Social Democratic and Economic Progress in the Republic of Trinidad - Essay Example

1 Thesis ment Introduction The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, situated 11 Km. off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean Sea, is an archipelagic country consisting of two main islands Trinidad and Tobago and 21 other smaller islands. While the largest populated island is Trinidad, Tobago continues to remain the less populated area. Trinidadians, Tobagonians, Trinis, or Trinbagonians, as the country's citizens are familiar to the rest of the world, are by nature very peaceful. Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful country spread over 5128 Esq. of area and beset with vast petroleum and natural gas reserves. It is widely known for its natural beauties, tourist locations, and attractive sceneries. The country's capital city is Port -of -Spain, which has staked its claim to serve as the headquarters of the permanent secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.1 Everything is good for this country, which has seen several vicissitudes in relation to its economy, except for its instable political conditions. Backed by a strong multicultural, multiethnic and multi religious society, the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago has been undergoing several phases of political instability for the last decade-and-a-half seriously posing a threat to its economy in the long run. As the frequent political instability takes away the valuable time of the political parties, they find less and less time to concentrate on Governmental matters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Trinidad and Tobago, available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago#History; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 2 resulting in an administrative vacuum. This also generally paves the way for criminals to take an upper hand over law and order machinery over a period. If the political parties continue to fight among themselves neglecting the citizens' welfare, it will ruin the country's future Trinidad and Tobago political parties, including the smaller ones, must know that continued political instability may also result in three unwanted developments. 1. It may lead to people losing confidence in democracy and the political parties. Frequent elections and crises of leadership would badly shake the faith of people in the democratic system of governance. In addition, it would pose extra burden on the state exchequer with heavy and recurring spending on frequent elections. 2. Experience has shown that countries lacking in political stability are prone to invite military interference in the administration resulting in frequent coups, internal conflicts and rebellions.2 Pakistan is the best example for this. 3. Frequent political instability of a country would devaluate the country's credentials in the eyes of neighbors making it vulnerable to the pulls and pressures of big powers. Moreover, such countries would lose their bargaining power during economic negotiations at the international level. Thesis / main essay With ancestors of India, Africa, Europe, China, and the Middle East converging, residing, professing various faiths, and speaking various languages in this tiny republic, Trinidad and ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 What drives violent conflict available from http://www.strategy.gov.uk/downloads/work_areas/countries_at_risk/1factors.pdf; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 3 Tobago mercifully presents a picture of 'unity in diversity'. During the 1990s, social awareness on the issues of harmony and coexistence had grown into wider proportions among various sections of Trinidad and Tobago people. As a country hosting residence to people of several races and groups, this nation has transformed itself into a symbol of co- existence and peaceful living. As per the information provided in the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 3 Trinidad and Tobago is a multi cultural, multi religious, and multi ethnic nation. Hindus and Roman Catholics form majority of the population and the Anglicans, Muslims, Presbyterians and Methodist are among the smaller faiths. Its cultural and ethnic diversity has provided richness to its social beauty and fabric. That the country's population, in spite of its religious and ethnic diversity, celebrates every year the Prime Minister's Best Village Competition 4 involving the events of folk music, dancing, and other folk skills stands a tall witness for the unity and social harmony of Trinidad and Tobago. The celebrations of Ramleela, followed by Diwali (Festival of lights) in October / November every year are rich tributes to the concept of 'unity in diversity' of this tiny nation. The country celebrates late July or early August every year in full glory another important cultural event widely known as the Tobago Heritage Festival.