Editing History of Trinidad and Tobago (section)

== 20th-century political development ==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2019}}
Trinidad was ruled as a [[Crown colony]] with no elected representation until 1925.  Although [[Tobago]] had an elected Assembly, this was dissolved prior to the union of the two islands.  In 1925 the first elections to the [[Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago|Legislative Council]] were held.  Seven of the thirteen members were elected, the others were nominated by the Governor. The franchise was determined by income, property and residence qualifications, and was limited to men over the age of 21 and women over the age of 30. The 1946 elections were the first with universal adult suffrage.

=== Labour movement ===
[[British West Indian labour unrest of 1934–1939|Labour riots in 1937]] led by [[Tubal Uriah Butler|T.U.B. Butler]] (an immigrant from the neighbouring island of Grenada) shook the country and led to the formation of the modern [[Trade Union]] movement. Butler was jailed from 1937 to 1939, but was re-arrested when the [[United Kingdom]] entered [[World War II]] and jailed for the duration of the war. After his release in 1945 Butler reorganised his political party, the [[Butler Party|British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party]]. This party won a plurality in the [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1950|1950 general elections]]. However, the establishment feared Butler as a radical and instead [[Albert Gomes]] became the first [[Chief Minister]] of Trinidad and Tobago.

=== Representative government ===
The 1956 general elections saw the emergence of the [[People's National Movement]] under the leadership of [[Eric Williams]]. The PNM, opposed by Dr. Rudranath Capildeo of the [[Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|Democratic Labor Party]] and [[Ashford Sinanan]], who later founded the West Indian National Party (WINP),<ref>[[Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)]]</ref> continued to dominate politics in Trinidad and Tobago until 1986. The party won every general election between 1956 and 1981. Williams became [[prime minister]] at independence, and remained in that position until his death in 1981.

=== Federation ===
{{Main|West Indies Federation}}
In 1958, the United Kingdom tried to establish an independent [[West Indies Federation]] comprising most of the former British West Indies. However, disagreement over the structure of the federation led to [[Jamaica]]'s withdrawal. Eric Williams responded to this with his now famous calculation "One from ten leaves nought."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rDfhPj5X4c0C&dq=%22One+from+ten+leaves+nought.%22&pg=PA179 ''Eric Williams and the Making of the Modern Caribbean''], Colin A. Palmer, Univ of North Carolina Press, 2009, page 179</ref> Trinidad and Tobago chose not to bear the financial burden without Jamaica's assistance, and the Federation collapsed.

=== Independence ===
Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence via the [[Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962]] on 31 August 1962 within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] as its titular [[head of state]]. On 1 August 1976, the country became a republic, and the last [[Governor-General]], [[Ellis Clarke|Sir Ellis Clarke]], became the first President.{{efn|Because Trinidad and Tobago's [[Flag of Trinidad and Tobago|flag]], [[Coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago|coat of arms]] and [[Forged from the Love of Liberty|national anthem]] did not feature monarchical symbols or symbolism, all three were left unaltered when the country became a republic.}}

=== Black Power and labour unrest ===
{{Main|Black Power Revolution}}

In 1968 the [[National Joint Action Committee]] was formed by members of the Guild of Undergraduates at the St Augustine campus of the [[University of the West Indies]], under the leadership of [[Geddes Granger]].  In 1969 it was formally launched to protest the arrest of West Indian students at [[Concordia University (Montreal)#Sir George Williams University|Sir George Williams University]] in [[Montreal]].  Together with Trade Unions and other groups, this led to the birth of the [[Black Power]] movement.  In 1970 a series of marches and strikes led to the declaration of a [[State of Emergency]] and the arrest of 15 Black Power leaders.  In sympathy with the arrested leaders, a portion of the [[Trinidad and Tobago Regiment]], led by [[Raffique Shah]] and [[Rex Lassalle]] mutinied and took hostages at the Teteron Barracks (located on the [[Chaguaramas, Trinidad|Chaguaramas]] Peninsula).  However, the Coast Guard remained loyal and was able to isolate the mutineers at Teteron (as the only way out was along a narrow coastal road).  After 5 days the mutineers surrendered.
Political difficulties in the post-Black Power era culminated in the "No Vote" campaign of 1971 (which resulted in the PNM winning all the seats in [[Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago|Parliament]]). In 1973, in the face of a collapsing economy Eric Williams was prepared to resign as prime minister. However, the outbreak of the [[Yom Kippur War|1973 Arab-Israeli War]] led to the recovery of oil prices and Williams remained in office.

