Government

Presidents of Trinidad & Tobago
1976 to present
Presidents of Trinidad & Tobago Term in Office
Mr. Ellis Clarke 1 August 1976 - 13 March 1987
Mr. Noor Hassanali 19 March 1987 - 19 March 1997
Mr. Arthur N.R. Robinson 19 March 1997 - 17 March 2003
Mr. George Maxwell Richards 17 March 2003 to present
Governors of Trinidad & Tobago
1889 - 1962
Governors of Trinidad & Tobago Term in Office
Sir William Robinson October 9, 1885 - 1891
Sir Frederick Napier Broome August 19, 1891 - 1897
Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham June 2, 1897 - December 1900
Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney December 4, 1900 - August 1904
Sir Henry Moore Jackson August 30, 1904 - August 29, 1908
Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte May 11, 1909 - January 1916
Sir John Robert Chancellor June 1, 1916 - 1921
Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson January 1, 1922 - 1924
Sir Horace Archer Byatt November 22, 1924 - 1930
Sir Alfred Claud Hollis March 22, 1930 - 1936
Sir Arthur George Murchison Fletcher September 17, 1936 - 1938
Sir Hubert Winthrop Young July 8, 1938 - 1942
Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford June 8, 1942 - 1947
Sir John Valentine Wistar Shaw March 7, 1947 -1950
Sir Hubert Elvin Rance April 19, 1950 - 1955
Sir Edward Betham Beetham June 23, 1955 - 1960
Sir Solomon Hochoy July 4, 1960 - August 31, 1962
Governor Generals of Trinidad & Tobago
1962 - 1976
Governors Generals of Trinidad & Tobago Term in Office
Sir Solomon Hochoy August, 31 1962 – 1972
Sir Ellis Clarke February 1973 – August 1, 1976
Prime Ministers
1956 to present
Prime Ministers of Trinidad & Tobago Term in Office
Mr. Eric Williams October 28, 1956 - March 29, 1981
Mr. George Chambers March 30, 1981 - December 18, 1986
Mr. A.N.R. Robinson December 19, 1986 - December 17, 1991
Mr. Patrick Manning December 17, 1991 - November 9, 1995
Mr. Basdeo Panday November 9, 1995 - December 24, 2001
Mr. Patrick Manning December 24, 2001 to May 24, 2010
Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar1 May 24, 2010 to present
note:
1 - First Woman Prime Minister for Trinidad & Tobago

The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago George Maxwell Richards

President RichardsFormer Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies; he is the recipient of two National Awards -  The Trinity Cross (TC) - Trinidad & Tobago’s highest national award, and the Chaconia Medal of the Order of the Trinity (CMT), Gold.

George Maxwell Richards took the Oath of Office as President on March 17th 2003. He is Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the West Indies.

He was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, in 1931 and received his primary education there before winning an exhibition to Queen’s Royal College in Port of Spain.

President Richards obtained a B.Sc in 1955 and an M.Sc in 1957 in Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and a Ph.D at  Cambridge,  in 1963.

From May 1950 to September 1951, he was a Staff Trainee (Exploration, Production & Refining) at United British Oilfields of Trinidad Ltd., Point Fortin, Trinidad, a precursor to Shell Trinidad Ltd.

From 1957 to 1965, the President held a number of managerial posts at Shell Trinidad Ltd., and then joined the University of the West Indies as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

In October 1970, he was appointed Professor of Chemical Engineering and lectured until May 1985. He also held the post of Deputy Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor from August 1980 to May 1985.

President Richards became Acting Principal in October 1984 and held this post until May 1985, when he was appointed Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor. He held this position until November 1996.

His Excellency has served on the board of a number of companies in Trinidad & Tobago, including the Trinidad Publishing Co., Trinidad and Tobago Oil Company and the National Gas Co., and has also served on the boards of several service organizations, including the National Training Board, the National Advisory Council and the Institute of Marine Affairs.

He served as Chairman of the Salaries Review Commission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (1997-2003)

Recent Academic Awards and Activities - President Richards was named Alumnus Of The Year – 2003, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST) and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, London, in 2003.

He was elected to an Honorary Fellowship at Pembroke College, the University of Cambridge on November 9, 2004. The Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) was conferred on him by the University of Sheffield on January 4th 2005.

President Richards was a Featured Plenary Speaker at the 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 11 – 14, 2005.

In November 2005, President Richards was named Chancellor of the new University of Trinidad and Tobago.

