The legal framework
The constitution of Trinidad & Tobago provides for freedom of conscience, belief and religious practice. It recognizes the existence of fundamental human rights and freedoms, and prohibits discrimination based on religion. A fine of up to TT$1,000 (US$150) can even be imposed on anyone expressing hatred of another's religion or displaying "violent or indecent behavior in any place of divine worship". The law also provides for a fine and two years' imprisonment for "any person found guilty of an act or attempt of blasphemy, writing and publishing, or printing and publishing, any blasphemous defamation", but this law is, admittedly, rarely enforced. Around 75% of public and private schools in the country are affiliated to a religion. Promulgated in 1960, a state-church agreement, or concordat, was established between the state and the religious bodies sponsoring the country's public schools. The government subsidizes religiously-affiliated public schools, including those run by Christian, Hindu and Muslim groups.
Christian religions
Colonization by Spain, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands and France enabled Christians to establish their religion in the country as early as the 14th century, and Christians are still in the majority in the country today. Unlike in Europe, however, the Christian religion comes in many flavors, and Catholics share worship with Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals and various evangelical movements, which are increasingly present throughout the Caribbean. Evangelical and fundamentalist congregations have seen the strongest growth since the 1970s, and now account for around 20% of the population. On the other hand, particularly in the Afro-Caribbean community, there are various syncretistic congregations that combine initially incompatible doctrines and religions, such as Christians practicing voodoo or Yoruba rites, sometimes worshipping Orishas while going to church. And let's not forget the "Rastafarians" we commonly call Rastas, who practice a monotheistic religion whose god is called "Jah", the same god celebrated in many of our churches the same god celebrated in many reggaes. They are similar to Christians, even if they don't recognize the Church.
Hinduism
About a decade after the abolition of slavery in 1834, the British government authorized settlers to import indentured labor from India to work on the estates, to replace the slaves. For the rest of the century, Trinidad's population growth came mainly from Indian workers. In 1871, there were around 27,000 Indians, or 22% of the country's population; by 1911, this figure had risen to 110,000, or around 33% of the population, while Hindus today account for around 20% of the population. Hindus have made many contributions to Trinidad's history and culture, even though the state has historically regarded Hindus as second-class citizens. Hindus in Trinidad fought for the granting of adult voting rights, the Hindu Marriage Bill, the Divorce Bill, the Cremation Ordinance, among others. The absence of any Hindu religious texts at the official residence of the President of Trinidad & Tobago when the new government was sworn in in 1986 was seen as a further insult to the minority communities since they were represented in the government. The non-representation of Hinduism in approved school textbooks and the lack of emphasis on this religion led to deep resentment on the part of the Hindu community, but the intensification of protests during the 1980s led to an improvement in the state's attitude towards Hindus. Today, the Hindu community is perfectly integrated, and many politicians and people in positions of power come from it.
The Muslim religion
Now the country's third-largest religious community, the first Muslims to arrive in the country came from Africa, brought by force as slaves by the colonists. Other groups followed as they arrived from the USA, the West Indies and finally South Asia during the period of state immigration, when the country needed workers for the plantations after slavery had been abolished. Today's Muslims are mostly of South Asian origin, but there are converts of all backgrounds. Trinidad has many Islamic primary and secondary schools. The country's first Muslim secondary school, ASJA Boys' College in San Fernando, was established in 1960. There are over a hundred mosques in the country, and an Islamic television channel, IBN channel8, was even created in 2005. Eid El Fitr is an official holiday in the country.
Bahaism
Bahaism, a little-known religion in Europe but very present in America and the Caribbean, has around 16,000 followers in Trinidad & Tobago. It is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion which advocates the spiritual unity of mankind, and whose practitioners, for the most part, devote themselves to charitable works. Members of this international religious community describe themselves as adherents of an "independent world religion".
A rather successful mix of religions
Today, Trinidad & Tobago can serve as an example to many countries thanks to its successful integration of different cultures and religions, although there are still occasional inter-community tensions, which are more often political than religious in nature. In fact, citizens often vote for representatives from their own community, and as a result, most of them share the same religion. As in many countries, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between political, cultural and religious affinities, but overall, Trinidad & Tobago is a country where religion no longer sets people apart.