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Religion in Trinidad and Tobago; available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 4 Heritage, "Trinidad", Discover Trinidad and Tobago; available fromhttp://www.meppublishers.com/online/discover/trinidad/index.phptopic=heritage; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 5 Ibid, Tobago Heritage Festival, Tobago 4 Domestic violence in society Like in every other developing society, the society of Trinidad and Tobago has also become vulnerable for crimes. Again, like in any other country, women and children have become the general and frequent targets of criminals. Government has no doubt been acting against criminals but in spite of several measures taken by the Government to curb domestic violence, crime rate has gone up after 1990. Continuous crimes against women and children in this small republic of 1,262, 366 population have been worrying the elders of the country and observers. According to the data 6 provided by the Ministry of National Security, between 1990 and 1996, 80 murders had taken place out of which 41 were women victims and the rest children. In 1996 alone, the Law authorities received 378 applications on domestic violence and 82 % of these complaints related to women. With regard to rape of women, rapes by known people and gang rapes had risen from 24.4% and 7.6% respectively in 1994 to 41.1% and 13.3 % respectively in 1997. However, rape of women by strangers had come down from 68% to 45.5 % in 1997. The data refers to the child abuses too indicating that the children are the victims of emotional, sexual, and physical abuses, with emotional abuses topping the list at 44.4%. Political instability From 1990 onwards, Trinidad and Tobago had entered into an era of instability badly vitiating its political atmosphere and damaging its economic progress and social advancement. The political - - - - -- - - - - - -- -- - -- - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - 6 Murders committed against, "Trinidad and Tobago"; available from http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender/trinidad_&_tobago.htm; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 5 system had undergone a sea change with continuing defections and changing loyalties. The traces of the political instability of the 1990s had their strong origins in the long existing multi- ethnic cultural society that gave birth to the coalition politics and power sharing agreements among political parties during the late 1980s. After the Second World War, decolonization had swept the British Empire leading to the formation of West Indies Federation in 1958 in which Trinidad and Tobago was a member. As Jamaica had withdrawn and the Federation dissolved, Trinidad and Tobago elected for independence in 1962 and in 1976, the country severed its links with the British monarchy and became a free republic with in the Common wealth. 7 As it was under the British rule for a long time, migrations from several British ruled countries continued unabated and the country had become a center for people of various faiths, cultures, and religions. It had resulted in the birth and growth of several small and sundry political parties affiliated to different faiths and groups. However, the People's National Movement (PNM), strongly supported by Afro-Trinidadians had dominated the political scene ruling the country until 1986. Dr. Eric Williams of PNM continued as the Prime Minister since the country's independence until his death in 1981. After his death also, the party continued to hold power ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Wikipedia, history 6 until the 1986 elections, which saw the emergence, into the corridors of power, of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), a coalition of two parties supporting the cause of both Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians. 8 With the emergence of coalition politics into the power corridors, the parties had raised curtains to bring in an era of instability too into the political arena of Trinidad and Tobago. Clash of ideologies, differences of opinion, greed for power and dominance and selfishness would naturally overtake the public welfare in any coalition dominated political system and Trinidad and Tobago is no exemption. The coalition parties had continued to fight from the very beginning and the Alliance began to crack in 1988 when the Indo-Trinidadian dominated political component withdrew from the ruling combine.9 Politics of kidnap Irrespective of their political affiliations, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have always been the peace loving. However, the entire country went through waves of shock and utter disbelief when they had come to know that some Black Muslim extremists had kidnapped their Prime Minister and some Cabinet Ministers for several days. Michael C Desch and other leading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Political conditions, 1st Para, "Republic of Trinidad and Tobago statistics"; available from http://www.footprintseco-resort.com/Statistics.htm; Internet; accessed 21 November 2005 9 Ibid, 2nd Para, 7 commentators and writers had described the kidnap as an act of overthrowing the Government.10 The group led by the Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr had indulged in the kidnap act demanding the immediate settlements of some pending land disputes. The group had surrendered to the Government authorities after a long stand off with the police and military. The Government granted all Jamaat group kidnappers amnesty and later on, the amnesty was upheld by the Court of Appeals.11 This kidnap action had further consolidated the era of political instability of the country. Era of defections and changing loyalties After splitting the ruling coalition in 1988, the Indo-Trinidadian