The President is married to Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards, a medical specialist.  Their Excellencies have two children.

 

 

The Honorable Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad
and Tobago

 

 

Biography

Kamla Persad-Bissessar was born on the 22nd of April, 1952. As a little girl she was always interested in reading novels and was intrigued by the developing technologies of the time. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar graduated from Iere High School and went on to further her studies at the University of the West Indies, Norwood Technical College (England,) and the Hugh Wooding Law School. Consequently, she was awarded a B.A. (Hons.), a Diploma in Education, a B.A. of Laws (Hons.) and a Legal Education Certificate. In 2006 she obtained an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Trinidad.

On completion of her studies, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar entered the teaching profession. Her career history can be described as people-centered and one that has always focused her energy within the public’s eye. While in England pursuing studies, she worked as a social worker with the Church of England Children’s Society of London. She taught at the St. Andrew High School in Kingston, Jamaica and at the Mona Campus in Jamaica. Later, she taught at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. At the Jamaica College of Insurance she was also a Consultant Lecturer. Her next step was to lecture at a Tertiary Education institution. After lecturing for a total of six years, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar then became a full-time Attorney-at-Law.

In 1987 Mrs. Persad-Bissessar entered the political arena. From 1987 until 1991, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar served as an alderman for St. Patrick County Council. Representing the United National Congress in Opposition, she took the Oath of Allegiance at a sitting of the Senate on November 1, 1994. Since 1995 she has been the Member of Parliament for Siparia, serving as Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Education between 1995 and 2001. The United National Congress returned to the Opposition benches in 2002 and on April 26th, 2006, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar was appointed Leader of the Opposition, the first woman to ever hold that position in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar was appointed Leader of the Opposition a second time on February 25, 2010, almost one month after she was elected political leader of the United National Congress.

On Tuesday May 26, 2010, two days after a victory at the polls, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar created history yet again, becoming the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mrs. Persad-Bissessar is married to Dr. Gregory Bissessar and has one son.Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments
Date of Information: 5/July/10

 

Pres. George Maxwell RICHARDS
Prime Min. Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR
Min. of the Arts & Multiculturalism Lincoln DOUGLAS
Min. of Communication Jamal MOHAMMED
Min. of Community Development Winston PETERS
Min. of Education Tim GOPEESINGH
Min. of Energy & Energy Affairs Kevin RAMNARINE
Min. of the Environment & Water Resources Ganga SINGH
Min. of Finance & the Economy Larry HOWAI
Min. of Food Production Devant MAHARAJ
Min. of Foreign Affairs Winston DOOKERAN
Min. of Gender, Youth, & Child Development Marlene COUDRAY
Min. of Health Fuad KHAN
Min. of Housing, Land, & Marine Affairs Roodal MOONILAL
Min. of Justice Herbert VOLNEY
Min. of Labor & Small & Micro-Enterprise Development Errol MCLEOD
Min. of Legal Affairs Prakash RAMADHAR
Min. of Local Govt. Surujrattan RAMBACHAN
Min. of National Diversity & Social Integration Clifton DE COTEAU
Min. of National Security Jack WARNER
Min. of Planning Bhoendratt TEWARIE
Min. of the People & Social Development Glen RAMDHARSINGH
Min. of Public Admin. Carolyn SEEPERSAD-BACHAN
Min. of Public Utilities Nizam BAKSH
Min. of Science & Technology Rupert GRIFFITH
Min. of Sports & Youth Affairs Anil ROBERTS
Min. of Tertiary Education & Skills Training Fazal KARIM
Min. of Tobago Development Delmon BAKER
Min. of Tourism Stephen CADIZ
Min. of Trade, Industry, & Investment Vasant BHARATH
Min. of Transport Chandresh SHARMA
Min. of Works & Infrastructure Emmanuel GEORGE
Min. of State in the Ministry of Local Govt. Rudranath INDARSINGH
Min. of State in the Ministry of Food Production Jairam SEEMUNGAL
Min. of State in the Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources Ramona RAMDIAL
Min. of State in the Ministry of National Diversity & Social Integration Embau MOHENI
Min. of State in the Ministry of National Security Collin PARTAP
Min. of State in the Ministry of the People & Social Development Vernella ALLEYNE-TOPPIN
Min. of State in the Office of the Prime Min. Rodger SAMUEL
Attorney Gen. Anand RAMLOGAN
Governor, Central Bank Ewart WILIAMS
Ambassador to the US Neil PARSAN
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Rodney CHARLES

 

The embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is located at 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-467-6490; fax. 202-785-3130).

