Most southerly in the chain of Caribbean Islands, Trinidad and Tobago is situated off the coast of mainland Venezuela, the gateway to the South American Continent.
As Trinidad and Tobago is only about 11 degrees north of the Equator, the islands experience a tropical climate moderated by the influence of sea breezes and the north-east trade winds. Average natural temperature varies from a minimum of approximately 20.8° C (69.5° F) at night to a maximum of approximately 31.1° C (88° F) at midday. The mean hours of bright sunshine vary between seven and eight throughout the year.

Fortunately for this twin-island state, the two land masses lie south of the hurricane belt, an area almost free of storm. There is no record of tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, major earthquakes of floods.

Maracas Bay in Trinidad.

Under the country’s Republican Constitution, Trinidadians and Tobagonians are governed by a titular President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with a Prime Minister and his Cabinet of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. There are two Houses of Parliament - the House of Representatives comprising members elected in General Elections, and the Senate comprising representatives nominated by the Government and the Opposition, and the Independents appointed by the President of the Republic. The Parliamentary system is based on the British Westminster model, with a General Election every five years.