31-682: The Progressive Democratic Patriots ( PDP ) is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago . Founded in 2016, it became the second-largest party in Tobagonian politics following the decline of the Tobago Organisation of the People . The party planned to contest the Trinidadian local election and every seat in the next general election, officially launching as a national party on 1 May 2022. It later provided
62-652: A House in which the majority party changed intra-term. This table shows the number of Parliaments in which a party controlled the House of Representatives and Tobago House of Assembly . The country's highest court is the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago , whose chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition . The current Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago
93-459: A number of ministries were removed, while others were consolidated or reintroduced. 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
124-556: A plan for Tobagonian independence. In the January 2021 Tobago House of Assembly election , the party won the same number of seats (6) as the Tobago Council of the People's National Movement , breaking their streak of winning every Tobago House of Assembly election since 2001 . It later led to a snap election being called in December 2021 Tobago House of Assembly election December to break
155-596: 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
186-677: Is Ivor Archie . 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. Trinidad
217-551: Is considered Afro-Tobagonian, which is synonymous with Afro-Trinidadian, with the exception that the people of Tobago are almost exclusively of direct African ancestry. In an effort to bridge the cultural and ethnic split between the two islands many people choose to be called Trinbagonians as a gesture of unification. The ultimate origin of most African ancestry in the Americas is in West and Central Africa . The most common ethnic groups of
248-1166: 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 . 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 , WTO Afro-Trinidadian Afro-Trinidadians and Tobagonians (or just Afro-Trinbagonians ) are people from Trinidad and Tobago who are of Sub-Saharan African descent, mostly from West Africa . Social interpretations of race in Trinidad and Tobago are often used to dictate who
279-529: Is known as Indian Arrival Day . A small portion of the group of Indians also began to racially mix into the Trinidadian populace, their descendants became known as the Dougla people . After the use of indentured servants was abolished 1917, a second group of Indians steadily migrated to Trinidad from India, mostly for business. Between 1968 and 1970, the " Black Power Revolution " gained strength in Trinidad and Tobago. The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC)
310-452: Is of West African descent. Mulatto - Creole , Dougla , Blasian , Zambo , Maroon , Pardo , Quadroon , Octoroon or Hexadecaroon (Quintroon) were all racial terms used to measure the amount of West African ancestry someone possessed in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout North American, Latin American and Caribbean history. Afro-Trinidadians and Tobagonians accounted for 34.22 percent of
341-739: The Atlantic slave trade . By the time the African, Mulattoes and Mestizos started intermixing, the Amerindians had become almost nonexistent. In 1783, the King of Spain passed the Cedula of Population law, which promised free land to Europeans willing to relocate to Trinidad to work. With this law French settlers migrated to Trinidad from the French Antilles to work the sugar cane plantations . They, too, added to
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#1732852336229372-605: The Chinese Revolution . In the 1840s, European indentured servants began arriving, including the French , Spanish , Germans , Swiss , Portuguese , English , Scottish , Welsh , Cornish , Irish , Corsican , Italians , Dutch , Norwegian and Polish . Over time, many of these settlers married into the families of the freed slaves. On 30 May 1845, the British transported indentured servants from India to Trinidad. This day
403-558: 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
434-453: The 41 seats led by Keith Rowley . In August 2020, Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s ruling party PNM won the general election again. 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,
465-662: The British in the War of 1812 or from indentured labourers from West Africa. In 1498 Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Trinidad, where he encountered the indigenous Taíno people. A while after Columbus's landing, Trinidad became a territory of the Spanish Empire . The Spanish enslaved the native population and over time mixed with them, their offspring creating the Mestizo identity. The Mulattos came about after Spain started transporting enslaved Africans to Trinidad in 1517 via
496-605: 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
527-539: The Tobago House of Assembly left the party, leaving the leader, Watson Duke , as the sole PDP Assembly member. 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
558-511: 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 . 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
589-416: The ancestry of Trinidadians, creating the creole identity; Spanish , French and Patois were the languages spoken. In 1802, Great Britain took over the island and slavery was eventually abolished in 1834. The abolition of slavery led to an influx of indentured servants from places such as China. While some left, many stayed and married into the Trinidadian populace. In 1911, many more Chinese came after
620-516: The army barracks at Teteron. Through the action of the Coast Guard and negotiations between the Government and the rebels, the mutiny was contained and the mutineers surrendered on 25 April. It was around this time the term Afro-Trinidadian was started to be used. The massive influx of enslaved Africans to Trinidad and Tobago shores that happened in 19th century respectively was important in shaping
651-575: 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
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#1732852336229682-544: The cultural space of Trinidad and Tobago. Afro-Trinidadian culture is immanent within and encapsulates all other cultures. Afro-Trinidadian culture is decisive in steelpan culture , Carnival culture , soca culture , and calypso culture and also helped in many ways to shape. Most Afro-Trinidadian and Tobagonians are Christian , with the largest group being Roman Catholics , Anglicans and (in Tobago ) Methodists . Smaller numbers follow Afro-Caribbean syncretic faiths like
713-593: The election: the incumbent PNM, and a coalition called the People's Partnership , led by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, comprising the UNC, COP, Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), and two labour and non-governmental organisations: the National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice . The People's Partnership won 29 seats and the majority, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar being sworn in as
744-658: The enslaved Africans in Trinidad and Tobago were Igbo , Kongo , Ibibio , Yoruba and Malinke people . All of these groups, among others, were heavily affected by the Atlantic slave trade . The population census of 1813 shows that among African-born slaves the Igbo were the most numerous. Around half of Afro-Trinidadians were the descendants of emigrants from other islands of the Caribbean, especially Martinique , Guadeloupe , Saint Vincent and Grenada . Other Afro-Trinidadians trace their ancestry to American slaves recruited to fight for
775-512: 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
806-515: 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 Following the 2015 general elections,
837-414: The population of Trinidad and Tobago according to the 2011 Census. An additional 22.8 percent of Trinidadians described themselves as being multiracial , of whom 7.7 percent were Dougla (mixed African and Indian ethnicity). The islands of Trinidad and Tobago (united in 1888) have a different racial history. The island of Trinidad is mainly multiracial while the population of Tobago is primarily what
868-478: The resignation of A. N. R. Robinson , Member of Parliament for Tobago East. On 18 April, sugar workers went on strike and there was talk of a general strike. In response to this, Williams proclaimed a State of Emergency on 21 April and arrested 15 Black Power leaders. Responding in turn, a portion of the Trinidad Defence Force , led by Raffique Shah and Rex Lassalle , mutinied and took hostages at
899-498: The run-up to the 2007 general election, a new political presence emerged called Congress of The People (COP). Led by 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. Two major entities contested
930-563: The tie, as well as an increase in the number of legislative seats from 12 to 15 (an odd number) to avoid future ties. In the December 2021 Tobago House of Assembly snap election , the PDP won an unprecedented 14 out of the 15 seats available, ending 21 consecutive years of PNM control over the Assembly. PDP member Farley Chavez Augustine was sworn in as the 5th Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly on 9 December 2021. In 2022, 13 PDP members of
961-575: Was formed by a group of undergraduates at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies . Influenced by people such as Fidel Castro , Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X . The National Joint Action Committee demonstrated to bring about Black Power and a return to African heritage and African culture. On 6 April 1970, protester Basil Davis, was killed by the police. This was followed on 13 April by