Government of Trinidad and Tobago

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

• conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Data code: TD

Government type: parliamentary democracy

National capital: Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria

Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution: 1 August 1976

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

• chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997)
• head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
• elections : president elected by an electoral college that consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister
• election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%

• bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and a House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
• elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2000)
• election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party - PNM 17, UNC 17, NAR 2; the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
• note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 15 members serving four-year terms

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), A. N. R. ROBINSON; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

• chief of mission : Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT
• chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
• telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
• FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
• consulate(s) general: New York

• chief of mission: Ambassador Brian J. DONNELLY
• embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
• mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
• telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
• FAX : [1] (809) 628-5462

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side