- Austrian Red Cross
- Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (ACCORD)
- Wiedner Hauptstraße 32, 1041 Wien
- T +43 1 589 00 583
- F +43 1 589 00 589
- info@ecoi.net
Document #2111974
USDOS – US Department of State (Author)
The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religious belief and practice, including worship. It prohibits discrimination based on religion. Laws prohibit actions that incite religious hatred and violence. The law prohibits acts of sedition and seditious intent, which include engendering or promoting feelings of ill will towards, hostility to, or contempt for, any class of inhabitants, including based on religion. Religious groups must register with the government to receive tax-exempt donations or gifts of land, perform marriages, or receive visas for foreign missionaries. The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), established by law as an independent body, is charged with eliminating discrimination by investigating and resolving complaints through conciliation and developing education programs.
In January, a High Court judge ruled the government had violated an imam’s constitutional rights by forcing him to shave his beard during incarceration and barring him from attending religious services. The judge awarded him 200,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars ($29,600) in compensatory and punitive damages. According to the secretary of the Inter Religious Organization (IRO), which includes Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Orisha, and Baha’i groups, the National Council of Orisha Elders of Trinidad and Tobago continued to wait for the government to respond to the application by the Orisha religious group for recognition, pending since 2018. Members of the government and officials from various political parties continued to participate in, and mark ceremonies and holidays of, various religious groups and emphasized the importance of religious tolerance and harmony in their remarks. Prime Minister Keith Rowley issued public messages for Easter, Corpus Christi, Ramadan and Diwali, underscoring religious freedom, diversity, unity and the religious community’s role in addressing increased violence.
On September 10, vandals broke into the Williamsville Hindu Temple, destroying burglarproof bars on windows and doors, tiles, and blocks. On September 22, worshippers at the Lakrani Ganesh Mandir (Hindu temple) discovered unidentified vandals damaged the Ganesh murti (devotional image). In October, following vandalism and desecration of several Hindu places of worship, Prime Minister Rowley and Leader of the Opposition Kamal Persad-Bissessar released statements agreeing the acts of vandalism at Hindu places of worship should not be viewed as religious intolerance or an attack on the Hindu community, but rather as acts of criminality. In October, in response to Israeli actions after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, several local Muslim groups called on the government to sever ties with Israel. Members of the group “Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago” called on the government to stop doing business with Israel and deport any Israeli citizens working in the country. The group also called on members of the Muslim faith and Trinbagonian citizens to gather aid for individuals in Palestine. No acts of violence occurred against Jews as of year’s end. The Catholic Board of Education Management continued to play a prominent role advocating integration of refugee and migrant children into denominational schools.
U.S. embassy officials engaged the government, including the EOC, on their support for religious tolerance and noted the important role of religious leaders in preventing religious conflicts or misunderstandings. The Ambassador and other embassy officials continued outreach with religious leaders. In February, the Ambassador met with the Tobago Faith Based Council, composed of Seventh-day Adventist, Spiritual Baptist, Baha’i, Hindu, Islamic and Catholic representatives. In April, she hosted an iftar that included members of government, opposition party members, and civil society. Also in April, the Ambassador and other embassy officials participated in an iftar at the al-Tawbah Mosque in Tobago, where she thanked the Muslim community for their continued support and collaboration with the United States in advancing religious freedom. In July, the Ambassador cohosted an event with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and representatives from several denominational schools to advocate for the integration of refugee and migrant children of various religious backgrounds into the schools. In November, the embassy hosted a virtual meeting with members of the IRO to discuss interfaith cooperation and the impacts of violence, theft, and desecration of places of worship on religious freedom.
The U.S. government estimates the total population at 1.4 million (midyear 2023). According to the 2011 local census, the most recent, 26.5 percent of the population is Protestant, 21.6 percent Roman Catholic, 18.2 percent Hindu, 5 percent Muslim, and 1.5 percent Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the 2000-2011 census period, Pentecostal churches were the fastest growing religious group, registering a 108 percent increase in affiliation. Traditional Caribbean religious groups with African roots include Spiritual/Shouter Baptists, who represent 5.7 percent of the population, and Orisha, who incorporate elements of West African Yoruba spiritualism and Shango, at 0.9 percent. The census also reports 2.2 percent of the population have no religious affiliation, 11.1 percent do not state a religious affiliation, and 7.5 percent list their affiliation as “other,” which includes several small Christian groups, including Seventh-day Adventists and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as Baha’is, Rastafarians, Buddhists, and Jews.
