Trinidad and Tobago
Overview
Australia established a High Commission in Port of Spain in July 2004 previously having non-resident accreditation while resident in Jamaica followed by Barbados. Australia's High Commissioner in Port of Spain also has non-resident accreditation for 13 other countries in the region. There is a small Caribbean community in Australia, including 1,126 individuals born in Trinidad and Tobago (2006 census).
Consistent with the Australian Government's commitment to strengthening relations with the Caribbean, the Government formally established relations with CARICOM through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Mr Rudd, as Prime Minister, in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago on 29 November 2009. A centrepiece of the Government's renewed ties with the region is a A$60 million Development Assistance Partnership.
Political overview
Background
Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and subsequently joined the Commonwealth and the United Nations. In 1967, Trinidad and Tobago became the first Commonwealth country to join the Organization of American States. In 1976, a republican constitution was adopted, replacing the Queen as Head of State with a president elected by the parliament.
Trinidad and Tobago is a country rich in cultural diversity and natural resources. The economy is largely based on oil and gas and the country has become a major financial centre in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago is a leader in the Caribbean regional integration effort, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market Economy, which went into effect January 1, 2006.
Political system
Trinidad and Tobago is a republic with a bicameral national parliament modelled on the British system. The President is the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and is elected by the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 31 members, 22 appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, and nine independent senators appointed by the President.
The House of Representatives consists of 36 members sitting in single-member constituencies (34 for Trinidad and 2 for Tobago), and a Speaker who can be elected from within or outside the House of Representatives. The judiciary is independent. The highest appellate court remains the British Privy Council. Although the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was inaugurated in April 2005 to replace the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal in the CARICOM region, legislation has not yet been passed for the CCJ to act in its appellate jurisdiction.
At the regional level, Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly comprising 12 elected members, and an additional six members appointed by the majority party and one by the minority party. The Tobago House of Assembly, established in 1980, has limited regional autonomy including some powers over the island's finances and other delegated policy, planning and administrative responsibilities.
Since its independence, Trinidad and Tobago has played an increasingly important role as a political and economic leader in the Caribbean. With a population of approximately 1.3 million people and abundant natural resources, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the larger Caribbean countries and currently benefits from a thriving energy sector. As a consequence of its size and wealth, Trinidad and Tobago plays a lead role in the region's major political grouping, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain, is also host to the Secretariat of the sub-hemispheric Association of Caribbean States and a member of the pan-hemispheric Organization of American States.
In Trinidad and Tobago, political allegiance tends to follow ethnic lines. Afro-Trinidadians (40 per cent of the population) largely support the People's National Movement (PNM), while Indo-Trinidadians (also 40 per cent of the population) generally support the United National Congress (UNC). The People's Partnership (PP) alliance led by the United National Congress (UNC) leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, won the May 2010 general election by a wide margin defeating the government of the People's National Movement (PNM). Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and is Trinidad and Tobago's first female and seventh Prime Minister.
Economic overview
Over the seven years since the commencement of its current energy boom, the Trinidad and Tobago economy has experienced sharp growth, with per capita GDP rising from US$7,062 in 2002 to US$15,581 in 2009. GDP contracted by 3.5 per cent in 2009. Foreign direct investment has grown to support expanded capacity in the energy sector although the global economic downturn has tempered investment interest. The economy is expected to recover with GDP forecasted to grow by 2.1 per cent in 2010. Trinidad produces 150,000 barrels of oil and 4.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Most exploration and production is conducted offshore. It is currently the world's largest exporter of ammonia and methanol, and provides over 70 per cent of all Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and methanol imports to the United States. The Atlantic LNG Train IV opened in December 2005 and became the largest LNG production train in the world (trains are gas liquefaction units that convert natural gas to a liquid form for transport). Trinidad is also home to the world's largest methanol production plant.
Consistent with its 'Vision 2020' plan, the Trinidad and Tobago Government has placed a strong emphasis on economic diversification (particularly into technology-based industry), value-adding in the energy sector, and on building tighter linkages between the energy and non-energy economies. As a result, Trinidad has one of the most diversified and advanced production structures in the Caribbean region – a heavy industrial sector (eg. machinery and steel) and a light manufacturing sector (eg. food and furniture). Planning is currently underway for the construction of two aluminium smelters in Trinidad, with the view to developing job-creating industries such as car parts manufacturing. More than 160 companies produce for export, and Tobago makes an important contribution to the country's tourism sector.
Trinidad and Tobago, as the largest CARICOM economy, plays a leading role in the Caribbean region and is also a driving force behind regional market integration. In January 2006, the Caribbean Single Market (CSM) came into effect. The CSM allows for the free trade of goods and services between CARICOM countries (except the Bahamas, which has not joined the CSM) and the free movement of certain categories of labour. The Caribbean Court of Justice, sitting in its original jurisdiction, acts as a CSM disputes mechanism.
Bilateral relationship
The Australia-Trinidad and Tobago bilateral relationship is underpinned by our sporting links, joint membership of the Commonwealth and growing commercial ties.
Cricket remains one of the most resilient links between Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider English-speaking Caribbean.
Australia's then Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, visited Trinidad and Tobago in December 2006 and formally opened the Australian High Commission.
Bilateral economic and trade relationship
In 2009-10, Trinidad and Tobago was Australia's largest trading partner in the Caribbean. Total two-way merchandise trade between Australia and Trinidad and Tobago was approximately A$84 million in 2009, with the balance of trade in Australia's favour. Australia's exports to Trinidad and Tobago included meat, cheese and curd, totalling approximately A$80 million. Australia's principal imports from Trinidad and Tobago were primarily essential oils and perfumes valued at approximately A$4 million. In August 2006, the Trinidad and Tobago Government purchased two Australian-made fast passenger ferries worth around $90 million. In 2008, the Trinidad and Tobago Government entered into a contract with Australian company Austal for the purchase of 6 patrol boats for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard which were delivered in 2009.
Australia and Trinidad and Tobago have a shared interest in ensuring well functioning energy markets. Both our economies have benefited from strong world demand for energy and high energy prices. BHP Billiton is a major oil producer in Trinidad and Tobago. The Angostura joint venture, which is operated by BHP Billiton with partners Total and Talisman Energy, began crude oil production in January 2005. The project involved total investment of close to A$1 billion, and BHP Billiton's stake in the Angostura field is 45 per cent. In the first year of production the project produced 15 million barrels of crude oil. Worley Parsons is also active in the resources and energy sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
Updated November 2010