When Trinidad was explored by Columbus in 1498, it was inhabited by the Arawaks; Carib Indians inhabited Tobago. Trinidad remained in Spanish possession, despite raids by other European nations, until it was ceded to Britain in 1802. Tobago passed between Britain and France several times, but it was ultimately given to Britain in 1814. Slavery was abolished in 1834. Between 1845 and 1917, thousands of indentured workers were brought from India to work on sugarcane plantations. In 1889 Trinidad and Tobago were made a single colony.

Partial self-government was instituted in 1925, and from 1958 to 1962 the nation was part of the West Indies Federation. On Aug. 31, 1962, it gained independence and on Aug. 1, 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic, remaining within the Commonwealth. While the country is a stable democracy and enjoys the highest living standards in the Caribbean thanks to oil revenue, tension between East Indians and blacks has underlined much of political life. In 1970 rioting and an army mutiny against the East Indian population prompted a state of emergency, which lasted for two years.

Eric Williams, “Father of the Nation” and leader of the People's National Movement (PNM), which is largely supported by blacks, governed from 1956 until his death in 1981. In Dec. 1986 the multiracial National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), based in Tobago, won a parliamentary majority, promising to sell most state-owned companies, reorganize the civil service, and reduce dependence on oil.

In 1990, to protest the NAR government, some 100 radical black Muslims blew up the police station in an attempted coup, in which the prime minister and other officials were held hostage for six days. The NAR was defeated in 1991, and the PNM returned to power. In 1995, the East Indian–based party, the United National Congress (UNC), led by Basdeo Panday, formed a coalition government with the NAR. In 2000, Panday narrowly won another term.

In Dec. 2001 elections, the governing UNC Party and the PNM Party gained 18 seats each. The two parties agreed to allow President Robinson to select the prime minister to end the impasse. But when Robinson chose Patrick Manning of the PNM because of his “moral and spiritual values,” the opposition angrily called for new elections. In the Oct. 2002 elections, Manning's party declared victory. Maxwell Richards, a university dean, was selected president by parliament in 2003.

In April 2006, former prime minister Panday was sentenced to two years in prison for committing fraud in public office. Richards, running unopposed, was reelected in February 2008.When Trinidad was explored by Columbus in 1498, it was inhabited by the Arawaks; Carib Indians inhabited Tobago. Trinidad remained in Spanish possession, despite raids by other European nations, until it was ceded to Britain in 1802. Tobago passed between Britain and France several times, but it was ultimately given to Britain in 1814. Slavery was abolished in 1834. Between 1845 and 1917, thousands of indentured workers were brought from India to work on sugarcane plantations. In 1889 Trinidad and Tobago were made a single colony.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

The twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago continues to experience real GDP growth as a result of economic reforms, tight monetary policy, fiscal responsibility, and high oil prices. In 2006 the country experienced a real GDP growth rate of 12%, which followed 8% growth in 2005. The PNM-led government continues its sound macroeconomic policies. Long-term growth looks promising, as Trinidad and Tobago further develops its oil and gas resources and the industries dependent on natural gas, including petrochemicals, fertilizers, iron/steel and aluminum. Additional growth potential also exists in financial services, telecommunications and transport. Strong growth in Trinidad and Tobago over the past few years has led to trade surpluses, even with high import levels due to industrial expansion and increased consumer demand. The debt service ratio, was a moderate 4.7% in 2004, and fell to 2.5% in 2005. In 2006, unemployment fell to 5% down from 6.7% in 2005. Headline inflation peaked at 10% (year-on-yar) in October 2006, then moderating to 8.0% as of March 2007. Food price inflation slowed to 18.8% (year-on-year) in March 2007, down from 22% in October 2006. During 2006, the Central Bank has raised interest rates eight times for the year. However, since September 2006, the Bank has maintained the rate at 8.0%. There are no currency or capital controls and the central bank maintains the TT dollar in a lightly managed, stable float against the U.S. dollar. The exchange rate as of May 10, 2007, was TT $6.31 to U.S. $1.

