The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a parliamentary democracy whose President is head of state. The legislature is headed by the Prime Minister. The third election in three years took place in 2002. Politics is largely divided along racial lines, with the People's National Movement (PNM) drawing support mostly from Trinidadians of African descent and the United National Congress (UNC) mostly from those of Indian descent. In the 2002 elections, held on the basis of universal suffrage and deemed free and fair, the PNM won 20 seats and the UNC 16. There are 18 women in the 67-seat legislature and 9 women in the Cabinet; the President of the Senate is a woman. There are 6 members of minorities in the legislature and 2 in the Cabinet.

The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government respects this right in practice. Trinidad and Tobago hosts the Caribbean Court of Justice, a final court of appeal intended to replace Britain's Privy Council, which had been seen as an obstacle to the implementation of death sentences. The government reintroduced capital punishment in 1999, despite strong international pressure against the decision.

As with other Caribbean nations, Trinidad and Tobago is a trans-shipment point for drugs that has led to gang-related violence and a high murder rate. Corruption is said to be endemic in the police force.

iscrimination based on race, origin, colour, religion or gender is prohibited. Police are accused of abuse of detainees.

Killings and kidnappings for ransom have risen sharply, and suspicions are increasing that corrupt police are involved. Public officials are required to disclose their assets, but those in public office are reluctant to comply since it might make them targets of kidnappings for ransom.

Freedom of speech and of the press are respected in practice, and access to the Internet is not restricted. The Freedom of Information Act provides public access to government documents.

Trafficking of women and children as well as of drugs and illegal weapons is reported. Trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation is a growing concern in the country and in the entire Caribbean region. Sex tourism is reportedly on the rise in Trinidad and Tobago, with the main sex tourists being men from Europe and North America.

Education is free, compulsory and universal to age 12, and is free to age 20. 72% of students continue to secondary education. With much overcrowding and substandard physical facilities, resources have been committed to build new schools and expand access to free secondary education.

Corporal punishment is illegal. Under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, the minimum legal age of marriage is 16 for males and 12 for females; under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Orisa Marriage Act, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 for males and 16 for females. Child marriage is not reported as common.

A 2-year programme begins at age 3. At this level all education is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 70%. All 2,223 teachers working at this level are women, and 25% of them are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 13 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 5 to 11. Primary school begins at age 5 and continues for 7 years. At this level 72% of education is private. The NER is 92% (49% female). Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 96% reach the last grade of primary school. 5% of students repeat grades. There are 7,839 primary teachers (73% female), of whom 81% are trained (72% of men, 84% of women). The PTR is 18 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and is completed in 6 years. At this level 27% of education is private. 2% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The NER is 72%. 1% of students repeat grades. There are 5,422 secondary teachers, 3,132 (62% female) in lower secondary and 2,290 (62% female) in upper secondary education. 56% of secondary teachers are trained. The PTR is 19 : 1 in lower secondary and 19 : 1 in upper secondary schools.

16,751 students (55% female) study in tertiary institutions, giving a Gross Enrolment Rate of 12%. At this level 10% of education is private. 4,903 Trinidadian students study abroad, mainly in the USA (3,638), the United Kingdom (683), Canada (241), Jamaica (153) and Cuba (57).

Statutes do not prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Persons with disabilities face discrimination lower expectations, disrespect and a lack of support services in education. A major demonstration against a public-private enterprise for its refusal to hire persons with disabilities did not change the decision but did raise awareness of unequal treatment. The University of the West Indies inaugurated a disability studies programme and is adding a research capability to complement this subject area.

The government acceded to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, but has not passed implementing legislation. The government cooperates with the UNHCR to assist refugees and asylum-seekers.

The country's diverse racial and ethnic groups live relatively harmoniously, but racial tensions emerge at times between Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians, each group composing some 40% of the population. Indo-Trinidadians dominate the private and agriculture sectors, while Afro-Trinidadians work in the civil service, police and the defence forces. A very small group of the descendants of the Amerindian population survives, and their civil and political rights are protected.

The University of the West Indies branch in Trinidad supports "the freedom to study, teach, publish and debate subject to commonly accepted scholarly standards. The right to academic freedom carries with it the duty to use that freedom in a responsible and ethical way Academic freedom does not require neutrality on the part of the individual." Senior academics such as the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellors, campus principals, registrars, bursars, deans and senior administrative staff are not permitted to accept political public office while holding their university post.

Women have equal legal rights with men, but legislation does not cover equal pay for work of equal value. Equal pay is the norm in the public service, but disparities are noted in the private sector and in agriculture. Sexual harassment is not prohibited in law. Some trade unions have anti-harassment provisions in their collective contracts.

Domestic violence is reported as a significant problem that is receiving increased media attention. Public opinion increasingly regards abuse of women in the home not as a private matter but as an issue that requires outside assistance to resolve.

The minimum age for employment is 12. Children aged 12 to 14 may work in family businesses; children under 16 may not work at night; children aged 16 to 18 may work at night in sugar factories. The child labour law is not fully enforced. The National Steering Committee on the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour completed a draft national policy on child labour. UNICEF estimates that 2% of children aged 5 to 14 are in paid employment. While the government has ratified ILO Conventions 182 and 138, it has not adopted the necessary implementing legislation.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions. About 24% of the work force is unionised, and is represented by 2 trade union centres. Collective bargaining is permitted and is practised. Teachers and police are deemed to be essential service workers and do not have the right to strike. The ILO has determined that the government's definition of essential services is too broad and asked parliament to narrow the definition.

Labour laws apply in export processing zones. Forced or compulsory labour is not prohibited in law, but there is no indication they are practised. The minimum wage is US$1.50 (TT$9.00) an hour; this does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Negotiated wages vary among industries, and most workers earn considerably more than the minimum wage. The work week is set at 40 hours.