Politics of Trinidad and Tobago

The politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a unitary state regulated by a parliamentary democracy modelled on that of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, from which the country gained its independence in 1962. Under the 1976 republican Constitution, the monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The country has remained a member of the Commonwealth, and has retained the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as its highest court of appeal. The general direction and control of the government rests with the Cabinet, led by a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are answerable to the House of Representatives. The 41 members of the House are elected to terms of at least five years. Elections may be called earlier by the president at the request of the prime minister or after a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives. In 1976, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18. The Senate's 31 members are appointed by the President: 16 on the advice of the prime minister, six on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and nine independents selected by the President from among outstanding members of the community. Local government is through nine Regional Corporations and five municipalities. Tobago was given a measure of self-government in 1980 and is governed by the Tobago House of Assembly. In 1996, Parliament passed legislation which gave Tobago greater self-government. In 2005 Parliament approved a proposal by the independent Elections and Boundaries Commission to increase the number of seats in the House of Representatives from 36 to 41.

Party politics has generally run along ethnic lines, with most Afro-Trinidadians supporting the People's National Movement (PNM) and most Indo-Trinidadians supporting various Indian-majority parties, such as the current United National Congress (UNC) or its predecessors. Most political parties, however, have sought to broaden their purview. In the run-up to the 2007 general election, a new political presence emerged called Congress of The People (COP). Led by former Winston Dookeran, the majority of this membership was formed from former UNC members. Despite gaining a significant but minority share of the vote in various constituencies, the COP failed to capture a single seat.

An early general election was called on 16 April 2010, and was held on 24 May 2010.[1] Two major entities contested the election: the incumbent PNM, and a coalition called the People's Partnership, led by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, comprising the UNC, COP, TOP (Tobago Organisation of the People), and two labour and non-governmental organisations:the National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice.[2] The People's Partnership won 29 seats and the majority, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar being sworn in as the country's first female Prime Minister on 26 May 2010. The PNM won the remaining 12 seats and comprised the opposition in parliament.

After the period a new party also emerged from an ex-member of the United National Congress, known as the Independent Liberal Party which was founded by FIFA ex-vice president Jack Warner.

In the 2015 general election resulted in a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 23 of the 41 seats led by Keith Rowley.

Executive branch

Whitehall, the official office of the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Paula-Mae Weekes	Independent	19 March 2018
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley	People's National Movement	9 September 2015

The President is elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the person with the most support among the elected members of the House of Representatives is appointed Prime Minister, usually the leader of the winning party. The cabinet is appointed from among the Members of Parliament, which constitutes elected Members of the House of Representatives and appointed Members of the Senate

Cabinet ministers of Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister: Keith Rowley
Minister of Finance: Colm Imbert
Attorney-General: Faris Al-Rawi
Minister of National Security: Stuart Young
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs: Amery Browne
Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development: Camille Robinson-Regis
Minister of Trade and Industry:Paula Gopee-Scoon
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries: Franklin Khan
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts: Randall Mitchell
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development: Kazim Hosein
Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries: Clarence Rambharat
Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Penelope Beckles
Minister of Works and Transport: Rohan Sinanan
Minister of Public Utilities: Marvin Gonzales
Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation: Allyson West
Minister of Health: Terrence Deyalsingh
Minister of Education: Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development: Stephen McClashie
Minister of Social Development and Family Services: Donna Cox
Minister of Sports and Community Development: Shamfa Cudjoe
Minister of Youth Development and National Services: Fitzgerald Hinds
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Stuart Young
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Ayanna Webster-Roy
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Symon De Nobrega
Minister in the Ministry of Finance: Brian Manning
Minister in the Office of the Attorney-General: Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal
Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport: Foster Cummings
Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries: Avinash Singh
Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development: Adrian Leonce
Minister in the Ministry of Education: Lisa Morris-Julian
Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration: Hassel Bacchus

Following the 2015 general elections, a number of ministries were removed, while others were consolidated or reintroduced.

