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Caribbean Islands
Index
Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1980s was a bicameral
parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. The
Constitution, which took effect at the time of independence in
1962, was revised in 1976 to provide for an elected president to
serve as head of state and commander in chief, a function filled
earlier by a governor general appointed by the British monarch.
Under the Constitution, Trinidad and Tobago remains a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, Parliament has been the major ruling body
in Trinidad and Tobago. The Constitution provides for a bicameral
legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The executive consists of the president and the cabinet, headed by
the prime minister. The president is elected by the Senate and
House of Representatives to serve a five-year term as head of state
and commander in chief of the armed forces. He also has the
authority to grant pardons under constitutional provisions. The
president must be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, at least
thirty-five years old, and a resident of the country for the
preceding ten years. In case of incapacity, the president is
succeeded by the president of the Senate, and then by the speaker
of the House of Representatives.
The leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the
House of Representatives is named prime minister. The prime
minister is by far the most powerful figure in the government and
is responsible for running the government. The prime minister
chooses cabinet ministers from Parliament, who are then appointed
by the president, and he can change ministers and ministries at
will.
Bills may be introduced in either house, with the exception of
money bills, which must be introduced in the House of
Representatives. Bills passed by the House of Representatives and
the Senate, and signed by the president, become law. The president
must call Parliament into session at least once a year and may
dissolve Parliament at any time. No Parliament may sit for more
than five years; in case of a vote of no confidence, Parliament
must be dissolved in seven days. After dissolution, a general
election of the House of Representatives must be held within three
months. Elections are by secret ballot, and citizens over the age
of eighteen are eligible to vote. From independence through 1986,
Parliament was never dissolved in less than four years, nor had
there been a vote of no confidence.
The Senate is an unelected body; all thirty-one members are
appointed by the president. Sixteen senators are appointed after
consultation with the prime minister, six on the advice of the
leader of the opposition, and nine from among outstanding leaders
who must be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and at least twentyfive years old. A Senate quorum is ten, and all senators are
required to leave office upon dissolution of Parliament.
The House of Representatives consists of thirty-six members and
has a quorum of twelve. Its number equals the constituencies in the
nation, plus the speaker of the House, if the speaker is not
already a member of the House. Two of the thirty-six constituencies
must be in Tobago. Representatives must be citizens over the age of
eighteen who have been residents of Trinidad and Tobago for at
least two years. As is the case with senators, representatives must
vacate their seats upon dissolution of Parliament. Members of
Parliament are protected from prosecution for "words spoken in
Parliament."
The Constitution provides for an ombudsman to be appointed by
the president after consultation with the prime minister and the
leader of the opposition. The ombudsman serves for a five-year term
and may be reappointed. He investigates government acts that do not
come under the jurisdiction of the courts, after a complaint of
injustice has been filed.
In the late 1980s, government continued to be the largest
employer. Although government employment traditionally has been
considered a privilege, that perception has changed somewhat as
salaries in the public sector have failed to keep up with those in
the private sector. Since political administrators are expected to
be in positions to influence policy, the Constitution authorizes
independent public service commissions that are empowered to
appoint, promote, transfer, and discipline personnel in the public
career. These commissions are intended to protect career officers
from political pressure. The public service commissions oversee the
appointment of permanent secretaries, as well as judicial,
teaching, and police service personnel. A public service commission
review board was established in 1966 to receive appeals on
disciplinary action taken by the public service commissions.
Public service workers have been categorized as administrative,
professional, executive, technical, clerical, and manual. Each
division has required an appropriate university, professional, or
technical degree or general certificate of education (similar to a
high school certificate), although personnel could also be hired in
a temporary capacity pending completion of the required degree. The
hiring process has included entry exams and an interview process.
Although public servants have been allowed to join political
parties, they have been barred from appearing on a political
platform or campaigning openly for candidates.
The legal and judicial system is based on English common law
and practice, and its powers derive from the Constitution. The
Supreme Court consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court
of Appeal. Other courts include courts of summary jurisdiction and
petty civil courts. According to the Constitution, the High Court
of Justice consists of the chief justice, who serves ex officio,
and a prescribed number of other judges. The judges have equal
power, authority, and jurisdiction. There is vested in the High
Court the same original jurisdiction as is vested in, or exercised
by, the High Court of Justice in Britain under the provisions of
the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation Act of 1925 [U.K.]).
