Overview

All countries aim to achieve high rates of economic growth; many strive to improve living standards and quality of life for their people. However, in a world where events and circumstances often influence a country and its economy, these factors are not always fully within the control of those responsible for leadership and development. Sixty Years of Independence examines Trinidad and Tobago’s progress since independence in 1962, against such strivings and challenges, with the aim of identifying both genuine achievements and persistent flaws or gaps. The contributors to this volume share common assumptions that it is essential to broaden and deepen democracy; that it is desirable to achieve shared prosperity through higher levels of productivity and more meaningful levels of economic development; and that the drivers of economic progress, as well as the active build out of social infrastructure to support human development, are both essential for genuine and sustainable developmental progress. These reflections on Trinidad and Tobago’s sixty-year journey as an independent, sovereign nation are well worth reading not only for the information they provide, nor solely for the historical context they offer across various sectors, or even for the fact that the contributors are individuals who have both shaped and reflected on national development. This book is worth reading because each chapter presents thoughtful, substantive insights that encourage readers to examine their own perspectives on development, whether they live, and to consider how progress might be pursued more effectively and meaningfully. For policymakers in particular, this volume offers both inspiration and practical guidance on the way forward.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bhoendradatt Tewarie ,  Roger Hosein ,  Rebecca Gookool-Bosland
Publisher:   University of the West Indies Press
Imprint:   University of the West Indies Press
ISBN:  

