Phone : 1-860-263-0048
1-860-939-9998
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Also known as: Land of the Humming Bird
Motto:
Together we Aspire, Together we Achieve
Location:
Southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. Separated from Venezuela by the 11 km (7 miles) strait of the Gulf of Paria.  Trinidad, the larger of the two islands, is 30km (19 miles) from Tobago.
History:
Both islands were settled by Amerindians. Trinidad became a Spanish outpost from the late 16th century. French and British settlers; African slaves, indentured labourers came during the 18th century. The two islands became one state in 1888 and gained independence in 1962. In 1976 the twin-island State became a Republic within the Commonwealth with the President as Head of State.
 
Executive power lies with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.  The Legislature consists of an elected House of Representatives and an appointed Senate.
 
Tobago has a separate House of Assembly which is responsible for some of the island's domestic affairs.
 
Elections:
Last elections 2007.  Next elections due 2012
Ruling Party:
People's National Movement
Major Political Parties:
People's National Movement (PNM), United National Congress-Alliance  (UNC-A), Congress of the People (COP)
Head of State:
H.E. George Maxwell Richards, President
Head of Government:
Hon. Patrick A.M. Manning
Prime Minister

 

Economic Summary:
The petroleum sector is by far the most important sector with petrochemicals and  natural gas enjoying prime economic focus. 
 
This shift in emphasis away from crude oil production was to cash in on the abundant natural gas supplies which are used as a feedstock in the domestic production of methanol and ammonia for export. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the world's largest producers of both commodities.  In 1999 a huge Atlantic Liquefied Natural Gas project came on stream, catering for export production of the gas as a fuel.
 
The energy sector has been boosting some sub-sectors, namely distribution, transportation and construction, earning a total share of over one-third of GDP.
 
Local manufacture (excluding oil refining and petrochemical industries) continues to grow.  The agriculture sector also contributes to an overall sound economy.
 
Tourism is an important growth sector.  A good blend of cultural diversity and special interest areas are among the features supporting this sector.  The famous annual carnival and the jazz festival, which is held in Tobago, offers much potential for boosting this sector.
 
Airports:
Piarco International (Trinidad)
Crown Point International (T0bago)
 
Status:
Independence - 31 August 1962
Republic - 1 March 1976
 
Capital:
Port-of-Spain
Area:
5,128 km2 (1,980 miles2)
Population:
1,290,646 (2004)
Currency:  Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
GDP: EC$33,103.6 million (2004)
GDP Per Capita
EC$25,649 (2004)
Total Exports:
EC$17,943.0 million (2004)
Total Imports:
EC$1.3,437.6 (million (2004)
Intra-Regional Exports:
EC$2,355.6 million (2004)
Intra-Regional Imports: EC$247.3 million (2004)
 
Business Hours:
Commercial:  8:00-16:30hrs Monday to Friday
Government:   8:00-12:00 hrs, 13:00-16:30 hrs Monday to Friday
 
National Holidays:
New Year's Day (01 January);  Ash Wednesday; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Id-Ul-Fitr (as decreed); Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day (March 30); Corpus Christi; Indian Arrival Day (May 30); Labour Day (June 19); Emancipation Day (August 01);Independence Day (August 31); Republic Day (24 September); Diwali (as decreed); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December)
 
Carnival Monday and Tuesday are not Public Holidays.  Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed on the Monday following immediately.  When two holidays fall on the same date the following day is given as a public holiday.
 
Date of CARICOM Membership:
1 August  1973
National Anthem:
Forged from the love of liberty.
In the fires of Hope and Prayer,
With boundless faith in our Destiny,
We solemnly declare,
Side by side we stand,
Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea,
This our Native Land,
We pledge our lives to Thee,
Here every creed and race find an equal place,
And may God bless our Nation.
Together we aspire, together we achieve
 
(Words and Music by Patrick S. Castagne)
 
Highest National Award:
Trinity Cross
Favourite Dish:
Callaloo; Pelau; Roti and Curry
Government website: http://www.gov.tt

Getting There: Served by Air Canada, Air Caribbean, American Airlines, American Eagle, BWIA, Carib Express and LIAT.

Entry Documents: Passport and return or on-going ticket required. A visa is required for a stay over two months.

Airport: Piarco International Airport.

Departure Tax: US$16

Driving: On the left - a foreign or international driver's license is required for car rentals.

Local Transportation: If you stay in the outlying areas, a car or scooter might be necessary for reliable local travel. Avoid the dangerous driving conditions of the city, especially during rush hour! Taxis come in two varieties, fixed route and private. Fixed route taxis have fixed rates for a given route. You can be dropped off anywhere on a route for the fixed rate. Private taxis take you where ever you want to go. Check a taxi to see if it is fixed route or private before entering although for an additional charge the fixed rate taxi's are obliged to go off route. Local buses are an inexpensive alternative but they are crowded and run down. The ferry between Trinidad and Tobago is about a 4 1/2 hour trip but not recommended for those less than seaworthy patrons which is probably most of us. Air Caribbean or BWIA can get you there much more comfortably.

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Tourist Board

 

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Donation

Questions about giving may be directed to Phil Marshall Email finance@ctchartford.com

If you wish to earmark your donation for a specific project, please indicate that on your check memo line.

Donation

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    .... Antigua
 
.... Bahamas
 
.... Barbados
 
.... Dominican Republic
 
.... Grenada
 
.... Guyana
 
.... Haiti
 
.... Jamaica
 
.... Trinidad /Tobago
 

Capital:    Port of Spain

Population: Over 1 million

Island Size: 1,864 square miles.

Electric Current: 110 or 220 volts; Ask your hotel which they use, although packing an adapter is a smart idea.

Time:
Current Time - 12:35 pm
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -4 hours
Daylight Saving Time: No known DST-adjustments

Climate: Average yearly temperature is 83° F. Expect frequent but short rain in rainy season, June - December.

Official Language: English.

Currency: The Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TT$). Credit Cards are widely accepted.

Telephone: Local area code is 868.