Trinidad and Tobago has made a transition from an oil-based economy to one based on natural gas. In 2006, natural gas production averaged 4 million standard cubit feet per day (mmscf/d), compared with 3.2 mmscf/d in 2005. The petrochemical sector, including plants producing methanol, ammonia, urea, and natural gas liquids, has continued to grow in line with natural gas production, which continues to expand and should meet the needs of new industrial plants coming on stream in the next few years, including iron, aluminum, and ethylene. In December 2005, the Atlantic LNG fourth production module or "train" for liquefied natural gas (LNG) began production. Train 4 has increased Atlantic LNG's overall output capacity by almost 50% and is among the largest LNG trains in the world at 5.2 million tons/year of LNG. Trinidad and Tobago is the fifth-largest exporter of LNG in the world and the single largest supplier of LNG to the U.S., supplying 70% of all LNG imported into the U.S. The energy sector experienced strong growth in 2006, estimated at 20.6%, and accounted for 41.5% of GDP at that year's end.

Growth across the non-energy sector in 2006 slowed to 6.5%, down from 8.7% in 2005. Manufacturing was the most dynamic, with 11.8% growth in 2006, led for the third consecutive year by food, beverages and tobacco (19%), and assembly-type industries (11.1%). The services sector grew by 5.9%, led by construction sector growth resulting from Trinidad and Tobago Government investment in housing and infrastructure, and ongoing projects in the energy sector. Performance in the agriculture sector has been erratic and weak, with a 0.6% decline in output resulting largely from the shrinking and restructuring of the sugar industry. The government is seeking to diversify the economy to reduce dependence on the energy sector and to achieve self-sustaining growth. The diversification strategy focuses on seven key industries: yachting; fish and fish processing; merchant marine; music and entertainment; film; food and beverage; and printing and packaging. A National Research and Development Fund will be established to stimulate innovation and investment in a technology park, to be constructed.

Trinidad and Tobago has an open investment climate. Since 1992, almost all investment barriers have been eliminated. The government continues to welcome foreign investors. The government has a double taxation agreement, a bilateral investment treaty and an intellectual property rights agreement with the United States. The stock of U.S. direct investment in Trinidad and Tobago was $1.98 billion as of 2005. Total foreign direct investment inflows average $700 million annually over the last decade. Among recent and ongoing investment projects are several involving U.S. firms: ISG Trinidad started operations in November 2004 in a plant that has the capacity to produce 500,000 metric tons annually of hot briquetted iron. In December 2006 Nucor began producing direct reduced iron for shipment to the U.S. at its plant in Trinidad, which has a production capacity of 2.0 million tons per year. Two aluminum smelter plants are also planned, one of them to be owned by Alcoa. The first major business-class hotel to be opened in several years bears the Marriott Courtyard brand. A Hyatt-managed hotel is scheduled to open in late 2007, part of a multimillion-dollar port development project in Port of Spain.

Trinidad and Tobago's infrastructure is adequate by regional standards. Expansion of the Crown Point airport on Tobago is being planned, which follows opening of the Piarco terminal on Trinidad in 2000. There is an extensive network of paved roads. Traffic is a worsening problem throughout Trinidad, as the road network is not well suited to the volume of vehicles and only a rudimentary mass transport system exists as an alternative. Utilities are fairly reliable in cities, but some rural areas suffer from power failures, water shortages in the dry season, and flooding in the rainy season due to inadequate drainage. Infrastructure improvement is one of the government's budget priorities, especially rehabilitating rural roads and bridges, rural electrification, flood control, and improved drainage and sewerage. The government is evaluating bids to construct a light rail system and is expected to award a contract for the design and planning phase of the project in mid-2007.

Telephone service is modern and fairly reliable, although significantly more costly to consumers than comparable U.S. service, including for wireline, wireless, and broadband services. Change began in the wireless market when the new Telecommunications Authority invited two firms to offer competition to state-owned monopoly incumbent TSTT (co-owned by Cable & Wireless). Two wireless providers, Bmobile and Digicel are already operational, while a third licensee, Laqtel, had not launched service as of May 2007. Long distance, cable, and Internet services have not yet been deregulated, but the government has indicated that it will do so in those markets as well, beginning with cable TV. Internet has come into widespread use, with broadband access available in upscale business and residential areas, along with a number of wireless "hot spots." Improvements in service and price are likely as TSTT prepares itself to meet competition for Internet services in coming years.

 

Official Public Holidays 2008-2014

Public holidays are authorised by law and limit work or official business on those dates.  Therefore all government offices, banks, and most businesses are closed on public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago.