9789766580261

ISBN 10:   976658026
Pages:   558
Publication Date:   31 August 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures / xiii List of Tables / xvi Foreword / xxi Introduction / xxv   1 SIXTY YEARS OF OIL AND GAS IN INDEPENDENT TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1962–2022 / 1 KEVIN RAMNARINE   Independence to Boom: 1962–73 / 2 The Ministry of Petroleum and Mines / 2 Oil Production, 1962–73 / 4 East Coast Exploration – PATOC/Amoco / 5 Boom to Bust: 1973–83 / 7 Budget Speeches of Dr Eric Williams 1974, 1975 and 1976 / 10 Fete Over Back to Work / 12 Declining Levels of Oil Production in the 1980s / 14 Economic Mismanagement, 1973–83 / 15 Natural Gas–based Industrialization / 19 The Establishment of Point Lisas / 20 Establishment of the National Gas Company / 21 Atlantic LNG / 23 Amoco’s Exploration Success in the 1990s and the Return of BP / 24 LNG Production in Trinidad and Tobago / 25 Reflection on Natural Gas / 27 Personal Reflections: 2011–15 / 28 Reflection on Deepwater Exploration / 28 Reflection on Natural Gas Shortages / 29 Reflection on Policy Intervention for the Fiscal Regime / 30 Reflection on Caribbean Gas Chemicals Limited (CGCL) / 32 Reflection on the NGC and Petrotrin / 34 2022 and Beyond / 36 The Future of Natural Gas / 36 Renewable Energy / 37 Port and Maritime Logistics / 38   2 RETHINKING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S CHALLENGE / 41 WENDY-ANN P. ISAAC, OMARDATH MAHARAJ AND MICHAEL JOSEPH Introduction / 41 Background / 42 Challenges Facing the Agriculture Sector Post-independence / 46 Agriculture Policies, Programmes and Budgetary Allocations Review / 50 Agriculture Research and Education – The Gap Between Knowledge and Application / 58 Possible Reasons for Failure of Policy in Food Security and Solutions / 59 China and India: Exploring the Importance of Bilateral Technical Cooperation / 68 The Way Forward in the Current Context / 71   3 HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE IN THE SIXTY YEARS POST-INDEPENDENCE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO / 81 ANJANI SHARMA, KESHAN RAMNARINE AND SURUJPAL TEELUCKSINGH Introduction / 81 Healthcare Organization and Development in Trinidad and Tobago / 82 Population Health Indices for Trinidad and Tobago Compared with Caribbean Neighbours / 88 Demographic Changes / 96 Investments in Trinidad and Tobago Health Sector / 99 Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago / 103 Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association: Non-governmental Participation / 104 The University of the West Indies / 104 COSTAATT / 105 Healthcare and the Private Sector / 105 Model of a Transformative Intervention in Healthcare Delivery / 107 Health Research in Trinidad and Tobago / 110 Mental Health in Trinidad and Tobago / 113 Healthcare Triumphs / 114 National Oncology Services / 114 Culture, Structure and Support for Ethical Research / 114 Areas for Improvement / 115   4 THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AFTER INDEPENDENCE: LOSSES, GAINS AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES / 122 JEROME DE LISLE, CHERYL BOWRIN-WILLIAMS AND TRACEY M. LUCAS Introduction – Change versus Continuity / 122 Theoretical Constructs for Explaining the Trajectory of Education Development / 124 A Post-independence Trajectory of Education Development for Trinidad and Tobago / 126 The Major External Funded Programmes / 129 Education Plans from Independence to the Present / 129 Forgetting and Remembering as a Key Explanation / 133 An Overview of Trinidad and Tobago’s Educational Trajectory / 134 The Trajectory Periods / 135 Themes on Lessons Learned / 150   5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1962–2022 / 162 LA DAANA K. KANHAI, HAMISH ASMATH AND JUDITH F. GOBIN The Natural Environment / 162 Anthropogenic Activities and Impacts / 170 Domestic / 170 Agricultural / 172 Industrial / 173 Other / 174 Transboundary Issues / 175 Environmental Management in Trinidad and Tobago / 177 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) / 178 Environmental Policies and Action Plans / 179 Environmental Legislation / 180 Protected Areas and Species / 180 Environmental Management Tools / 182 Environmental Education and Public Awareness / 183 Specially Appointed Task Force and Councils / 184 Specific Projects to Address Anthropogenic Activities / 185 Relevant Actors / 186 The Way Forward / 187   6 THE CHALLENGE OF HUMAN CAPITAL FORMATION AND EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO / 201 BHOENDRADATT TEWARIE   The Shift from GDP to Human Capital / 201 The Rise of Intangibles / 202 Intellectual and Creative Capital and the Role of Tertiary Education / 202 Social Capital / 203 Tertiary Education and Socio-economic Deficits / 204 Financing Education Sustainably for Development / 206 How Do We Move Forward? / 207 Shared Responsibility for Tuition Financing / 208 Reparations / 210 Government Responsibility / 212 Knowledge-driven Approach / 213 Government, Business, Education Sector Collaboration / 214 Avoiding Negatives of Political Patronage by Recognizing Merit / 215   7 A REVIEW OF SIXTY YEARS OF CRIME MANAGEMENT TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO / 222 GARVIN HEERAH Introduction / 222 The Evolution of The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service / 222 Types of Crime Interventions / 223 Approaches to Disciplining Officers – Then and Now / 225 Setting Examples / 232 What Were the Obvious Policing and Policy Failures? / 233 Did We Have Wins? / 235 What is the “Temperature Check” on Our Present Crime Fighting Capabilities? / 236 How Has the Environment