Removed	Consolidated	Reintroduced
Ministry of the People	Ministry of Works and Transport (formerly Min Works and Infrastructure and Min Transport)	Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Gender	Ministry of Rural Development (formerly Local Government)	Ministry of Social Development
Ministry of Youth and Child Development	--	--
Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism	--	--
Ministry of Justice	--	--
Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education	--	--
Ministry of Food Production	--	--
Ministry of Environment and Water Resources	--	--
Ministry of National Diversity and Social Integration	--	--

Legislative branch

Christine Kangaloo, President of the Senate since 23 September 2015

Bridgid Annisette-George, Speaker of the House of Representatives since 23 September 2015

Kamla Persad-Bissesar, Leader of the Opposition since 9 September 2015

The Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 41 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 31 members: 16 Government Senators appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, six Opposition Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and nine Independent Senators appointed by the President to represent other sectors of civil society. The 15 member Tobago House of Assembly has limited autonomy with respect to Tobago.

Party division by Parliamentary session

The following tables lists the party divisions for the House of Representatives and Tobago House of Assembly. Note that numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time while italicized numbers signify a House in which the majority party changed intra-term.

Session	Election	PNM	UNC							Total seats
12th Republic	2020	22	19							41
Session	Election	PNM	UNC	COP						Total seats
11th Republic	2015	23	17	1						41
Session	Election	PNM	UNC	COP	TOP					Total seats
10th Republic	2010	12	21	6	2					41
Session	Election	PNM	UNC							Total seats
9th Republic	2007	26	15							41
8th Republic	2002	20	16							36
7th Republic	2001	18	18							36
Session	Election	PNM	UNC		NAR					Total seats
6th Republic	2000	16/19	19/16		1					36
Session	Election	PNM	UNC		NAR				Independent	Total seats
5th Republic	1995	17	17		2				1	36
4th Republic	1991	21	13		2					36
Session	Election	PNM	NAR							Total seats
3rd Republic	1986	3	33							36
Session	Election	PNM	ULF		DAC					Total seats
2nd Republic	1981	26	8		2					36
1st Republic	1976	24	10		2					36
Session	Election	PNM								Total seats
3rd Independent	1971	36								36
Session	Election	PNM	DLP							Total seats
2nd Independent	1966	24	12							36
1st Independent	1961	20	10							30
Session	Election	PNM		PDP	TLP-TND		BP		Independent	Total seats
9th Legislative Council	1956	13		5	2		2		2	24
Session	Election	POPPG			TLP	TUCSP	BP	CSP	Independent	Total seats
8th Legislative Council	1950	2			2	1	6	1	6	18
Session	Election	UF				TUCSP	BP		Independent	Total seats
7th Legislative Council	1946	3				2	3		1	9
Session	Election				TLP	UP			Independent	Total seats
6th Legislative Council	1938				3	2			2	7

Tobago House of Assembly

Session	Election	PNM	NAR	Independent	Total seats
Session	Election	PNM	PDP		Total seats
11th	25 January 2021	6	6		12
10th	23 January 2017	10	2		12
Session	Election	PNM			Total seats
9th	21 January 2013	12			12
Session	Election	PNM	TOP		Total seats
8th	19 January 2009	8	4		12
Session	Election	PNM	DAC		Total seats
7th	17 January 2005	11	1		12
Session	Election	PNM	NAR		Total seats
6th	29 January 2001	8	4		12
5th	19 December 1996	1	10	1	12
4th	7 December 1992	1	11		12
3rd	29 November 1988	1	11		12
Session	Election	PNM	DAC		Total seats
2nd	26 November 1984	1	11		12
1st	24 November 1980	4	8		12

Partisan control of Parliament

This table shows the number of Parliaments in which a party controlled the House of Representatives and Tobago House of Assembly.

Party	Parliament	Prime Ministers
PNM	12	4
UNC	1	2
NAR	1	1
No overall control	3

Tobago House of Assembly

Party	Assembly	Chief Secretaries
PNM	4	3
NAR	3	3
DAC	2	1
No overall control	1

Parties and the 2015 election

Summary of the 7 September 2015 House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago election results
Parties	Votes	%	Seats
People's National Movement	378,447	51.68%	23
People's Partnership Coalition	341,597	46.64%	18
Independent Liberal Party	5,123	0.70%	0
Others	7,173	0.98%	0
Total valid votes	732,340	100.00	41
Invalid/blank votes	2,452	–	–
Total (turnout 66.84%)	734,792	100
Source: EBC

note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members (12 elected) serving four-year terms; in the 2005 elections the PNM won.

