Trinidad & Tobago--Government
CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Trinidad and Tobago Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Digraph: TD

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)

Constitution: 31 August 1976

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Elections:

House of Representatives: last held 16 December 1991 (next to be held by December 1996); results - PNM 32%, UNC 13%, NAR 2%; seats - (36 total) PNM 21, UNC 13, NAR 2

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State: President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn MANNING (since 17 December 1991)

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Corinne BAPTISTE chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 467-6490 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sally G. COWAL embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176 FAX: (809) 628-5462

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