PO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Corinne BAPTISTE; Chancery at 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 467-6490; Trinidad and Tobago has a
Consulate General in New York
US:
Ambassador Sally GROOMS-COWAL; Embassy at 15 Queen's Park West,
Port-of-Spain (mailing address is P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain); telephone
(809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176; FAX (809) 628-5462

:Trinidad and Tobago Government

Flag:
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side

:Trinidad and Tobago Economy

Overview:
Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy began to emerge from a lengthy
depression in 1990 and 1991. The economy fell sharply through most of the
1980s, largely because of the decline in oil prices. This sector accounts
for 80% of export earnings and more than 25% of GDP. The government, in
response to the oil revenue loss, pursued a series of austerity measures
that pushed the unemployment rate as high as 22% in 1988. The economy showed
signs of recovery in 1990, however, helped along by rising oil prices.
Agriculture employs only about 11% of the labor force and produces about 3%
of GDP. Since this sector is small, it has been unable to absorb the large
numbers of the unemployed. The government currently seeks to diversify its
export base.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $4.9 billion, per capita $3,600; real growth rate
0.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.1% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1990)
Budget:
revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $150 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$2.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
includes reexports - petroleum and petroleum products 82%, steel products
9%, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus (1988)
partners:
US 54%, CARICOM 16%, EC 10%, Latin America 3% (1989)
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
raw materials and intermediate goods 47%, capital goods 26%, consumer goods
26% (1988)
partners:
US 41%, Latin America 10%, UK 8%, Canada 5%, CARICOM 6% (1989)
External debt:
$2.5 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.3%, excluding oil refining (1986); accounts for 40% of GDP,
including petroleum
Electricity:
1,176,000 kW capacity; 3,480 million kWh produced, 2,708 kWh per capita