Trinidad and Tobago
The islands came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
There are currently no known threats to travelers or expatriate residents in Trinidad and Tabago.
Political issues affecting the business climate in Trinidad and Tobago include crime and drug trafficking, and trade union opposition to the government's program of economic liberalization and divestment. The government is also under pressure to increase employment and social programs in keeping with its campaign and budget promises. Trade unions, which have influenced politics throughout Trinidad's history, have opposed the retrenchments that inevitably come with divestment of national companies.
In October 2001, the government of Trinidad and Tobago called a new general election following the dismissal of three dissident Cabinet members who had waged a campaign against alleged corruption within the administration. Officials set the election for December 10. Prime Minister Basdeo Panday was appointment as prime minister in 1995 and reappointed in 2000 when his United National Congress (UNC) emerged as the biggest party in the general elections. A founder of the pro-business UNC, his government has been praised for its economic management and its efforts to combat the growing drugs trade. Nevertheless, his government faced strong international opposition when it reintroduced capital punishment for drug trafficking in 1999.
In January 2001, Panday warned that opposition groups were plotting to seize power in the Caribbean state. Panday told a stunned parliament that the government had received information that certain groups are amassing arms, smuggled into the country, for what is believed to be a violent attempt to take control of the country. The coup never materialized. Nevertheless, in July 1990, Jammat Al-Moslemeen activists led a coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of 34 people, perhaps prompting authorities to remain vigilant.
The crime rate, which increased threefold in recent years, continues to be a serious concern for the Panday government, which came to office on an anti-crime platform, among other things. The government has developed a broadly structured program for combating crime and increased funding to the police force and the introduction of tough sentencing laws for offenders.