==== National Union of Freedom Fighters ====
The National Union of Freedom Fighters (NUFF) emerged in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 1970s, a period of social and political tension following the Black Power Revolution. Formed in December 1971, the group's emergence was influenced by a sense of dissatisfaction with the existing socio-political climate.  Inspired by guerrilla warfare strategies, NUFF members engaged in activities such as attacks on banks, police stations, and infrastructure.  These actions were part of their stated objective to challenge the government of Prime Minister Eric Williams.  NUFF’s activities led to confrontations with state authorities.  Security forces undertook operations to counter NUFF, resulting in casualties on both sides.  Events such as the attack on a camp in Caura and the death of Beverley Jones marked key moments in the conflict.  The government took measures to address the challenges posed by NUFF, and by 1974, the organization's activities had largely been suppressed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remembering Trinidad and Tobago’s Black Power Revolution |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/02/trinidad-and-tobago-black-power-revolution-1970 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=tribunemag.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=23. Trinidad & Tobago (1962-present) |url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/home/research-projects/dadm-project/western-hemisphere-region/trinidad-tobago-1962-present/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=uca.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Oil boom and bust ===
[[File:Eric Williams (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Eric Williams]], the first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago]]
The high oil prices of the 1970s and early 1980s led to an ''[[oil boom]]'' which resulted in a large increase in salaries, standards of living, and [[political corruption|corruption]].

In 1979, construction on the [[Eric Williams Plaza]] began. It would eventually be completed in 1986. It remained the tallest building in Trinidad and Tobago until the construction of the Nicholas Tower in 2003.

[[File:Newly arrived coolies in Trinidad.jpg|thumb|Newly arrived indentured [[India]]ns in Trinidad and Tobago]] Williams died in office in 1981.  The PNM remained in power following the death of Dr. Williams, but its 30-year rule ended in 1986 when the [[National Alliance for Reconstruction]] (NAR), a multi-ethnic coalition aimed at uniting Trinidadians of [[Afro-Trinidadian people|Afro-Trinidadian]] and [[Indo-Trinidadian]] descent, won a landslide victory by capturing 33 of 36 seats. Tobago's [[A. N. R. Robinson]], the political leader of the NAR, was named prime minister. The NAR also won 11 of the 12 seats in the Tobago House of Assembly. The NAR began to break down when the Indian component withdrew in 1988. [[Basdeo Panday]], leader of the old [[United Labour Front]] (ULF), formed the new opposition with the [[United National Congress]] (UNC). The NAR's margin was immediately reduced to 27 seats, with six for the UNC and three for the PNM.

=== 1990 Jamaat-al-Muslimeen coup attempt ===
{{further|Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt}}

In July 1990, the [[Jamaat al Muslimeen]], an extremist Black [[Muslim]] group with an unresolved grievance against the government over land claims, tried to overthrow the NAR government. The group held the prime minister and members of parliament hostage for five days while rioting shook [[Port of Spain]]. After a long standoff with the police and military, the Jamaat al Muslimeen leader, [[Yasin Abu Bakr]], and his followers surrendered to Trinidadian authorities. Having had the matter referred back to the local courts by the Privy Council with a clear indication of a view that the amnesty was valid, in July 1992, the High Court upheld the validity of a government amnesty given to the Jamaat members during the hostage crisis. Abu Bakr and 113 other Jamaat members were jailed for two years while the courts debated the amnesty's validity. All 114 members were eventually released. Subsequent to this, the UK [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Council]] deemed the amnesty invalid but expressed the view that it would be improper to re-arrest the 114 accused.

