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TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
(see
Trinidad Industrial Profile)
Location
The two islands lie near the coast of Venezuela, in the south-east Caribbean.
Trinidad (10.5º N, 61.5º W) is the southernmost island of the Caribbean chain;
Tobago (11º N, 60º W) is 21 miles north-east of Trinidad. Both islands were once
connected to the South American continent, and our flora and fauna reflect that
historical link.
Climate
Trinidad and Tobago enjoys a warm tropical climate, tempered by the north-east
trade winds. The average daytime temperature is 29º C (83º F), with maximums in
the mid 30s. The wet season is from June to December, but rain usually falls in
short, intense bursts, and most days have lots of sunshine. The early months of
the year are drier.
History
The islands’ first inhabitants were Amerindians of the Arawak and Carib tribes.
Columbus encountered Trinidad in 1498, but the island remained a neglected
corner of the Spanish empire until the 1780s, when an influx of French Catholic
settlers and their African slaves marked the real beginning of the country’s
modern history.
After Trinidad was captured by the British in 1797, the population began to grow
steadily; during the 19th century, labourers were imported from various other
parts of the world -- chiefly India, but also China and the Portuguese island of
Madeira. Tobago was long fought over by Dutch, French, British, and Latvian
settlers, but from 1762 was controlled primarily by Britain.
In 1888 the two islands became a single political entity, a crown colony of the
British empire. Since independence in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago has been a
parliamentary democracy; in 1976 it became a republic within the Commonwealth,
cutting ceremonial ties with the old “mother country”. In 1980 the Tobago House
of Assembly was re-established, giving a significant degree of internal
self-government to the smaller island.
Capitals & major towns
The nation’s capital is Port of Spain, in north-west Trinidad. Other important
Trinidadian towns include San Fernando, Arima, Chaguanas and Point Fortin.
Tobago’s capital is Scarborough.
People & culture
Trinidad and Tobago’s 1.3 million people are English-speaking, and share a
vibrant common culture, but trace their roots back to Africa, India, Europe,
China, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
Trinidad is the home of Caribbean Carnival, as well as calypso -- the musical
form which fuels the national festival -- and of steelband music, which evolved
in Port of Spain 60 years ago.
Musical forms derived from Indian traditions, such as chutney, also thrive here.
Apart from music, there are strong traditions of dance, literature, theatre,
painting and sculpture.
The Economy of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has the most diversified and industrialised economy in the
English-speaking Caribbean.
There are large reserves of petroleum and natural gas, and well developed heavy
industries - iron and steel, methanol and nitrogenous fertilizers and petroleum
products.
Air, sea and land transportation links are excellent, and telecommunications
links with the Americas and Europe are completely modern.
During the 1970's, high world oil prices created a rapid expansion of the local
economy, with real GDP growing by 72.5% between 1970 and 1977. These were the
boom years in Trinidad and Tobago and much of the country's infrastructure was
developed during this period. However, depressed oil prices coupled with high
levels of public expenditure led to a prolonged period of economic contraction
which began in 1988 and finally ended in 1993.
Now, after a period of radical economic adjustment under IMF and World Bank
supervision, the government economic policy is well in line with prevailing
market principles: trade liberalisation, open market-driven economy,
rationalisation of the public sector, promotion of private enterprise and
foreign investment, and development of exports and tourism.
Trinidad and Tobago is the Caribbean’s strongest economy, thanks to abundant
natural resources, including both oil and natural gas. There is also a healthy
industrial sector, including manufacturing and heavy industry. Tourism, mainly
concentrated in Tobago, is also important, and agriculture remains a small but
crucial part of the national economy.
Visas
Visitors Information: When Leaving Trinidad one will
have to pay a departure tax of USD 20.00 or TTD 100.00
All persons require visas to enter Trinidad. However, because of historical ties
and bilateral agreements, citizens of several countries are not required to have
visas for entry. These are:
Commonwealth Countries except Australia, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New
Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda
EEC Countries: England, Greece, Ireland, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy,
Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg
Countries having visa abolition agreements with Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey No Visa Required
Sweden No Visa Required
Norway No Visa Required
Iceland No Visa Required
Switzerland & Liechtenstein No Visa Required
Finland No Visa Required
Israel No Visa Required
Brazil No Visa Required
Colombia No Visa Required
Austria No Visa Required
Citizens of USA on Vacation for three (3) months or less
Citizens of Venezuela arriving from Venezuela on vacation for fourteen (14) days
or less. Holders of Venezuelan Official and Diplomatic Passports accredited to
Trinidad and Tobago are exempted from the Visa requirements for the period of
their assignment. Holders of Venezuelan Official and Diplomatic passports not
accredited to Trinidad and Tobago on official mission are exempted from visa
requirements for one (1) month or less
Citizens of Suriname, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Netherlands
Antilles (Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, St Maarten and Saba)
All holders of OAS passports do not require visas for entry into Trinidad &
Tobago.
Holders of UN passports require visas (if necessary as a result of their
nationality). If on arrival at the Port of Entry, The person has no visas, The
passport may be lifted and forwarded to the chief Immigration Officer for a visa
exemption to be requested. If there is not enough time, the passport may be
held, a receipt given and returned to the Holder on departure. Enough time could
be seven (7) days
Holders of Diplomatic Passports are not automatically exempted from visas
Citizens of South Africa are allowed entry into Trinidad and Tobago for
religious, cultural, sporting, educational activities with visas issued without
reference. For any other purpose applications for visas must be referred.
Visa Waivers may be issued to persons not listed in the second Schedule.
However, persons from the Far East or Middle East will only be given this
facility after consultation.
List of second Schedule Countries: Albania, North Korea, South Vietnam,
Bulgaria, People's Republic of USSR, Hungary, China, North Vietnam, Yugoslavia,
Cuba, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia,
Sri Lanka, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda.
Included in this list are the former U.S.S.R,, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
These countries have been divided into:
U.S.S.R. - Armenia, Azerbaizhan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kirghizia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldava, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenia, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
Yugoslavia - Bosnia-Herzogovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Czechoslovakia - The Czech Republic, The Slovak Republic.
Currency
Currency Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) (TTD1=100 Cents)
Notes TT$1, $5, $10, $20, $100
Coins 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents
Exchange Rate A floating rate system is in force. Currently $1US=$6.30TT; $1CDN
= $5.14TT
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