The religious composition of the two-island country is distinct. On Trinidad, which contains 95 percent of the country’s population, those of African descent make up 32 percent of the population and are predominantly Christian. A small, primarily Sunni, Muslim community is concentrated in and around Port of Spain, along the east-west corridor of northern Trinidad, and in certain areas of central and south Trinidad. Persons of East Indian descent constitute 37 percent of the population, approximately half of whom are Hindu, and the other half Muslims, Presbyterians, and Catholics. There is also a small community of followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, with parishes in Port of Spain, Arouca, and San Fernando. In Tobago, is 85 percent of the population is of African descent and predominantly Christian. Persons of East Indian descent, who are predominantly Muslim or Catholic, and Christians of European descent make up the rest of Tobago’s population.
The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religious belief and observance, including worship. It recognizes the existence of fundamental human rights and freedoms and prohibits discrimination based on religion.
The law prohibits acts of sedition and seditious intent, which include engendering or promoting feelings of ill will towards, hostility to, or contempt for, any class of inhabitants, including based on religion.
A fine of up to 1,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars ($150) may be levied for expressions of hatred directed against a person’s religion, including any “riotous, violent, indecent, or disorderly behavior in any place of divine worship” or attacks, ridicule, or vilification of another person’s religion in a manner likely to provoke a breach of the peace. The law is rarely enforced.
The law prescribes a fine and imprisonment of two years for “any person who is convicted of any act or an attempt to commit blasphemy, writing and publishing, or printing and publishing, any blasphemous libel,” although the government does not prosecute offenders or otherwise enforce the law.
Possession and use of up to 30 grams (one ounce) of marijuana are legal but use of marijuana in public spaces is illegal. The law also provides a pathway for removing prior marijuana convictions from a person’s criminal record, including those using marijuana for religious rituals, and it allows individuals to cultivate plants for personal use.
Judicial review, with the power of the court to modify or enforce orders, is available to those who demonstrate they are victims of religious discrimination. Claimants may also appeal a court’s decision.
Religious groups must register with the government to receive tax-exempt donations or gifts of land, perform marriages, or receive visas for foreign missionaries. To register, groups must demonstrate they are nonprofit organizations, have operated for at least one year, and submit a request for charitable status to the Ministry of Finance. The request must include a certificate or articles of incorporation, the constitution and bylaws of the organization, and the most recently audited financial statements. Religious groups have the same rights and obligations as most legal entities, regardless of their registration status. They may, for example, own land and hire employees, and they are liable for property taxes and government-mandated employee benefits.
Chaplains representing different faiths present in the country may visit prisons to perform religious acts and minister to prisoners.
The EOC is established by law as an independent body composed of five commissioners appointed by the President with advice from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The EOC is charged with eliminating discrimination through investigating and resolving complaints through conciliation, as well as with developing education programs.
Approximately 75 percent of established public and private schools in the country are religiously affiliated. Signed into law in 1960, a state-church agreement, or concordat, was established between the state and religious bodies sponsoring public schools in the country. According to the concordat, assisted or denominational schools (public schools that are religiously affiliated) are required to admit 80 percent of students based upon the results of the country’s Secondary Entrance Examination, while the remaining 20 percent are admitted at each denominational board’s discretion. The government subsidizes religiously affiliated public schools, including schools operated by Christian, Hindu, and Muslim groups. “Assisted” or “denominational” schools receive a combination of government and private funding. The government allots primary school funding on a per-student basis, with the amount varying each year. For secondary schools, the government allots funding based on budget requests submitted by each school. The government contributes two-thirds of capital costs to construct and expand assisted schools, with the religious bodies retaining ownership and managerial responsibilities.
The concordat grants denominational school boards the right to determine their curricula and forbids the government from imposing books or devices to which the denominational authority formally objects. The rights of teacher appointments, transfers, and retention rest with the Public Service Commission, but the agreement permits the denominational boards of each school to approve or reject appointments based on moral or religious grounds.
The government permits religious instruction in public schools, allocating time each week during which any religious group may provide an instructor at the parent’s request for an adherent in the school. Attendance of these classes is voluntary. The law states public schools may not refuse admission to individuals based on religious beliefs, and no child is required to attend any religious observance or receive instruction in religious subjects as a condition of admission or continued attendance in a public or government-assisted school.
