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General Information
Area: 5128 sq km (1980 sq miles).
Population: 1,294,000 (2000).
Population Density: 252.3 per sq km.
Capital: Port of Spain. Population: 43,396 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY: Trinidad and her tiny sister island of Tobago lie off the Venezuelan coast. Along the north of Trinidad runs the Northern Range of mountains, looming over the country’s capital, Port of Spain. South of Port of Spain on the west coast the terrain is low, and the Caroni Swamps contain a magnificent bird sanctuary largely inhabited by the scarlet ibis. On the north and east coasts lie beautiful beaches. Central Trinidad is flat and largely given over to agriculture.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: President Arthur Robinson since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Patrick Manning since 2001.
Language: The official language is English. French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese are also spoken.
Religion: Thirty per cent Roman Catholic, 24 per cent Hindu, 11 per cent Anglican, 29 per cent other Christian denominations and six per cent Muslim.
Time: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. US pattern twin plus earth plugs are standard, though variations may be found.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 868. Outgoing international code: 01. There are no area codes. In Tobago, international telephone calls can be made from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough. Many public phone booths take phonecards which can be bought from local shops and the TSTT building.
Mobile telephone
Digital and analogue networks (not compatible with GSM handsets) are operated by TSTT Cellnet (tel: 800 CELL; fax: 625 5807/9). Dual mode handsets are necessary, and can be hired from TSTT Cellnet on a short- or long-term basis. Coverage is currently available in most of Trinidad & Tobago.
Fax
Widely available in hotels. In Tobago, faxes can also be sent from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough.
Internet
ISPs include TSTT Internet Services (website: www.tstt.co.tt). There are numerous Internet cafes on the islands.
Telegram
Port of Spain has good facilities in Independence Square and Edward Street. Cables can also be sent from hotels and the airport.
Post
The main post office is on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to two weeks; incoming mail can take much longer. The main post office in Tobago is in Market Square, Scarborough.
Press
English-language dailies include The Trinidad Guardian, Trinidad & Tobago Express and Newsday. As well as these dailies and numerous weekly publications, Tobago has its own weekly paper, Tobago News.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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