Trinidad and Tobago KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1962 Population: 1,346,000 (2011) GDP p.c.: US$16,699 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 62 Geography Area: 5,128 sq km Coastline: 362 km Capital: Port of Spain The country, the most southerly of the West Indian island states, situated 11.2 km off the Venezuelan coast, consists of two islands: Trinidad and Tobago. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago Independence: 31 August 1962 Trinidad and Tobago is a unitary republic with a representative government and a degree of regional autonomy. The Head of State is a non-executive President elected by an electoral college comprising all the members of parliament. The executive is led by the Prime Minister who heads a cabinet chosen by him or her and responsible to parliament. The legislature consists of the bicameral Parliament, with a directly elected 41-member House of Representatives and a 31-member Senate. Senators 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 of the President’s own choice. Elections are held every five years. Tobago has a regional house of assembly, set up in 1980, with certain local powers over finances and other delegated responsibilities. It has 12 elected members and several members appointed by the political parties. Constitutional amendments have granted Tobago greater control over urban and rural development, health, education and housing, though its assembly has no legislative powers. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Judicature Ministry: Legal Affairs The justice system is based on English common law. The Supreme Court of Judicature comprises the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal and has establishments in Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago. The Court of Appeal is presided over by the chief justice and hears appeals from the High Court and magistrates’ courts. In some circumstances appeals may be made to the UK’s Privy Council. The courts of summary criminal jurisdiction and petty civil courts are presided over by magistrates. The courts of summary jurisdiction deal with criminal cases, and the petty civil courts with the less serious civil cases. The chief justice and judges of the Supreme Court (36 in 2013) are appointed by the President of the republic, consulting with the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition in respect of the chief justice, and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, in respect of the other judges. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 287
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