Trinidad and Tobago: Information on the change of government and on the racial mix of the opposition and government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TTO22336.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Trinidad and Tobago: Information on the change of government and on the racial mix of the opposition and government, 1 November 1995, TTO22336.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abd22b.html [accessed 21 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on the political events prior to the latest national elections of 6 November 1995 in Trinidad and Tobago, please consult the attached articles of the Caribbean and Central America Reports.
In a 24 November 1995 telephone interview with the DIRB, the co-director of the Centre for Ethnic Studies at the University of the West Indies in Port of Spain gave the following breakdown of the racial configuration of the government and the opposition.
The director reported that the elections were won by the United National Congress (UCN) party headed by Mr. Basdeo Panday. The cabinet totals 22 members, of whom one is White (European origin), four are Black (Afro-Trinidadians), two are "mixed" (one of Chinese descent, one of African-European descent) and fifteen are Indo-Trinidadians.
The opposition, headed by ex-Prime Minister Patrick Manning of the People's National Movement (PNM), totals 17 members, of whom one is White, one is Indo-Trinidadian and fifteen are Afro-Trinidadians.
For general information on racial issues and the racial demography in Trinidad and Tobago, please consult the attached documents.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
University of West Indies. Centre for Ethnic Studies, Port of Spain. 24 November 1995. Telephone interview with the co-director.
Attachments
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, International Services Group (ISG), Hull. 12 August 1994. Letter including telex dated 25 July 1994 from the High Commission in Port of Spain.
Latin American Regional Reports: Caribbean and Central America Report. 5 November 1995. "Trinidad and Tobago: Manning Takes Risk With Snap Election," p. 3
_____. 31 August 1995. "Trinidad and Tobago: Emergency Ends but Crisis Goes On," p. 2.
_____. 18 May 1995. "Trinidad and Tobago: Feedback," pp. 2-3.
_____. 2 March 1995. "Trinidad and Tobago: Muslim Threat Stirs Memories of Coup," p. 6.
_____. 6 October 1994. "Trinidad and Tobago: Speculation of Early Elections," p. 7.
_____. 28 July 1994. "Trinidad and Tobago: UNC 'Real Threat' to PNM in 1996," pp. 2-3.
People in Power. 1 September 1995. Release No. 50. Cambridge: CIRCA Research and Reference Information, p. 186.
Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995. 1994. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, pp. 877-81.
Trinidad Daily Express [Port of Spain]. 12 November 1993. Ria Taitt. "Ethnic Studies Report Says: Indians on Move in Public Service," pp. 1, 4.
_____. 12 November 1993. "Indians Hiring Fewer Africans."
Trinidad Guardian [Port of Spain]. 16 November 1993. "Level Head on Race," p. 6.
_____. 15 November 1993. "Indians Do Not Trust Each Other".
_____. 12 November 1993. "Govt Must Tackle Race Problem, Says Panday."
_____. 11 November 1993. "Study: Top Managers Hired by Race," p. 3.
