Trinidad And Tobago Parliament

Trinidad and Tobago is a unitary state, with a parliamentary democracy modeled after that of the U.K. From 1962 until 1976, Trinidad and Tobago, although completely independent, acknowledged the British monarch as the figurehead chief of state. In 1976, the country adopted a republican Constitution, replacing Queen Elizabeth with a president elected by Parliament. The general direction and control of the government rests with the cabinet, led by a prime minister and answerable to the bicameral Parliament. ... [Read More]

Trinidad and Tobago (11/03)

Trinidad and Tobago is a unitary state, with a parliamentary democracy modeled after that of the U.K. From 1962 until 1976, Trinidad and Tobago, although completely independent, acknowledged the British monarch as the figurehead chief of state. In 1976, the country adopted a republican Constitution, replacing Queen Elizabeth with a president elected by Parliament. The general direction and control of the government rests with the cabinet, led by a prime minister and answerable to the bicameral Parliament. ... [Read More]

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, is a parliamentary democracy in which there have been generally free and fair elections since independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. Parliament elects a president, whose office is largely ceremonial but does have some appointive power. In October 2002 general elections, Prime Minister Patrick Manning's People's National Movement (PNM) secured a 20-16 seat victory over the United National Congress (UNC), breaking an 18-18 tie in Parliament and ending a 9-month parliamentary stalemate. The judiciary is independent. The Ministry of National Security oversees the police service and the defense force, rendering them responsive to civilian authority. An independent body, the Police Service Commission, makes all personnel decisions in the Police Service, and the Ministry had little direct influence over changes in senior positions. W ... [Read More]

Trinidad and Tobago

The Constitution provides for freedom of association, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. Registration or other governmental permission to form private associations was not required.c. Freedom of Religion The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. The Government limited the number of foreign missionaries allowed to enter the country to 30 per denomination. Missionaries had to meet standard requirements for an entry visa, must represent a registered religious group, and could not remain in the country for more than 3 years. The Government was known to monitor closely only one religiously affiliated group, a radical Muslim organization called the Jamaat al Muslimeen, some members of which attempted a coup in 1990. The Government's surveillance focused on ... [Read More]

Trinidad and Tobago

The Government does not formally sponsor programs that promote interfaith dialog; however, it supports the activities of the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO), which brings together representatives from most of the country's religions, and provides the prayer leader for several official events, such as the opening of Parliament and the annual court term. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The major governmental institutions, based on the British model, remained the same as those established by the 1962 constitution. They are:A Cabinet (currently 17 Ministers appointed and led by a Prime Minister). A bi-cameral Parliament consisting of a 36-member House of Representatives and a 31-member Senate. Members of the House of Representatives are elected in parliamentary elections held at least every five years. Members of the Senate are appointed by the President: 16 on the advice of the governing party, six on the advice of the opposition party, and nine at the President's discretion. A judicial system which has a Court of Appeals as its highest level in the country. Final appeals may be taken to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. ... [Read More]

Trinidad and Tobago

The Government does not formally sponsor programs that promote interfaith dialogue; however, it supports the activities of the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO). This organization serves as an interfaith coordinating committee for public outreach, governmental and media relations, and policy implementation. It also provides the prayer leader for several official events, such as the opening of Parliament and the annual court term. The IRO liaises with the Ministry of Social Services as well as the Ministry of Education in its governmental relations. ... [Read More]

G) The Caribbean

During 2002, the GOJ maintained existing counternarcotics law enforcement and interdiction programs and took several steps to strengthen its counternarcotics law enforcement capability, with the support and direction of the political leadership. Jamaica Customs continued to implement its modernization program, which includes the expansion of the Contraband Enforcement Team (CET). In 2002, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) took steps to strengthen security at Jamaica’s seaports. The GOJ established a special vetted unit within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to work with DEA on narcotics investigations. GOJ cocaine seizures in 2002 increased over the previous two years, as a result of joint JCF-Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) operations. Parliament enacted legislation permitting court-ordered wiretaps and approved implementing regulations for the Corruption (Prevention) Act, the final step needed to bring that Act into force. In late 2002, the GOJ proposed to Cabinet and Parliament a ... [Read More]

International Students – Educational Information and Resources

Member of Parliament ...

Minister of Finance (former), Deputy of Lower Chamber of Parliament ...

Member of Parliament, Yamagata Prefecture ... [Read More]

Jamaica (02/05)

Parliament is composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives. Thirteen Senators are nominated on the advice of the prime minister and eight on the advice of the leader of the opposition. General elections must be held within 5 years of the forming of a new government. The prime minister may ask the governor general to call elections sooner, however. The Senate may submit bills, and it also reviews legislation submitted by the House. It may not delay budget bills for more than 1 month or other bills for more than 7 months. The prime minister and the cabinet are selected from the Parliament. No fewer than two nor more than four members of the cabinet must be selected from the Senate. ... [Read More]