percent of electoral college vote--69%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of
five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1995 (next
to be held by December 2000)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote--PNM 52%,
UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party--PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1,
independent 1; note--the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister); Supreme Court
(judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister)

Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement or PNM

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from
the upper hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as
an excellent investment site for international businesses.
Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign
investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment--a main cause of
the country's socioeconomic problems--is high, but has decreased to
its lowest point in six years. An investment boom in the energy
sector led to a surge in imports in 1997. The resulting trade
deficit is expected to return to a surplus once construction is
completed and the plants come on line. The petrochemical sector has
spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the
government's commitment to