component consisting of 6 MPs, all former members of United Labor Front ( ULF) formed Caucus for Love, Unity and Brotherhood 1988 (CLUB 88) which had later on transformed as the United National Congress (UNC). Under the leadership of Basdeo Panday, a leading lawyer and former trade unionist and Winston Dookeran, the Republic's leading economist, the UNC had continued to grow and emerge as a major political force to reckon with in the country. In the 1991 general elections, the UNC won 13 seats and officially acquired the status of opposition.12 It continued to sit in the opposition gaining control of the Government in 1995 elections in association with the NAR. In ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Michael C Desch, Andres Serbin, and Jorge I Dominguez, From Pirates to Drug Lords: The Post - Cold War Caribbean Security Environment (New York: State University of New York Press, 1998), 93. 11 Political conditions, 3rd para 12 Opposition party, "United National Congress"; available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_National_Congress; Internet; accessed 21 November 2005 8 the elections, it had won 17 out of 36 and formed the Government in alliance with the NAR, which had won two seats. For the first time, Basdeo Panday had become the Prime Minister rep- resenting the Indian dominated UNC. In reciprocation, the NAR leader ANR Robinson was elected as the President of the country in 1997. Later, in an unexpected move, two MPs of the PNM resigned from their party, changed loyalties, and defected to the UNC camp in their capacity as independents providing absolute majority for the latter. This development had however resulted in straining of relations between the UNC and the NAR.13 Elections in 2000 The country went to the general elections in 2000 against the backdrop of the coalition and defection politics that haunted the country's polity in the last decade. The entire country heaved a sigh of relief when the UNC secured 19 seats and formed the Government on its own with Basdeo Panday gaining the top post of the Prime Minister for the second time. But, the adage says that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and UNC politicians are not above this general law. A power struggle erupted in the party in 2001 with the beginning of the internal party elections. It had led to an unwanted rift in the UNC between Panday and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj (Attorney -General), as the loyalists of the latter wrested 21 out of 24 party unit posts. The party units had elected Maharaj as the new Deputy Leader. 14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Governing party, 1st Para, "United National Congress"; available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_National_Congress; Internet; accessed 21 November 2005 14 Ibid, 2nd para 9 With this, balance of power shifted in favor of Maharaj but Panday bluntly refused to appoint him as the Acting Prime Minister. As a retaliation, Maharaj had ordered enquiry into the corruption charges against Panday and his loyalists. This had further exaggerated the rift and a provoked Panday drastically reduced the importance of Maharaj in the Ministry by relieving him and his supporters of certain key portfolios. As a follow up measure, Maharaj, agriculture Minister Trevor Sudama, and information technology Minister Ralph Maraj and their supporters had left the party and Government and formed a new party known as Team Unity. 15 As the Panday Government fell due to lack of majority, the country went to a snap poll in December 2001 in which the ruling UNC and the opposition PNM won 18 seats each leading to a deadlock on Government formation. However, PNM formed the Government ultimately under the Prime Minister ship of Patrick Manning at the invitation of the President. As the Government had no majority, the functioning of the Government had become difficult leading to the suspension of the parliament at the recommendation of the Prime Minister. For the third time in 3 years, Trinidad and Tobago again went to the general elections in October 2002.16 This general election saw the formation of the PNM Government again which won 20 seats out of 36 in the House of Representatives and Patrick Manning had continued to be the Prime Minister. UNC had continued to be the recognized opposition party in Parliament. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Ibid, 3rd para 16 Political deadlock, Timeline : Trinidad and Tobago, "A chronology of key events"; available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1209872.stm; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 10 Defections, arrests, and Present instability Even after the 2002 general elections, the country's politics continued on the path of defections and loyalty changes pushing the body politic of this small nation into uncertainties and confusion. In April 2005, two UNC MPs, Gillian Lucky, and Fuad Khan declared themselves as independent UNC members weakening the UNC. The later developments had further pushed the Indo-Trinidadian dominated UNC into an embarrassing position. On May 31, 2005, Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former MP Carlos John, and party financier Ishwar Galbaransingh were arrested and jailed on corruption and bribery charges resulting in a leadership crisis in the major opposition party. Panday refused bail and was in jail for 