noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian,
Tobagonian

Ethnic groups: black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese
and other 1.2%

Religions: Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim
5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%

Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 94% (2000) male: 95.9% (1999) female: 91.7% (1999)

Government Trinidad and Tobago

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**;
Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria

Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution: 1 August 1976

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond
ROBINSON (since 18 March 1997) head of government: Prime Minister
Patrick MANNING (since 24 December 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed
from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by an
electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House
of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held 10 December
2001 (next to be held NA 2006); the president usually appoints as prime
minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: college vote - 69%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of
five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of
Representatives - last held 10 December 2001 (next to be held by December
2006) note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms election results: House of Representatives -
percent of vote - UNC 49.9%, PNM 46.5%; seats by party - UNC 18, PNM 18

Judicia