Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
President: Maxwell Richards (2003)
Prime Minister: Patrick Manning (2001)
Area: Trinidad 4828 sq km (1883 sq mi); Tobago 300 sq km (117 sq mi)
Population (2003 est.): 1,270,000 (Trinidad 1,220,000; Tobago 51,000) (growth rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 12.7/1000; density per sq km: 253
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Port-of-Spain, 263,800 (metro. area), 45,300 (city proper)
Position- Between 61 degree and 12 degree W. longitude and 10 degree and 11 degree N. latitude.
National Birds- Trinidad-Scarlet Ibis (red)
Tobago- Cocrico (brownish)
Area- Trinidad- 4828 sq km
Tobago- 300 sq km
Highest point- Trinidad-El Cerro del Aripo- 940m high
Tobago- Main Ridge- 618m high
Seasons- Dry season (Jan-May) and a Rainy Season (June-December).
Rainfall - Trinidad- average rainfall- 1869mm annually
Tobago- average rainfall- 1300mm annually
Temperature- from 28 degree Celsius on a cool day to 33 degree C on a hot day.
Coolest months in Trinidad and Tobago are from December to February.
Important Dates- 1498- Christopher Columbus re-discovers Trinidad.
1834- The abolition of slavery in Trinidad.
Aug 31, 1962- Independence of Trinidad and Tobago.
Aug 1, 1976- Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic (However September 24 was declared Republic Day to mark the historic first Republican Parliament Meeting).
Monetary unit: Trinidad and Tobago dollar
Languages: English (official), but Hindi, Creole, French, Spanish also spoken.
Ethnicity/race: black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term—primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other (Syrian, Lebanese and Carib minorities) 1.2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Islam 5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%
Literacy rate: 94% (2000)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2001 est.): $10.6 billion; per capita $9,000.
Real growth rate: 4%. Inflation: 5.6%.
Agriculture: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry. Labor force: 564,000 (2000); construction and utilities 12%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 10%, services 64%.
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles.
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt.
Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.): petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers. Imports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.): machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals.
Major trading partners: U.S., Caricom countries, Latin America, EU.
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 252,000 (1999); mobile cellular: 17,411 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 10 (1998). Radios: 680,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997). Televisions: 425,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 17 (2000). Internet users: 120,000 (2002).
Transportation: Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968 (2001).
Highways: total: 8,320 km; paved: 4,252 km; unpaved: 4,068 km (1996). Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora. Airports: 6 (2001).
Business: Banks are open Monday to Thursday, 8am-2pm; Friday, 9am-12noon and 3-5pm.
Shops: open 8.30am-4pm Monday – Thursday and until 600pm Friday
Electricity: 110/220 volts
Telephone Codes: 1 - 868
Airport Departure Tax: TT$100.00
International disputes: none.
Currency:
Trinidad
& Tobago Dollar (TTD)
Exchange
rates
Trinidad and Tobago Weather Forecast
The Chaconia- native to our forests and bloom during the months of August and September.
THE NATIONAL FLAG (Red, White and Black)
What do the colors represent?
Red represents the vitality of the land and its people; it is the warmth and energy of the sun, the courage and friendliness of the people.
Black represents the dedication of the people joined together by a strong bond. It is the color of unity of purpose and the wealth of the land.
White represents the sea which bounds these lands, the cradle of our heritage, the purity of our aspirations and the equality of all men.
LOCAL FOOD FAVORITES
These are some of the easy on-the-spot foods sold by roadside vendors.
Buljol: Salted codfish shredded and seasoned with pepper, onions, tomatoes and olive oil, served in hops or bake
Callaloo: Made from spinach-like dasheen leaves, with okra and other ingredients that may include coconut and pig-tail
Corn soup: A split peas-based soup with corn and dumplings
Cou-cou: Often served with callaloo, this mixture of cornmeal, okra and butter is boiled and stirred till firm enough to be sliced
Doubles: A popular Indian snack consisting of a soft, fried flour-and-split pea shell filled with curried chick peas
Hops: A roll of white bread, similar to a hamburger bun, only crisper
Macaroni pie: This macaroni, milk and cheese dish is baked and often accompanied by stewed meat and peas
Pastelles: A Christmas specialty similar to Spanish-spiced ground meat with raisins and olives wrapped in a casing of cornmeal and steamed in banana leaves
Pelau: A one-pot dish of rice, pigeon peas and meat, often cooked in coconut milk
Phulouri: Small, deep-fried balls made of a highly seasoned mixture of ground split peas and flour, served with spicy chutney
Roti: A hefty flour wrap (often filled with ground split peas) filled with your choice of curried vegetables and/or meat. Sada rot is a slightly stiffer, greaseless variation, commonly served with vegetables sautéed Indian-style
Shark-and-bake: Richly seasoned shark fillets stuffed into a fried leavened bread (bake) and dressed with a variety of condiments, including pepper, garlic and chadon beni (cilantro) sauces
Current Prices in Trinidad for Local Food- September, 2003- Doubles- $1.50-$2.00 TT
Chicken Roti- $11.00-$20.00TT
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