In News:

• Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency, in response to a surge in gang violence, which raised the annual death toll to the highest since 2013.

Trinidad and Tobago:

• Location: An island nation in the southern Caribbean, near Venezuela and Guyana.
• Capital: Port of Spain.
• Population: Approximately 1.5 million.
• Ethnic Composition: African (36.3%), Indian (35.4%), Mixed (22.8%), and others.
• Religions: Christianity (64%), Hinduism (18%), Islam (5%), and others.
• Independence: Gained from the UK on August 31, 1962, and became a republic in 1976.
• Member of: Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.
• Major Rivers: Ortoire and Caroni.
• Geography:
  • Total Land Area: 5,128 sq. km (Trinidad: 4,768 sq. km, Tobago: 300 sq. km).
  • Climate: Tropical, with dry and rainy seasons.
  • Highest Point: Mount Aripo.
  • Natural Resource: Pitch Lake, the world’s largest asphalt reservoir.
  • Mountain Range: Northern Range, part of the Andes extension.

Economic and Cultural Significance

• Exports: Major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, and petrochemicals.
• Culture: Known for Carnival, Calypso music, Soca, and the Steelpan (the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century).
• Infrastructure:
  • Ports: Port of Spain, Point Lisas, Scarborough.
  • Airports: Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (Tobago).

Engagement with India

• Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean country to adopt India’s UPI platform.
• Both countries granted each other Most Favored Nation (MFN) status in 1997.
• Bilateral trade reached USD 368.96 million in FY 2023-24.
• The Indian diaspora constitutes about 42% of the population.

Past Emergency Declarations:

• 2014: State of emergency declared in response to gang violence.
• 2021: Emergency declared for Covid-19 restrictions.
• 2011: Limited state of emergency for drug-related crimes.