8 days. As the internal power struggle continued in the UNC, Panday offered to handover the party leadership to Winston Dookeran but insisted on continuing as the party chairman17. In the party executive elections held on October 2, 2005, Panday's slate won majority. However, in yet another game of changing loyalties, the members, fully backed by Dookeran, demanded Panday to step down as the Leader of opposition. As Panday refused to do so, another MP Gerald Yetming declared himself as independent UNC member and joined the group of Lucky and Khan. Unfortunately, this stalemate is still continuing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Opposition again, "United National Congress"; available fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_National_Congress ; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 11 Economy : Background The country's energy sector plays an important role in economy sharing a voluminous 72 % of its total exports.18 This is the main reason for the country attracting foreign direct investments into its energy sector. Aided by established reserves of 17.3 trillion cubic feet of hydrocarbon and natural gas reserves, Trinidad and Tobago has become the most industrialized nation in the Caribbean. No other sector of economy has wider openings for foreign investment as this sector. During the 1970s, Trinidad and Tobago became one of the most prosperous countries in the Western Hemisphere due to the oil boom that hit the world. With more and more oil and gas money pouring in, the country went on a rapid industrialization spree investing heavy public finances in nearly 60 state run industrial units. However, the early 1980s had reversed the situation with oil prices collapsing worldwide. Unfortunately, during the latter half of the decade, the country had also adopted a path of political instability by beginning the era of political splits and defections. The country's economy had therefore suffered heavily because of the political instability and crash of world oil prices as well, both being the equally contributing factors. Like any other third world country as India, Trinidad and Tobago politicians also immersed themselves in power politics, corruption, and greed for power totally neglecting the priorities of the country and public welfare. The collapse of international oil --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Energy sector, "vesting in a connected future", Investing in Trinidad and Tobago; available from http://www.investtnt.com/; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 12 prices had its toll on the economy of Trinidad and Tobago also pushing its economy into recession.19 The Government had then realized its mistake of patronizing the public enterprises and in 1988 began, abdicating the centralized economic planning, a rapid structural adjustment program involving market reforms. It went on to introduce free market economy and disinvest public enterprises. Trade and industry too had become highly liberalized with a new and strong emphasis on export-oriented growth. From then on, it took nearly 6 years for the country to recover from the recession of the past decade against the background of political instability and a political scenario filled with defections and frequent change of loyalties. Economic growth after 1990 One great thing about Trinidad and Tobago was that it never faltered second time with regard to its economy though it was on and off faltering on its political front. The moment the country realized that the main source for its potential economic growth stemmed from its oil and natural gas reserves, it had embarked on a massive exploration program to make use of the reserves. From 1990 onwards, it went on to exploit its oil reserves on a massive scale. Exports of oil, natural gas, chemicals, and petroleum products had become the mainstay of its economy creating --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Economy, "Republic of Trinidad and Tobago statistics"; available from http://www.footprintseco-resort.com/Statistics.htm; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 13 an economic boom. 20 For the first time in the 1990s, the republic had established a sustained economic growth in 1994 reversing the earlier trends of recession. Gradually since 1990, natural gas had replaced the petroleum products as the main export component. In 1999, crude petroleum had totaled 46.8 million barrels. However, it came down to 44.5 million barrels in 2002 as the exploration of natural gas had increased rapidly. With the economic recovery coming in at a high pitch sooner than expected, unemployment had fallen down from 22 % in the early 1990s to about 10% at the end of 2003. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $10.5 billion in 2003 equaling to a per capita income of $ 2380. Though the petroleum industry employs relatively few workers, its revenue represents 25 % of the GDP, 33% of the total Government revenue, and 66 % of the foreign exchange earnings.21 The country also contains natural reserves of coal, iron, gypsum, and graphite but the Government has not been paying much attention to their exploration as they are in small quantities and not worth their exploitation for commercial purposes. The country is also equipped with manufacturing industries of processed food, tobacco products, rum, refined petroleum, and fertilizers. 