The official public holidays being celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago during 2008 - 2014 are listed below.  Also described below are several important notes that you should keep in mind regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s official public holidays.

2008 Official Public Holidays

JANUARY

1st - New Year's Day

FEBRUARY

MARCH

21st – Good Friday
24th – Easter Monday
30th – Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day

APRIL

MAY

22nd – Corpus Christi
30th – Indian Arrival Day

JUNE

19th – Labour Day

JULY

AUGUST

1st – Emancipation Day
31st – Independence Day

SEPTEMBER

24th – Republic Day

OCTOBER

TBA* – Eid-ul-Fitr
TBA* – Divali

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

25th – Christmas Day
26th – Boxing Day

* TBA = To Be Announced

2009 Official Public Holidays

JANUARY

1st - New Year's Day

FEBRUARY

MARCH

30th – Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day

APRIL

10th – Good Friday
13th – Easter Monday

MAY

30th – Indian Arrival Day

JUNE

11th – Corpus Christi
19th – Labour Day

JULY

AUGUST

1st – Emancipation Day
31st – Independence Day

SEPTEMBER

24th – Republic Day

OCTOBER

TBA* – Eid-ul-Fitr
TBA* – Divali

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

25th – Christmas Day
26th – Boxing Day

* TBA = To Be Announced

2010 Official Public Holidays

JANUARY

1st - New Year's Day

FEBRUARY

MARCH

30th – Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day

APRIL

2nd – Good Friday
5th – Easter Monday

MAY

30th – Indian Arrival Day

JUNE

3rd – Corpus Christi
19th – Labour Day

JULY

AUGUST

1st – Emancipation Day
31st – Independence Day

SEPTEMBER

24th – Republic Day

OCTOBER

TBA* – Eid-ul-Fitr
TBA* - Divali

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

25th – Christmas Day
26th – Boxing Day

*TBA = To Be Announced

2012 Official Public Holidays
JANUARY

1st New Year's Day
FEBRUARY
MARCH

30th Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day
APRIL

6th Good Friday

9th Easter Monday
MAY

30th Indian Arrival Day
JUNE

7th Corpus Christi

19th Labour Day
JULY
AUGUST

1st Emancipation Day

31st Independence Day
SEPTEMBER

TBA Eid-ul-Fitr

24th Republic Day
OCTOBER

TBA Divali
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

25th Christmas Day

26th Boxing Day

* TBA = To Be Announced

2013 Official Public Holidays

2013 Official Public Holidays
JANUARY

1st - New Year's Day
FEBRUARY
MARCH

30th Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day
APRIL

TBA Good Friday

TBA Easter Monday
MAY

30th Indian Arrival Day
JUNE

TBA Corpus Christi

19th Labour Day
JULY
AUGUST

1st Emancipation Day

31st Independence Day
SEPTEMBER

24th Republic Day

TBA Eid-Ul-Fitr
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER

TBA Divali
DECEMBER

25th Christmas Day

26th Boxing Day

* TBA = To Be Announced

2014 Official Public Holidays

2014 Official Public Holidays
JANUARY

1st - New Year's Day
FEBRUARY
MARCH

30th Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day
APRIL

TBA Good Friday

TBA Easter Monday
MAY

30th Indian Arrival Day
JUNE

TBA Corpus Christi

19th Labour Day
JULY

AUGUST

1st Emancipation Day

31st Independence Day

 

SEPTEMBER

TBA Eid-ul-Fitr

24th Republic Day

OCTOBER



TBA* Divali
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

25th Christmas Day

26th Boxing Day

* TBA = To Be Announced

Important Notes about Public Holidays

Please note the following:


  • At the discretion of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, any other date may also be declared a public holiday.
  • Good Friday and Easter Monday are observed as public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago. However since they are determined by the Christian calendar, the date for each public holiday varies from year to year.
  • The Muslim festival of Eid–ul–Fitr and the Hindu Festival of Divali are observed as public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago. However, since they are determined by the respective Muslim and Hindu religious organisations, the calendar date for each public holiday varies from year to year. These dates are usually announced one to two weeks prior to their observance each year. Divali is usually celebrated in October or November of each year.
  • When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. When two public holidays fall on the same day, the following day is also given as a public holiday.
  • Most businesses are closed on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, even though these days are not public holidays. Please follow the link in the See Also section for more information on Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.