Country Profile

The twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is located in the southern end of the Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. Its rich and varied heritage lends itself to a vibrant society and cuisine derived from an array of ethnicities and religions. Developmentally, the World Bank categorises T&T as a high-income country, and it has the fourth-highest GDP per capita in the Americas in terms of purchasing power parity after the US, Canada and the Bahamas. T&T is the largest producer of oil and gas in the Caribbean; however, like many hydrocarbon-producing nations worldwide, the slump in global energy prices beginning in 2014 negatively affected broader growth. Nevertheless, the situation has provided renewed political momentum towards greater economic diversification as a means of ensuring sustained development. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; and an interview with Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President, UN General Assembly.