22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Economy, "Encyclopedia- Trinidad and Tobago" ; available from http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861632.html; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 21 IV Economy, "Trinidad and Tobago" ; available from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561556_3/Trinidad_and_Tobago.html; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 22 Trinidad and Tobago, economy; available from http://www.countriesquest.com/caribbean/trinidad_and_tobago/economy.htm; Internet; accessed 22 November 2005 14 Agricultural and industrial role in the economy The country has important commercial crops such as sugarcane, cacao, coconuts, citrus fruits, beans, vegetables, rubber trees, coffee, copra, livestock, poultry, and limes with agriculture alone employing 8% of the country's labor force. 23 Agriculture revenue represents less than 2 % of the country's GDP. From the early 1990s, all major manufacturing industries excluding mining and quarrying, had developed in the country with inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI). Several industries had come in the Point Lisas industrial estate for manufacturing Steel, ammonia, urea and several other nitrogen based fertilizers, petrochemicals, and synthetic fuel methanol. All these industrial units, set up in collaboration with foreign firms, used oil, and natural gas either as energy or raw materials. Contributing 42 % and 28 % to the GDP and employment of the country respectively, the industry provided employment to thousands of skilled and non-skilled workers. Not surprisingly, Trinidad and Tobago had become the world's largest producer of methanol by 2000. 24 Tourism Tourism sector has also been playing an important role in the economy of Trinidad and Tobago earning valuable foreign exchange for the country. The country is famous for sheltered beaches, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Ibid 24 http://encarta.msn.com, B Manufacturing, 15 pristine underwater environment, bird watching, yachting, and natural beauties. Except for political defections and frequent elections, the entire country presents a beautiful look of serene and peaceful atmosphere and has the potential for attracting tourists from everywhere. Tourism and other services sectors including financial and Government services account for nearly 64% of the jobs in the country. 25 Conclusion Trinidad and Tobago has a lot of potential for future growth and prosperity in all sectors. Particularly, its tourism sector will be a number one tourist attraction in the very near future. After a long recession, the country's economy has recovered and stabilized and is on the verge of reaching further peaks. The present period is a turning point in the history of the country At this juncture, the country needs a strong political leadership and stability. The political parties and leaders, irrespective of their differences, should unite and present a picture of cohesion for the sake of the country. The opposition parties, irrespective of their internal differences, should support the Government on issues of public importance and general welfare of the country. They must know that prosperity comes form unity and not from internal bickering. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 http://encarta.msn.com, C Tourism, 16 Bibliography Books Desch, Michael C, Andres Serbin, and Jorge I Dominguez, From Pirates to Drug Lords: The Post -cold War Caribbean Security Environment (New York: State University of New York Press, 1998 Internet Economy, "Republic of Trinidad and Tobago statistics"; available from http://www.footprintseco-resort.com/Statistics.htm; accessed 22 November 2005 Economy, "Encyclopedia- Trinidad and Tobago" ; available from http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861632.html; accessed 22 November 2005 Energy sector, "vesting in a connected future", Investing in Trinidad and Tobago; available from http://www.investtnt.com/; accessed 20 November 2005 IV Economy, "Trinidad and Tobago" ; available from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561556_3/Trinidad_and_Tobago.html accessed 22 November 2005 Governing party, 1st Para, "United National Congress"; available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_National_Congress; accessed 21 November 2005 Heritage, "Trinidad", Discover Trinidad and Tobago; available fromhttp://www.meppublishers.com/online/discover/trinidad/index.phptopic=heritage; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 Murders committed against, "Trinidad and Tobago"; available from http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender/trinidad_&_tobago.htm; Internet; accessed 20 November 2005 17 Political conditions, 1st Para, "Republic of Trinidad and Tobago statistics"; available from http://www.footprintseco-resort.com/Statistics.htm; accessed 21 November 2005 Political deadlock, Timeline : Trinidad and Tobago, "A chronology of key events"; available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1209872.stm; accessed 22 November 2005 Trinidad and Tobago, economy; available from http://www.countriesquest.com/caribbean/trinidad_and_tobago/economy.htm; accessed 22 November 2005 What drives violent conflict Evidence; available from http://www.strategy.gov.uk/downloads/work_areas/countries_at_risk/1factors.pdf; accessed 22 November 2005 Read More