Trinidad and Tobago

[Page 1047]Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island Republic and the southernmost Caribbean islands. Having gained independence from Great Britain in 1962 and after becoming a Republic in 1976, Trinidad and Tobago has seen significant economic and infrastructural development over the past four decades. The diversification of its economy moved from one predominantly dependent on oil to an economy that now boasts of substantial revenue from natural gas, fertilizers, aluminum, steel, petrochemicals, and the manufacturing sector. Today, Trinidad and Tobago is considered the economic capital of the Caribbean with a robust economy that continues to intermittently grow, but whose long-term prospects seem positive. This entry examines how the growth of Trinidad and Tobago has coincided with an increase in crime; then considers the ways in which ...