Trinidad and Tobago 2006
Yearbook 2006
Trinidad and Tobago. In March, Trinidad and Tobago decided to take the help of 39 police officers from British Scotland Yard to cope with the rising crime rate in the country. The British police officers would cooperate with a special force within the country’s own police force for two to three years.
According to CountryAAH, major public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago include Independence Day (August 31) and New Year (January 1). Basdeo Panday, leader of the UNC Social Democratic Opposition Party and Prime Minister 1995–2001, was sentenced in April to two years in prison and fined for not reporting the assets in a bank account he had in London in 1997-99. Politicians in Trinidad and Tobago are legally required to account for their private assets. Panday appealed against the verdict and later that month he was released on bail. As new leader of the opposition in Parliament, UNC member Kamla Persad-Bissessar was appointed, but Panday was allowed to retain the post of UNC party leader.
Former President Noor Hassanali passed away on August 18 at the age of 88. The popular Muslim Hassanali was the country’s first president of Indian descent and held the presidency in 1987-97. As president, he supported the entire political spectrum.