The Court of Appeal consists of the chief justice, who serves
as president, and a prescribed number of justices of appeal. The
Court of Appeal is a superior court of record and, unless specified
by Parliament, has all the powers of such a court. The Constitution
provides that appeals from the Court of Appeal may be made to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London under certain
circumstances. In 1987 Prime Minister Robinson proposed replacing
the Privy Council in London with a Caribbean Court of Appeal. This
idea was discussed at the 1987 Caricom summit and endorsed by a
number of other Caribbean politicians and jurists and by the
British, whose taxpayers support all the costs for the London Privy
Council; as of late 1987, however, no action had been taken.
The chief justice is appointed by the president, after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition. The other judges of the Supreme Court are also
appointed by the president, acting on the advice of the Judicial
and Legal Service Commission.
Data as of November 1987
The Governmental System
Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1980s was a bicameral
parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. The
Constitution, which took effect at the time of independence in
1962, was revised in 1976 to provide for an elected president to
serve as head of state and commander in chief, a function filled
earlier by a governor general appointed by the British monarch.
Under the Constitution, Trinidad and Tobago remains a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, Parliament has been the major ruling body
in Trinidad and Tobago. The Constitution provides for a bicameral
legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The executive consists of the president and the cabinet, headed by
the prime minister. The president is elected by the Senate and
House of Representatives to serve a five-year term as head of state
and commander in chief of the armed forces. He also has the
authority to grant pardons under constitutional provisions. The
president must be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, at least
thirty-five years old, and a resident of the country for the
preceding ten years. In case of incapacity, the president is
succeeded by the president of the Senate, and then by the speaker
of the House of Representatives.
The leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the
House of Representatives is named prime minister. The prime
minister is by far the most powerful figure in the government and
is responsible for running the government. The prime minister
chooses cabinet ministers from Parliament, who are then appointed
by the president, and he can change ministers and ministries at
will.
Bills may be introduced in either house, with the exception of
money bills, which must be introduced in the House of
Representatives. Bills passed by the House of Representatives and
the Senate, and signed by the president, become law. The president
must call Parliament into session at least once a year and may
dissolve Parliament at any time. No Parliament may sit for more
than five years; in case of a vote of no confidence, Parliament
must be dissolved in seven days. After dissolution, a general
election of the House of Representatives must be held within three
months. Elections are by secret ballot, and citizens over the age
of eighteen are eligible to vote. From independence through 1986,
Parliament was never dissolved in less than four years, nor had
there been a vote of no confidence.
The Senate is an unelected body; all thirty-one members are
appointed by the president. Sixteen senators are appointed after
consultation with the prime minister, six on the advice of the
leader of the opposition, and nine from among outstanding leaders
who must be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and at least twentyfive years old. A Senate quorum is ten, and all senators are
required to leave office upon dissolution of Parliament.
The House of Representatives consists of thirty-six members and
has a quorum of twelve. Its number equals the constituencies in the
nation, plus the speaker of the House, if the speaker is not
already a member of the House. Two of the thirty-six constituencies
must be in Tobago. Representatives must be citizens over the age of
eighteen who have been residents of Trinidad and Tobago for at
least two years. As is the case with senators, representatives must
vacate their seats upon dissolution of Parliament. Members of
Parliament are protected from prosecution for "words spoken in
Parliament."
The Constitution provides for an ombudsman to be appointed by
the president after consultation with the prime minister and the
leader of the opposition. The ombudsman serves for a five-year term
and may be reappointed. He investigates government acts that do not
come under the jurisdiction of the courts, after a complaint of
injustice has been filed.
In the late 1980s, government continued to be the largest
employer. Although government employment traditionally has been
considered a privilege, that perception has changed somewhat as
salaries in the public sector have failed to keep up with those in
the private sector. Since political administrators are expected to
be in positions to influence policy, the Constitution authorizes
independent public service commissions that are empowered to
appoint, promote, transfer, and discipline personnel in the public
career. These commissions are intended to protect career officers
from political pressure. The public service commissions oversee the
appointment of permanent secretaries, as well as judicial,
teaching, and police service personnel. A public service commission
review board was established in 1966 to receive appeals on
disciplinary action taken by the public service commissions.
