Document #1032771
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
In its third and fourth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago indicated that according to section 17(1) of the Constitution, every individual who was born in Trinidad and Tobago is entitled to citizenship, except when neither parents of the individual was a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago or when his or her parents were deemed "an enemy alien under the Constitution" on the date of the individual's birth (UN 22 Feb. 1999).
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 16 January 2001, the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Willowdale, Ontario, indicated that Act 21 of 1988 amended the Citizenship Act of 1976,
... which in effect allowed for the reacquisition of Trinidad and Tobago citizenship by those who had lost such citizenship in the 1976 Act by virtue of voluntary acquisition of another citizenship; and for the retention of Trinidad and Tobago Citizenship by those who, after the promulgation of Act 21 of 1988, acquired citizenship of another country.
Act No. 63 of 2000 also amended the Citizenship Act. Copies of Act No. 21 of 1988 and Act No. 63 of 2000 are attached to this Response.
The Immigration Act was also amended by Act no. 7 of 1974 and Act No. 24 of 1978 (Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago 16 Jan. 2001). This Act, as amended, is attached to this Response. Information on whether other amendments to this Act were made could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Another piece of legislation that affects immigration into Trinidad and Tobago is the Immigration (Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Act of 1996. While the Research Directorate could not obtain a copy of the law among the sources consulted, two amendments that were made to this act (Act No. 6 of 2001 and Act No. 18 of 2003) are attached to this Response.
Additional information on the acquisition of citizenship, including amendments to the Citizenship of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act (Chapter 1:50 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago) and the Immigration Act of 1976 (Chapter 18:01 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Consulate General of Trinidad and
Tobago, Willowdale. 16 January 2001. Correspondence from the Consul
General.
United Nations (UN). 22 February 1999.
Human Rights Committee. "Third and Fourth Periodic Reports of
States Parties Due in 1990 and 1995 Respectively: Trinidad and
Tobago 22/02/99." (CCPR/C/TTO/99/3) http://www.unhchr.ch [Accessed 19 May
2004]
Attachments
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 26 June
2003. Act No. 18 of 2003. An Act to Amend the Immigration
(Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Act, 1996. http://www.ttparliament.org
[Accessed 19 May 2004], 4 pp.
_____. 3 July 2001. Act No. 6 of
2001. An Act to Amend the Immigration (Caribbean Community
Skilled Nationals) Act, 1996. http://www.ttparliament.org
[Accessed 19 May 2004], 4 pp.
_____. 13 October 2000. Act No. 63
of 2000. An Act to Amend the Citizenship of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago Act, Chap. 1:50. http://www.ttparliament.org
[Accessed 19 May 2004], 3 pp.
_____. 29 July 1988. Act No. 21 of
1988. An Act to Amend the Citizenship of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago Act, Chap. 1:50 and Matters Incitental Thereto,
4 pp.
_____. 1 July 1976 [as amended in 1974
and 1978]. Immigration Act, Chapter 18:01, 42 pp.
Additional Sources Consulted
The Ministry of the Attorney General of
Trinidad and Tobago did not respond to a letter requesting
information.
Internet sites, including:
Google, High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, The Judiciary of
Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of the Attorney General of Trinidad
and Tobago.