Judicial branch

The country's highest court is the Court of Appeal,[3] whose chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.[4] The current Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago is Ivor Archie.[5] Final appeal on some matters is decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Trinidad and Tobago was chosen by its Caribbean neighbours (Caricom) to be the headquarters site of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was supposed to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the fall of 2003. However, the government has been unable to pass legislation to effect this change.

Administrative divisions

Trinidad is divided in five Municipalities Arima, Chaguanas, Port of Spain, Point Fortin, San Fernando and nine Regional Corporations Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo, Diego Martin, Penal–Debe, Princes Town, Mayaro–Rio Claro, San Juan–Laventille, Sangre Grande, Siparia, and Tunapuna–Piarco.

Local government in Tobago is handled by the Tobago House of Assembly.

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

References

Linda Hutchinson-Jafar, "Trinidad and Tobago sets early election May 24", Reuters, 16 April 2010.
"A look at the People's Partnership", Trinidad & Tobago Newsday, 23 April 2010.
admin. (2002). "Structure of the Judiciary". The Judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
admin. (2002). "Appointment to the Judiciary". JT&T. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
admin. (2008). "Chief judges and Chief justices of Trinidad and Tobago". JT&T. Retrieved 10 September 2010.

External links

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EB&C), Trinidad and Tobago

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] Linda Hutchinson-Jafar, "Trinidad and Tobago sets early election May 24", Reuters, 16 April 2010.

[2] "A look at the People's Partnership", Trinidad & Tobago Newsday, 23 April 2010.

[3] . (2002). "Structure of the Judiciary". The Judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

[4] . (2002). "Appointment to the Judiciary". JT&T. Retrieved 10 September 2010.

[5] . (2008). "Chief judges and Chief justices of Trinidad and Tobago". JT&T. Retrieved 10 September 2010.

Political parties in Trinidad and Tobago
House of Representatives (41)	People's National Movement (22) United National Congress (19)
Senate (31)	People's National Movement (16) United National Congress (6) Independent (9)
Municipal corporations (14)	People's National Movement (7) United National Congress (7)
Councillors in municipal corporations (139)	People's National Movement (71) United National Congress (68)
Tobago House of Assembly (12)	Tobago Council of the People's National Movement (6) Progressive Democratic Patriots (6)
Other parties recognized by the EBC	Progressive Empowerment Party Independent Liberal Party Movement for Social Justice Movement for National Development Congress of the People Democratic Party of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Democratic Front New National Vision Trinidad Humanity Campaign National Organization of We the People National Coalition for Transformation Progressive Party One Tobago Voice Unrepresented Peoples Party Unity of the People The National Party Port of Spain People's Movement National Transformation Party National Solidarity Assembly Patriotic Front Green Party
Defunct parties	Independent Liberal Party National Joint Action Committee African National Congress Butler Party Caribbean National Labour Party Caribbean People's Democratic Party Caribbean Socialist Party Citizens' Alliance Communist Party of Trinidad and Tobago Democratic Action Congress Democratic Labour Party Democratic National Assembly Democratic Party Fargo House Movement Liberal Party Liberation Action Party Movement for Unity and Progress National Alliance for Reconstruction National Democratic Organisation National Freedom Party National Trinidad and Tobago Party Natural Law Party Organisation for National Reconstruction Party of Political Progress Groups People's Democratic Party People's Empowerment Party People's Popular Movement People's Republican Party People's Voice Party Progressive Democratic Party Seukeran Independent Party Social Democratic Labour Party Tapia House Movement The Mercy Society Trade Union Council Trades Union Congress and Socialist Party Trinidad Labour Party United Freedom Party United Front United Labour Front West Indian Independence Party West Indian National Party West Indian Political Congress Movement Workers and Farmers Party Young People's National Party
Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Trinidad and Tobago

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