Introduction :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.
Geography :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 174
slightly smaller than Delaware
0 km
362 km
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
mean elevation: 83 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
agricultural land: 10.6%
arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 1.4%
forest: 44%
other: 45.4% (2011 est.)
70 sq km (2012)
population on Trinidad concentrated in the western half of the island; on Tobago in the southern half
outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
People and Society :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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1,218,208 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
East Indian 35.4%, African 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congretational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 19.29% (male 119,651/female 115,348)
15-24 years: 11.88% (male 75,402/female 69,333)
25-54 years: 45.56% (male 289,244/female 265,808)
55-64 years: 12.61% (male 76,601/female 77,056)
65 years and over: 10.65% (male 56,550/female 73,215) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Central America and Caribbean
::TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 43.2
youth dependency ratio: 29.8
elderly dependency ratio: 13.5
potential support ratio: 7.4 (2015 est.)
total: 36 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 36.6 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
-0.2% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
12.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
-5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
urban population: 8.3% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: -83% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 34,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
63 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
total: 22.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
total population: 73.1 years
male: 70.2 years
female: 76.2 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
1.71 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
5.9% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 108
1.18 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
improved:
urban: 95.1% of population
rural: 95.1% of population
total: 95.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.9% of population
rural: 4.9% of population
total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 91.5% of population
rural: 91.5% of population
total: 91.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8.5% of population
rural: 8.5% of population
total: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)
1.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
11,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
<500 (2016 est.)
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
18.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 116
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015 est.)
total: 8.4%
male: 7.4%
female: 9.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Government :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish
parliamentary republic
name: Port of Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward
regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco
borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando
ward: Tobago
31 August 1962 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
previous 1962; latest 1976; amended many times, last in 2007 (2016)
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Anthony CARMONA (since 18 March 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 February 2013 (next to be held by February 2018); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister
election results: Anthony CARMONA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote - 100%
description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the president, and 6 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms;) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (16 seats; 12 assemblymen directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed councillors - 3 on the advice of the chief secretary and 1 on the advice of the minority leader; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 51.7%, People's Partnership coalition 46.6% (UNC 39.6%, COP 6.0%, other 1.0%), other 1.7%; seats by party - PNM 23, UNC 17, COP 1
highest resident court(s): Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges); note - Trinidad and Tobago can file appeals beyond its Supreme Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65
subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court
Congress of the People or COP
People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY]
People's Partnrship [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR] (coalition includes UNC, COP, TOP, National Joint Action Committee)
National Joint Action Committee or NJAC [Kwasi MUTEMA]
Tobago Organization of the People or TOP [Ashworth JACK]
United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]
Jamaat al-Muslimeen [Yasin ABU BAKR]
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER (since 27 June 2016)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John W. MCINTYRE (since 20 January 2017)
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port of Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376
FAX: [1] (868) 822-5905
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people
scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black
name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
note: adopted 1962; song originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962
Economy :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-16. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment.
Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. Trinidad and Tobago produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and taking 48% of its exports.
Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.
$43.42 billion (2016 est.)
$45.31 billion (2015 est.)
$45.08 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 111
$21.13 billion (2016 est.)
-5.4% (2016 est.)
-0.6% (2015 est.)
-0.6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
$31,800 (2016 est.)
$33,700 (2015 est.)
$34,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 59
9.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
12.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
12.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
household consumption: 76.3%
government consumption: 17.4%
investment in fixed capital: 8.8%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 48.1%
imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 48.4%
services: 51.2% (2016 est.)
cocoa, dasheen, pumpkin, cassava, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, hot pepper, pommecythere, coconut water, poultry
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
-8.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
627,400 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 11.5%
services: 84.7% (2015 est.)
4.1% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
20% (2014 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $6.733 billion
expenditures: $7.817 billion (2016 est.)
32.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
-5.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
62.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
51.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
1 October - 30 September
3.1% (2016 est.)
4.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
6.75% (04 March 2016 est.)
6.75% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
9% (31 December 2016 est.)
8.18% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$6.72 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$6.862 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$16.66 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$16.76 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$9.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$9.265 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$177.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$171.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$170 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$-2.395 billion (2016 est.)
$956.7 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$8.714 billion (2016 est.)
$11.13 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, cocoa, fish, preserved fruits, cosmetics, household cleaners, plastic packaging
US 39.2%, Argentina 9.3% (2016)
$9.485 billion (2016 est.)
$8.602 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals
US 33.4%, Russia 13.3%, Gabon 12.4%, China 6.1% (2016)
$9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$10.38 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$8.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$7.195 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$382.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$311.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.266 billion (2014 est.)
$2.061 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
6.669 (2016 est.)
6.669 (2015 est.)
6.4041 (2014 est.)
6.4041 (2013 est.)
6.39 (2012 est.)
Energy :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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population without electricity: 12,452
electrification - total population: 99.8%
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 99% (2012)
9.682 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
9.461 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
2.117 million kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
99.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
71,570 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
32,620 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
58,460 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
243 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)
country comparison to the world: 56
109,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
46,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
97,960 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
1,498 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
40.87 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
39.39 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
17.86 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
0 cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
300.1 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)
country comparison to the world: 40
48 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Communications :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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total subscriptions: 272,072
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
total: 2.123 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
general assessment: excellent international service; good local service
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity over 190 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2016)
16 TV networks (11 commercial, 5 non-commercial), 2 of which are state-owned that broadcast on multiple stations; 9 TV subscription service providers (cable and satellite); 19 radio networks, 1 state-owned, broadcast over about 35 stations (2016)
.tt
total: 846,000
percent of population: 69.2% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transportation :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,617,842
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 43,198,176 mt-km (2015)
9Y (2016)
4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 187
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
condensate 257 km; condensate/gas 11 km; gas 1,567 km; oil 587 km (2013)
total: 9,592 km
paved: 5,524 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (2015)
country comparison to the world: 137
total: 4
by type: passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 2 (unknown 2) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 132
major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal
LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin
Military and Security :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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1.12% of GDP (2016)
0.88% of GDP (2015)
0.72% of GDP (2014)
0.8% of GDP (2013)
0.66% of GDP (2012)
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2010)
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Trinidad and Tobago citizenship and completion of secondary school required (2012)
Transnational Issues :: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters
current situation: Trinidad and Tobago is a destination, transit, and possible source country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and girls from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Colombia have been subjected to sex trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago’s brothels and clubs; some economic migrants from the Caribbean region and Asia are vulnerable to forced labor in domestic service and the retail sector; the steady flow of vessels transiting Trinidad and Tobago’s territorial waters may also increase opportunities for forced labor for fishing; international crime organizations are increasingly involved in trafficking, and boys are coerced to sell drugs and guns; corruption among police and immigration officials impedes anti-trafficking efforts
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Trinidad and Tobago does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts decreased from the initiation of 12 prosecutions in 2013 to 1 in 2014; the government has yet to convict anyone under its 2011 anti-trafficking law, and all prosecutions from previous years remain pending; the government sustained efforts to identify victims and to refer them for care at NGO facilities, which it provided with funding; the government failed to draft a national action plan as mandated under the 2011 anti-trafficking law and did not launch a sufficiently robust awareness campaign to educate the public and officials (2015)
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
