Americas
Trinidad and Tobago
-
Index 2023
30/ 180
Score : 76.54
Political indicator
40
71.25
Economic indicator
34
60.78
Legislative indicator
81
64.15
Social indicator
5
92.05
Security indicator
6
94.44
Index 2022
25/ 180
Score : 78.68
Political indicator
34
73.94
Economic indicator
23
67.86
Legislative indicator
56
74.56
Social indicator
31
84.50
Security indicator
8
92.52

Year after year, Trinidad and Tobago maintains its good record in terms of freedom of the press, even though there is still room for improvement.

Media landscape

In Trinidad and Tobago, a parliamentary democracy with a vibrant media landscape and civil society, freedom of the press is a constitutionally guaranteed and widely respected right. Media pluralism is strong with multiple media outlets expressing a multitude of viewpoints, the main ones being the Trinidad Guardian, the oldest newspaper in the country created in 1917, and the Trinidad & Tobago Express, also known as the Daily Express.

Political context

There are numerous political parties in Trinidad and Tobago, and transfers of power are peaceful. Political participation is not subject to external pressure, but women are generally underrepresented in political positions. In 2022, some media professionals were denied access to a press briefing given by Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who stood by his decision, citing Trinidad and Tobago’s strong press freedom record. The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) called for the government to clarify its criteria for admitting journalists to press conferences. 

Legal framework

Measures aiming to guarantee respect for journalists’ rights were bolstered in early 2021 thanks to a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the use of police search warrants to access the home and office of a journalist working for the Trinidad Express Newspaper. The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) welcomed the decision, which determined that the warrants that had been used to seize “tools of the journalist’s trade” were unlawful and unconstitutional.

Economic context

In Trinidad and Tobago, the media operate on a private model, both in terms of organisation and advertising revenue.

Safety

With zero journalists imprisoned, killed or missing in 2021, Trinidad and Tobago provides a generally safe and protected environment for the profession.