Please find attached two reports on the October 2002 elections in Trinidad and Tobago, which add to the information provided in TTO33947.E of 25 February 2000. The Response and the attached articles refer to the Jamaat al Muslimeen, or Society of Muslims. The group is described as a radical Muslim organization, with alleged links to a gun-smuggling operation in the United States state of Florida (The Miami Herald 7 Oct. 2002; ibid. 6 Oct. 2002). The articles include references to alleged agreements between the governing party and the Jamaat al Muslimeen, claiming that an agreement to grant land to the group was being advanced to gain the group's support or to curb kidnappings ahead of the elections (ibid.; ibid. 7 Oct. 2002).

The 2001 and 2002 editions of the United States Department of State Patterns of Global Terrorism do not contain references to Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the same Department's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2002 states the following:

The Government is known to monitor closely only one religiously affiliated group, a radical Muslim organization called the Jamaat al Muslimeen, some members of which attempted a coup in 1990. The Government's surveillance has focused on the group's repeated attempts to seize control of state-owned property adjoining its central mosque and on any actions intended to incite revolt. In January 2001, a court ordered the Jamaat to pay the Government more than $3 million for damage done to public buildings during the 1990 coup attempt. In May 2001, the court ruled on a counter-suit and awarded the Jamaat approximately $350,000 for destruction of its facilities during the same coup (US 7 Dec. 2002).

Additional reports on activities by the Jamaat al Muslimeen or other Muslim groups that could be described as radical 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 to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Miami Herald. 7 October 2002. Marika Lynch. "Racial Divide Looms as Trinidad and Tobago Casts Votes." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 October 2002. Marika Lynch. "Terrorism a Campaign Issue in Trinidad and Tobago Vote; Opposition Party's Ads Attack Manning's Links to Muslim Group." (NEXIS)

Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2002. United States Department of State. 7 December 2002. "Trinidad and Tobago." Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/14060.htm [Accessed 23 sept. 2003]

The Miami Herald. 7 October 2002. Marika Lynch. "Racial Divide Looms as Trinidad and Tobago Casts Votes." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 October 2002. Marika Lynch. "Terrorism a Campaign Issue in Trinidad and Tobago Vote; Opposition Party's Ads Attack Manning's Links to Muslim Group." (NEXIS)

BBC World News. Searchable archives, 2000-2003

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2000-2002. 2001-2003

IRB Databases

Latin American Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. 2000-2003

U.S. Department of State. Patterns of Global Terrorism 2001-2002. 2002-2003

Internet sites and search engines