Parents may enroll their children in religiously affiliated or other private schools or may homeschool them as an alternative to public education. The homeschooling policy launched in September requires that parents or guardians apply to the Ministry of Education for permission to homeschool a child of compulsory school age, which is between the ages of five and 16 years. If an application is not approved, the Ministry of Education will facilitate placement in a public school or the parents may enroll the child in a registered private school.
Foreign missionaries must meet standard requirements for entry visas and must represent a registered religious group in the country. Permits are valid for a maximum of three years at the cost of 500 Trinidad and Tobago dollars ($75) per year. Missionaries may not remain longer than three years per visit but may reenter after one year’s absence.
The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In January, a High Court judge ruled the government had violated an imam’s constitutional rights by forcing him to shave his beard during incarceration and barring him from attending religious services. The judge awarded the imam 200,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars ($29,600) in compensatory and punitive damages. In announcing his decision, Justice Robin Mohammed said “Religious freedom and equality in the expression of same are essential to our multicultural and multireligious society, where every creed and race find an equal place. To deny an incarcerated individual the freedom to enjoy and practice his religious beliefs and penalize him for his attempts to uphold his fundamental human rights is a disregard for his human dignity.”
According to the IRO, the National Council of Orisha Elders of Trinidad and Tobago continued to wait for the government to respond to its registration application, pending since 2018 with the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.
The government continued to limit the number of long-term foreign missionaries to 35 per registered religious group; the IRO stated that each missionary application was dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the processing times varied. Missionaries that numbered more than the 35 individuals allowed per group could remain in the country for a maximum of 30 days. Some international religious groups, however, said more than 35 missionaries could remain in the country if they affiliated with more than one registered group, including nonprofit groups and charities. The IRO said religious institutions could apply to extend the stay of their missionaries, but there was no guarantee of approval.
In October, following attacks of vandalism and desecration of several Hindu places of worship, both Prime Minister Rowley and Leader of the Opposition Persad-Bissessar released statements that acts of vandalism at Hindu places of worship should not be viewed as religious intolerance or an attack on the Hindu community. The Prime Minister said criminals had also vandalized other places of worship, including mosques and churches. Persad-Bissessar said evidence did not suggest the attacks were hate crimes, and that “Ours is a country where temples, mosques and churches are peacefully situated next to each other, sharing carparks, service facilities and recreational spaces. We all celebrate and partake in each other’s religious festivals and celebrations across any political, ethnic, race or social class line.” Media sources reported the leaders stated the places of worship were soft targets for criminals, including by mentally disturbed individuals and drug addicts. Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal, while condemning the attacks, also called “for an environment where diverse perspectives can be shared and respected, without resorting to violence or destruction.”
Members of the government and political party officials as well as members of the opposition party continued to participate in services, ceremonies, and holidays of various religious groups, and emphasized religious tolerance and harmony in their remarks. Prime Minister Rowley issued public messages for Easter, Corpus Christi, Ramadan, and Diwali, underscoring religious freedom, diversity, unity, and the religious community’s role in addressing increased violence.
IRO members participated in ceremonies marking significant government events, such as the opening of the law term with the Chief Justice and the opening of Parliament, often reciting welcoming or closing prayers at the events.
On September 10, vandals broke into the Williamsville Hindu Temple and destroyed the burglar proofs (metal bars placed over windows and doors), tiles, and blocks. Secretary of the temple Vashti Sookhoo said the vandalism caused fear among worshippers, especially the elderly. Police had not determined the motive of the break-in by the end of the year.
On September 22, worshippers at the Lakrani Ganesh Mandir at Gopie Trace, Penal, discovered unidentified individuals had broken into the temple. The vandals damaged the Ganesh murti (in the Hindu tradition, a murti is a devotional image considered to embody the divine, such as a statute or icon) and removed the adornments from other murtis.
Local media reported a “church sacrilege” in Valencia when unknown individuals broke into the Church of the Clarion Call and stole a large-screen television. Police continued to investigate the incident at year end.
On October 23, vandals desecrated the Ramleela grounds in Tarouba and set fire to the effigy of the demon, King Ravan, a key element of the Ramleela celebration. A spokesperson for the Tarouba Ramleela celebration, Andre Bunsee, said the act showed blatant disrespect to Hindus. IRO President Pandit Mukhram Sirjoo said there was no definitive evidence to suggest the series of acts of vandalism at places of worship were the result of religious discrimination and may just be a “case of indiscipline.” He called on police to conduct investigations, which were ongoing at year’s end.