Shifted over the Years? / 242 Given This Assessment and These Gaps, What is the Sensible, Strategic Way Forward? / 243 Airborne Law Enforcement Support / 243 Aircrew Personnel / 245 Facilities / 246 Training / 246 Maintenance / 247 Tactical Equipment / 247 Operational Considerations for TTPS’ Air Support Unit / 248 Innovative Methods for Inclusion / 250 Further Recommendations / 250   8 TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ECONOMY: REFLECTIONS ON THE POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD / 257 ROGER HOSEIN, REGAN DEONANAN, REBECCA GOOKOOL-BOSLAND AND MARK ROOPCHAN Introduction / 257 Reflecting on Trends in Trinidad and Tobago’s Trade / 258 Product Composition of Trade / 258 Direction of Trade / 263 Reflections on the Nature of Trade Using Trade Indices / 268 Regional Orientation Indices / 268 Trade Intensity Index / 271 Changes in the Traded Sector of the Economy / 275 Recovery Pathway 1 (R1) / 278 Recovery Pathway 2 (R2) / 278 Recovery Pathway 3 (R3) / 278 Services as an Opportunity to Increase Exports / 281 Remittances / 286 Steps in Increasing NBT / 288 Increasing Competitive Import Substitution / 288 Focused Strategy on Dynamic Sectors (Rising Stars and Missed Opportunities) / 291 Policy Interventions to Support Expansion of the NBT Sector / 298 Conclusion / 306   9 RETHINKING TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONALIZATION: FROM INTERMITTENT EXPORT TO GLOBAL TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO / 315 NIGEL WILLIAMS   Introduction: Country Linkages and Internationalization Capabilities / 315 Policy Initiatives to Develop Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturing Exports / 316 Trinidad and Tobago Policy and Export Organizational Adaptation / 317 Internationalization of Trinidad and Tobago Firms / 318 Trinidad and Tobago Firms Advocacy and Alignment / 319 Rethinking the Trinidad and Tobago Export Manufacturing System / 323 Rethinking System Boundaries / 325 Rethinking Interactions in Global Value Chains / 326 Rethinking Systems Participants / 329   10 A TALE OF TWO ISLANDS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TOBAGO AND TRINIDAD / 332 VANUS JAMES, CARLOS HAZEL AND KENNETH BISSOON   Introduction / 332 Labour Market Conditions, Labour Productivity and GDP per capita / 334 Education Characteristics of the Labour Force / 338 Types of Occupations / 346 Types of Workers / 349 Industry Contributions to Employment / 350 Labour Incomes / 353 The External Propulsion of the Trinidad and Tobago Economy / 354 Low Capital Share of GDP / 357 Importing to Export / 359 Productivity and GDP per Capita / 362 A Simplified Framework for Policy Design / 368 Summary and Policies to Grow GDP per capita / 377   11 REFLECTIONS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN THE POST-INDEPENDENCE ERA / 385 ROGER HOSEIN, REGAN DEONANAN, REBECCA GOOKOOL-BOSLAND AND MARK ROOPCHAN   Introduction / 385 Economic Growth Performance: Drivers and Observations / 387 Suggested Policy Changes / 399 Utilize Venezuelan Immigrant Labour / 399 Fiscal Targets and Fiscal Responsibility Legislation (FRL) / 401 Improve Non-energy Revenue Collection / 403 Implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act / 405 Liberalize the Foreign Exchange Market / 405 Reduce Transfers to SOEs / 406 Conclusion / 412   12 REFLECTIONS ON WHAT TO DO NEXT / 418 BHOENDRADATT TEWARIE   Fundamental Questions / 418 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Caribbean Development / 419 Four Recommendations / 421 COVID-19 Blues and Opportunities / 422 Western Hemisphere / 423 ECLAC Suggestions / 426 Highlighting Some Basics / 426 Changes in Attitudes / 429 Caribbean Response / 430 Trinidad and Tobago and Self-sufficiency / 431 Fix, Transform, Change / 432 How to Begin / 433 Food and Water / 434 Intangible Assets / 435 Individual, Home, Family, School / 435 The Need to Shift Gears / 437 Beyond Policy / 438 Some Comparisons – Are We in Jeopardy? / 439 Growth Has Been Elusive / 440 State Business / 441 From WASA to Petrotrin / 442 Corruption / 443 Responsive System, Working Structure of Accountability / 443 Parliamentary Scrutiny / 444 Auditor General / 445 Campaign Financing / 445 Effective Procurement Law / 446 Democracy / 447 Structure of Production and Results of Development / 448 Coordinating Government, Getting Policy Coherent / 449 Continuity / 450 Coordination / 453 Political Party System / 454 Disenchantment with Status Quo / 455 Constitution / 456 Local Government / 458 A Guiding Idea / 459 Independent Countries Post-1960 / 460 The Challenging Issues / 460 Renewable Energy and Climate Change / 461 Renewable Energy / 462 Climate Change / 462 The Next Decade / 463 Unifying Politics / 465   Contributors / 473 Index / 477

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Author Information

Bhoendradatt Tewarie is the former pro vice-chancellor for Planning and Development and former principal at The University of the West Indies and founding director of the Institute of Critical Thinking. Roger Hosein is professor in the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine. He is also the coordinator of the Trade and Economic Development Unit (TEDU). Hosein is the author or contributor of several books, including Trade and Development Issues in CARICOM: Key Considerations for Navigating Development. Rebecca Gookool-Bosland is former lecturer in the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies. She is coauthor of several books, including Trade and Development Issues in CARICOM: Key Considerations for Navigating Development.

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