Public service workers have been categorized as administrative,
professional, executive, technical, clerical, and manual. Each
division has required an appropriate university, professional, or
technical degree or general certificate of education (similar to a
high school certificate), although personnel could also be hired in
a temporary capacity pending completion of the required degree. The
hiring process has included entry exams and an interview process.
Although public servants have been allowed to join political
parties, they have been barred from appearing on a political
platform or campaigning openly for candidates.
The legal and judicial system is based on English common law
and practice, and its powers derive from the Constitution. The
Supreme Court consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court
of Appeal. Other courts include courts of summary jurisdiction and
petty civil courts. According to the Constitution, the High Court
of Justice consists of the chief justice, who serves ex officio,
and a prescribed number of other judges. The judges have equal
power, authority, and jurisdiction. There is vested in the High
Court the same original jurisdiction as is vested in, or exercised
by, the High Court of Justice in Britain under the provisions of
the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation Act of 1925 [U.K.]).
The Court of Appeal consists of the chief justice, who serves
as president, and a prescribed number of justices of appeal. The
Court of Appeal is a superior court of record and, unless specified
by Parliament, has all the powers of such a court. The Constitution
provides that appeals from the Court of Appeal may be made to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London under certain
circumstances. In 1987 Prime Minister Robinson proposed replacing
the Privy Council in London with a Caribbean Court of Appeal. This
idea was discussed at the 1987 Caricom summit and endorsed by a
number of other Caribbean politicians and jurists and by the
British, whose taxpayers support all the costs for the London Privy
Council; as of late 1987, however, no action had been taken.
The chief justice is appointed by the president, after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition. The other judges of the Supreme Court are also
appointed by the president, acting on the advice of the Judicial
and Legal Service Commission.
Data as of November 1987
- Caribbean Islands-Historical Background
- Caribbean Islands-Prosperity and Government Centralization, 1974-81
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Turks and Caicos Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 7 - Strategic and Regional Security Perspectives
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-A Regional Security System
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Other Third World Relations
- Caribbean Islands-SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: St - Christopher and Nevis ST - CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
- Caribbean Islands-The Penal System
- Caribbean Islands-The Soviet Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Colonial Heritage HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Antigua and Barbuda ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- Caribbean Islands-The Public Security Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Political Systems
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Changes in the Social Base of Political Power POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Agricultural Sector
- Caribbean Islands-The Barbados Defence Force
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-The Police
- Caribbean Islands-The Robinson Government
- Caribbean Islands-United States Preeminence
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Energy
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-POLITICAL TRADITIONS
- Caribbean Islands-THE STRATEGIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-Industrial Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-THE COLONIAL PERIOD
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Communist Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Natural Gas
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Incidence of Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Barbados BARBADOS
- Caribbean Islands-The Road to Independence
- Caribbean Islands-PREFACE
- Caribbean Islands -CHAPTER 3 - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-World War II
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreword
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Postwar Strategic Vacuum
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Regional Security Threats, 1970-81
- Caribbean Islands-Controversial Security Issues
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Assistance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Banking, Financial Services, and Currency
- Caribbean Islands-HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1800-1960
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Williams Era, 1981-86
- Caribbean Islands-The Armed Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 6 - The Northern Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Finance and Banking
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: CAYMAN ISLANDS BRITISH DEPENDENCIES: THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: MONTSERRAT
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation, Communications, and Electricity
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Petroleum and Asphalt
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Pre-European Population HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: The Bahamas THE BAHAMAS
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Dominica DOMINICA
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Trade and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 1 - Regional Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Organizations
- Caribbean Islands-Revenues
- Caribbean Islands-THE REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Construction
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-ISLANDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: ANGUILLA
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-INTRODUCTION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Current Strategic Considerations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Narcotics Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Petrochemicals
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Emancipation Societies
- Caribbean Islands-The West Indies Federation, 1957-62
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Precursors of Independence
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-The Criminal Justice System
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Economic Policy and Management
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Political Unrest and Economic Troubles, 1970-73
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 5 - The Leeward Islands
- Caribbean Islands -Chapter 2 - Jamaica
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Cuban Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Increased Role of the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation and Communications
- Caribbean Islands-Country profile: Grenada GRENADA
- Caribbean Islands-Iron and Steel
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Postwar Federation Efforts
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands-Consolidation and Economic Hardship, 1962-69
- Caribbean Islands-Patterns of Development
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
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