Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Overall risk level High Reconsider travel Can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks Travel is possible, but there is a potential for disruptions Overview Emergency Numbers Medical 811 Upcoming Events There are no upcoming events scheduled Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 2 Travel Advisories Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 3 Summary Trinidad and Tobago is a High Risk destination: reconsider travel. High Risk locations can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks. Travel is possible, but there is a potential for severe or widespread disruptions. Covid-19 High Risk A steep uptick in infections reported as part of a second wave in April-June prompted authorities to reimpose restrictions on movement and business operations. Infection rates are increasing again since July. International travel remains limited to vaccinated travellers only. Political Instability Low Risk A parliamentary democracy led by centrist Prime Minister Keith Rowley, Trinidad and Tobago's democracy is firmly entrenched thanks to a well-established system of checks and balances that helped it remain resilient in the face of sources of instability like politically motivated murders in 1980 and an Islamist coup attempt in 1990. Despite its status as a regional and economic leader in the Caribbean, the nation faces challenges of corruption allegations in the highest level of government and an extensive drug trade and associated crime that affects locals and tourists alike. Conflict Low Risk Trinidad and Tobago has been engaged in a long-standing, and at times confrontational, dispute over fishing rights with Barbados that also encompasses other resources like oil and gas. A 2006 United Nations ruling established a boundary line between the two nations though low-level conflict over resources, particularly fishing rights, remains a possibility. Open military conflict, however, is highly unlikely. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 4 Terrorism Moderate Risk A local radical Islamist group, Jamaat al-Muslimeen, infamously staged an unsuccessful coup attempt in 1990 and has since been engaged primarily in criminal activities like drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion. The group represents the fringes of the nation's small Muslim population making alliances with international terror groups unlikely. This and the fact that extra attention is paid to the group by authorities significantly decreases the likelihood of the group effectively carrying out a terror attack at this time. Unrest Moderate Risk Demonstrations turned violent when riots broke out during the 1990 coup attempt though there has been no recent history of violence on this scale. Additionally, ethnic tensions exist between Indo- and Afro-Trinidadians but there has been no associated violence to show for it. Currently, demonstrations tend to be peaceful and are likely to be over economic issues with participants gathering in Port of Spain near Parliament or outside the Prime Minister’s Offices in St. Clair. Crime High Risk Crime rates are high, particularly in Port of Spain and San Fernando on Trinidad, which is primarily due to drug trafficking gangs. Violent crime is concentrated in downtown Port of Spain and the suburbs of Laventille, Morvant, Sea Lots and South Belmont, Fort George and other isolated areas of Trinidad as well as Englishman's and King Peter's Bays on Tobago. Travellers are most likely to be affected by petty crimes like pickpocketing in Port of Spain and Laventille and at tourist sites like Fort George and La Brea (Pitch Lake). Gangs have targeted vehicles leaving Trinidad's Piarco Airport. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 5 Natural and Environmental Medium Risk The territory is commonly affected by heavy flooding, especially during the hurricane season between June and November. The East-West Corridor at the foothills of the Northern Range, and the Caparo, Caroni, and South and North Oropouche basins, are regularly affected. Emergency response and disaster preparedness are generally adequate and are capable of withstanding most environmental events. The islands are located in an active seismic zone and are infrequently affected by earthquakes, some of which can cause damage to infrastructure. Health and Medical Medium Risk Quality medical treatment is limited to a few private hospitals in Port of Spain which tend to be very expensive, while health services outside of the capital are below the international standard. Strikes by medical staff may halt these services suddenly. There are periodic outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses and ciguatera poisoning is prevalent. Local Travel Medium Risk Driving is generally not recommended due to high levels of traffic in Port of Spain, poor secondary and rural road conditions, and a high incidence of intoxicated drivers on weekend nights. Roads between major hubs are well-maintained though secondary and rural roads are often closed due to poor weather conditions. Bus services are overcrowded and unreliable making taxis the best available option for travel as they are generally safe and secure when pre-arranged from reputable companies. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 6 Political Overview : Low Risk Since achieving independence from the UK in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago has become a regional political and economic leader despite suffering a variety of internal problems. Between 1970 and 1980, the country suffered considerable instability: a two-year state of emergency was brought about by the 'Black Power Revolution' in 1970; in 1975, the economy was paralysed by strikes in critical sectors including oil and transport; 1980 saw a number of politically motivated crimes, including arson and murder; furthermore, a local Islamic fundamentalist organisation, known as Jamaat al- Muslimeen, attempted a coup in 1990. Despite a tumultuous political history since independence, control of the government remains with the Cabinet, led by a prime minister and answerable to the bicameral parliament, which consists of a 41-member House of Representatives popularly elected to five-year terms and a 31-member Senate appointed by the president. The role of president is primarily a symbolic one, as all executive authority is exercised by the prime minister and Cabinet. On 19 January 2018, Paula-Mae Weekes was indirectly elected president unopposed after her name was put forth by Prime Minister Keith Rowley. Trinidad and Tobago's democratic system is firmly entrenched and dominated by two main parties: The People's National Movement (PNM) with mostly Afro-Trinidadian support and the United National Congress (UNC) drawing its support from the Indo- Trinidadian community. Both ethnic groups account for just over 40 percent of the population which resulted in political uncertainty from 2000 to 2002 as neither party could obtain a workable majority, leading to multiple general elections in the span of three years. The UNC took 27 seats under the leadership of former attorney general Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago's first female prime minister, through a snap election in 2010 following allegations of corruption and waste against PNM's then-Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who brought political stability to the country up to that point. The PNM, however, took back power under Keith Rowley following elections in 2015. PNM's dominance in parliament was solidified for the foreseeable future in elections held on 10 August 2020, in which the party secured 22 of the 41 seats. In a victory speech, Prime Minister Keith Rowley warned that the next two years would be difficult as Trinidad and Tobago struggled with high debt and unemployment, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and a collapse in oil prices. Despite a level of per capita income well above the regional average, Trinidadian Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 7 security is undermined by extensive drug-trafficking operations and widespread violent crime. This violence is not confined solely to gang members and a number of tourists have been robbed, kidnapped for ransom, or murdered - occasionally during robberies. Despite government efforts, crime remains the greatest concern for any visitor and may damage the tourism sector in the future, as well as undermining public faith in the government, judiciary, and security services that are said to have been corrupted by the drug trade. There are no recent incidents Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Trinidad and Tobago 8 Conflict : Low Risk Border Conflicts: Trinidad and Tobago has been involved in a long-standing and at times confrontational dispute with Barbados over fishing rights (and, though not openly stated, over oil and gas) and the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Barbados asserts that a 1990 Trinidad-Venezuela agreement encroaches on its EEZ and that of Guyana. The conflict escalated when Barbados imposed import licenses on Trinidad goods after two Barbadian fishermen were arrested by Tobago authorities in 2004. At the time, the Barbadian deputy prime minister threatened to respond in the 'strongest possible terms' to any further arrests. The dispute was referred to the UN for arbitration, whose 2006 ruling established a single boundary line equidistant between the countries. While the delimitation issue has been contained, there remains potential