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Country Background

Trinidad and Tobago are islands located in the Caribbean Sea, northeast of Venezuela. The capital of Trinidad and Tobago is Port of Spain. The official language is English. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 1.2 million. Trinidad and Tobago is a predominantly Christian country, with about 32% of the population Protestant and 22% Roman Catholic. Islam is a minority religion in Trinidad and Tobago, and Muslims make up about 5% of the country's population.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Trinidad and Tobago is a parliamentary republic. It is a common law system based on the English model. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Tobago has a separate elected House of Assembly that is responsible for the administration of the island. The current Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted in 1976 (replacing an earlier one from 1962).

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Trinidad and Tobago.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Trinidad and Tobago have no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Parliament consists of a Senate and House of Representatives
  • Official Gazette
  • Tobago House of Assembly
  • Digital Legislative Library of Trinidad and Tobago (Ministry of Legal Affairs)
• Executive
  • President
  • Prime Minister

• Judicial
• Judiciary

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Trinidad and Tobago (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Trinidad and Tobago (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Trinidad and Tobago (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Trinidad and Tobago IP Laws and Treaties (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].