World Country Guide

General Information

Area
Total: 5128 sq km (1980 sq miles). Trinidad: 4828 sq km (1864 sq miles). Tobago: 300 sq km (116 sq miles).

Population
1,296,000 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density
252.7 per sq km.

Capital
Port of Spain. Population: 49,031 (2000).

Geography
Trinidad and her tiny sister island of Tobago lie off the Venezuelan coast. Along the north of Trinidad runs the Northern Range of mountains, looming over the country's capital, Port of Spain. South of Port of Spain on the west coast the terrain is low, and the Caroni Swamps contain a magnificent bird sanctuary largely inhabited by the scarlet ibis. On the north and east coasts lie beautiful beaches. Central Trinidad is flat and largely given over to agriculture.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: President Maxwell Richards since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Patrick Manning since 2002.

Language
The official language is English. French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese are also spoken.

Religion
30 per cent Roman Catholic, 29 per cent other Christian denominations, 24 per cent Hindu, 11 per cent Anglican, and 6 per cent Muslim.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. US pattern twin plus earth plugs are standard, though variations may be found.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 868. Outgoing international code: 01. There are no area codes. In Tobago, international telephone calls can be made from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough. Many public phone booths take phonecards which can be bought from local shops and the TSTT building.

Mobile telephone
GSM 1800 operated by TSTT Cellnet (website: www.tstt.co.tt). Dual mode handsets are necessary, and can be hired from TSTT Cellnet on a short- or long-term basis. Coverage is available in most of Trinidad & Tobago.

Fax
Widely available in hotels. In Tobago, faxes can also be sent from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough.

Internet
ISPs include TSTT Internet Services. There are numerous Internet cafes on the islands.

Telegram
Port of Spain has good facilities in Independence Square and Edward Street. Cables can also be sent from hotels and the airport.

Post
The main post office is on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to two weeks; incoming mail can take much longer. The main post office in Tobago is in Market Square, Scarborough.

Press
English-language dailies include Newsday, The Trinidad Guardian and Trinidad & Tobago Express. As well as these dailies and numerous weekly publications, Tobago has its own weekly paper, Tobago News.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.