=== Later developments ===
In December 1991, the NAR captured only the two districts in Tobago. The PNM, led by [[Patrick Manning]], carried a majority of 21 seats, and the UNC came in second. Manning became the new Prime Minister and [[Basdeo Panday]] continued to lead the opposition. In November 1995, [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1995|Manning called early elections]], in which the PNM and UNC both won 17 seats and the NAR won two seats. The UNC allied with the NAR and formed the new government, with Panday becoming prime minister – the first prime minister of Indo-Trinidadian descent.

Basdeo Panday was [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]] from 1995 to 2001. He led United National Congress (UNC) until 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caribbean Elections Biography {{!}} Basdeo Panday |url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/panday_basdeo.asp |website=www.caribbeanelections.com |access-date=3 November 2022 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103002218/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/panday_basdeo.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Elections held in [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2000|December 2000]] returned the UNC to power when they won 19 seats, while the opposition PNM won 16, and the NAR 1. The UNC government fell in October 2001 with the defection of three of its parliamentarians amidst allegations of corruption in the then UNC government, and the [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2001|December 2001 elections]] resulted in an even 18 to 18 split between the UNC and the PNM. President Robinson appointed Patrick Manning Prime Minister despite the fact that the UNC won the popular vote and that Panday was the sitting prime minister.  Despite the fact that Manning was unable to attract a majority (and Parliament was thus unable to sit), he delayed calling elections until [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2002|October 2002]]. The PNM formed the next government after winning 20 seats, while the UNC won 16. Both parties are committed to free market economic policies and increased foreign investment. Trinidad and Tobago has remained cooperative with the United States in the regional fight against narcotics trafficking and on other issues.

Patrick Manning was  [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]] from 1991 to 1995 and again from 2001 to 2010. He also led People's National Movement (PNM) from 1987 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caribbean Elections Biography {{!}} Patrick Manning |url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/manning_patrick.asp |website=www.caribbeanelections.com |access-date=3 November 2022 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103001424/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/manning_patrick.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The serious crime situation in the country has led to a severe deterioration in security conditions in the country.

On 26 May 2010, [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]], leader of the [[People's Partnership]], was sworn in as the country's first female prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Swearing-in of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar {{!}} Trinidad and Tobago News Blog |url=https://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=3416}}</ref> On 21 August 2011, she asked President [[George Maxwell Richards]] to declare a limited [[state of emergency]].<ref>{{cite news |title=100 held in Trinidad and Tobago's state of emergency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/25/trinidad-and-tobago-state-emergency |work=the Guardian |date=25 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> On 9 September 2015, Dr. [[Keith Rowley]] was sworn in as new Prime Minister, following the [[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election|election]] victory of his People's National Movement (PNM).<ref>{{cite news |title=Trinidad's new prime minister, Keith Rowley, sworn in |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trinidadtobago-election-idUSKCN0R92JS20150909 |work=Reuters |date=9 September 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cananews.net/news/131/ARTICLE/63215/2011-08-21.html |title=LIMITED STATE Of EMERGENCY: Trinidad and Tobago moving to deal with upsurge in murders |date=21 August 2011 |work=Cananews |publisher=Caribbean Media Corporation |access-date=21 August 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> On 19 March 2018 Trinidad's first female President, Ms. [[Paula-Mae Weekes]], was sworn in the mainly ceremonial post.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tv6tnt.com/news/local/president-elect-paula-mae-weekes-swearing-in-ceremony/article_bfede362-2b6f-11e8-8328-bb29105bc999.html|title=President-elect Paula-Mae Weekes swearing in Ceremony|last=Desk|first=TV6 Digital|work=Caribbean Communications Network|access-date=2018-03-21|language=en}}</ref> In August 2020, the governing People's National Movement won [[2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election|general election]], meaning the incumbent Prime Minister Keith Rowley will serve a second term.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53735408|title = Trinidad and Tobago poll: Governing party claims victory|work = BBC News|date = 11 August 2020}}</ref>