and Marine Resources.
Training in School Mapping and Micro-Planning (1998)
An expert was provided for three months to assist the Educational Planning Division of the Ministry of Education to develop skills in school mapping and micro-planning systems. The expert provided training to strengthen the ability of Ministry staff to deal with gaps in the educational system. Training included surveying and data collection in the area of school mapping, data analysis skills and improving computer facilities for compiling and coordination information within the Ministry.
Population
Total area: 26 sq. km
Population in thousands (2010): 10
Population density (2010): 385 per sq. km
Proportion of population under 18 (2010): 40.0%
Proportion of population over 60 (2010): 8.8%
Proportion of population living in urban areas (2010): 50%
Economy
GNI in thousands (2010): US$46,745
GNI per capita (2010): US$4,760
GDP average annual growth (2006-10): 2.0%
Inflation, average annual (2006-10): 2.8%
Health
Under 5 mortality per 1,000 live births (2010): 33
Population with access to adequate sanitation facilities (2008): 84%
Population with access to an improved water source (2008): 97%
Public spending on health per capita (2009): US$290
Public spending on health as a proportion of total public expenditure (2009): 10%
Medical doctors per 100,000 people (latest data): 64
Nurses and midwives per 100,000 people (latest data): 582
Environment
Forest area as a proportion total land area: 33.3%
Overall deforestation since 1990 (2008): 0.0%
ICTs
Landline telephones per 1,000 people (2010): 165
Cumulative growth/decline in landline telephones (2005-10): 81.8%
PCs per 1,000 people (2009): 86
Mobile subscribers per 1,000 people (2010): 254
Overall growth in mobile subscribers (2005-10): 92.3%
Internet users per 1,000 (2010): 250
Trinidad and Tobago
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