In October, following the several acts of vandalism at places of worship, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service held a news conference and assured the public it planned to patrol places of worship as well as religious sites more frequently in the lead up to Diwali and was actively investigating the acts of vandalism.
In October, following the Israeli response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, several local Muslim groups called on the government to sever ties with Israel. Members of the group Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago called on the government to stop doing business with Israel and to deport any Israelis working in the country. The group also called on members of the Muslim faith and citizens to donate aid for the people of Palestine. There were no reported acts of violence or intimidation against Jews in the country during the year.
The EOC reported receiving four religiously based discrimination complaints during the year. Two of the four cases remained under investigation. A third dealt with a promotion within a denominational school that fell under the authority of the concordat; the EOC determined the case was outside of its jurisdiction. The EOC continued to process the fourth complaint, relating to religious hate speech on Facebook, at the end of the year.
The IRO continued its role as an advocate related to matters of religious and social concern, especially crime, education, tolerance, and respect for the law. IRO members continued to encourage religious communities to open their doors to support refugees and migrants. IRO members regularly participated in interfaith events such as promotion ceremonies for colleagues taking leadership roles in their respective faith communities.
The Catholic Church’s Archdiocesan Ministry of Migrants and Refugees and the Living Water Community, a Catholic nongovernmental organization, established programs to assist refugees and migrants regardless of their religious backgrounds. Working with UNHCR and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the programs included emergency shelter, humanitarian and food assistance, and education programs for non-English speaking migrants and refugees who were ineligible to attend public or assisted schools. The Catholic Board of Education Management continued to play a prominent role advocating the integration of refugee and migrant children into denominational schools at the primary level.
Embassy officials engaged with government representatives, including the EOC, regarding support for religious freedom and affirmation of religious diversity, noting the important role of religious leaders in preventing religious conflicts or misunderstandings and boosting related community outreach.
The Ambassador and other embassy officials continued outreach with religious leaders. On February 2, the Ambassador met with the Tobago Faith Based Council comprised of Seventh-day Adventist, Spiritual Baptist, Bahaʼi Faith, Hindu, Islamic, and Catholic representatives. In the meeting, she commended the role of religious groups working together to address social concerns and crime, as well as the value of recognizing and celebrating various religious events and holidays together as a means to further a spirit of religious harmony.
On April 4, the Ambassador hosted an iftar that included members of the government, the opposition, and civil society. On April 7, the Ambassador and other embassy officials attended an iftar at the al-Tawbah Mosque in Tobago. At the iftar, the Ambassador thanked the Muslim community in Tobago for its continued support and collaboration with the United States in advancing religious freedom in the country.
On May 31, during her visit to the city of San Fernando, the Ambassador visited Naparima College, a secondary school managed by the Presbyterian Board of Education. The Ambassador met with refugee and migrant students who attended the school through a program run by Living Water Community as well as UNICEF. The Ambassador commended the collaboration between Presbyterians and Catholics, calling it an excellent example of the importance of different religious groups working in harmony to help the most vulnerable in society, especially to advance the goal of integrating refugee and migrant students into schools.
On July 14, the Ambassador cohosted a breakfast with the IOM, UNHCR, and representatives from several denominational schools to advocate for the integration of refugee and migrant children into primary schools.
On November 2, the embassy hosted a virtual meeting with members of the IRO to discuss interfaith cooperation and the impacts of violence, theft, and desecration of places of worship on religious freedom. Members affirmed the importance of the IRO’s consultations with the government on concerns of the religious community and the need for proper and expeditious investigations by police to determine the intent of the perpetrators.
In November, the Ambassador attended Diwali celebrations hosted by the Prime Minister Rowley and Leader of the Opposition Persad-Bissessar. At both events, she engaged with leaders and members of the Hindu community on issues of religious diversity and tolerance.
Throughout the year, embassy officials continued frequent engagement with leaders of the Catholic Church, Catholic Education Board of Management, and Catholic-affiliated nongovernmental organizations, including the La Romaine Migrant Support Group, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice, and the Living Water Community, to discuss and engage in programs to assist refugees and migrants.
The embassy used social media to highlight the Ambassador’s promotion of religious freedom and her engagement with nongovernmental organizations to support their work to advance religious tolerance.
ecoi.net is run by the Austrian Red Cross (department ACCORD) in cooperation with Informationsverbund Asyl & Migration. ecoi.net is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and Caritas Austria. ecoi.net is supported by ECRE & UNHCR.
