Restaurants

AQUA Blue Waters Inn

(868) 660-4341 Batteaux Bay, Speyside, Tobago reservations@bluewatersinn.com I www.bluewatersinn.com AQUA is located in the eco-chic resort, Blue Waters Inn, in Speyside, Tobago. AQUA offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with an intimate view of the dazzling turquoise waters of Batteaux Bay. The evening provides an exquisite dining experience, where you can savour our fresh and fabulous menu under the stars, or in our elegant indoor space. Sample Menu: Batteaux Bay Shrimp Salad, Tuna Tartar, Sizzling Mango Chicken Fajitas, Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon , Cedar Plank Salmon, Lobster Baja Tacos, Crab and Dumpling. We cater for weddings & special events.

Kali’na Restaurant

(868) 660-8500 Tobago Plantations Estate, Lowlands, Tobago info@magdalenagrand.com I www.magdalenagrand.com Discover the unique Caribbean Fusion cuisine in an upscale and romantic environment in one of the top restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago. The chef features traditional Caribbean recipes prepared in a modern European way, as well as dishes from all over the world, refined with exotic Caribbean ingredients. Sample Menu - Starters: Caesar Salad, Mini Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon, Pork Kebab. Main Course: Pork Tenderloin, Pan Seared Chicken Breast, New York Striploin Steak, Pan Seared Local Catch of the Day, Blackened Salmon. Desserts: Fruit Salad, Chocolate Cake, Cheesecake. We’re open only for dinner.

The Seahorse Inn Restaurant & Bar

(868) 639-0686 Grafton Beach Road, Stonehaven Bay, Black Rock, Tobago seahorseinntobago@gmail.com I www.seahorsetobago.com

Intimate alfresco beach-side dining under the stars. Awardwinning food and service, an exceptional wine list, extensive bar selection, in a romantic tropical setting. Regarded as Tobago’s premier dining experience and a “must do” whilst on the island. Sample Menu: Spiced Fried Calamari, Tuna Ceviche, Duck Rillets, Lobster Thermidor, Crab-stuffed Grouper Fillet, Pineapple-glazed Duck Breast, Tenderloin & Rib Eye Steaks, Shrimps Mornay, Rack of Lamb.

Located at the gateway to the Caribbean, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is renowned for its industrialised, energy export-driven economy; vibrant culture, and multiethnic society. T&T is a leading regional economy with a population of 1.3 million. It has an international presence in the oil and gas-based energy industry, and profitable and productive manufacturing and services sectors. T&T is also pursuing a policy of economic diversification and is investing in several other sectors.

Geography and Location

Trinidad – Once part of the South American mainland, Trinidad is situated 12 km (7 miles) northeast of the coast of Venezuela, and is separated from it by the Gulf of Paria. Trinidad has three mountain ranges: the Northern Range, the Central Range and the Southern Range. The highest point, El Cerro del Aripo, is 940 metres (3,084 ft) above sea level. About 40% of all land is undeveloped forest and woodlands, although the island is experiencing rapid development. Trinidad’s Pitch Lake is the largest natural reservoir of asphalt.

Total Area: 4,828 sq km (1,864 sq miles) 81.25 km long by 57-73 km wide (50 miles by 35-45 miles) Location: Lat. 10.5° N / Long. 61.5° W

Tobago – Tobago lies 34 km (21 miles) northeast of Trinidad. Of volcanic origin, the island is a single mountain mass, although the southwest is flat or undulating and coralline. The highest peak, the Main Ridge, reaches an elevation of about 576 metres (1,890 ft). The coastline is broken by inlets and sheltered beaches, and there are several uninhabited islets. Total Area: 300 sq km (116 sq miles) Location: Lat. 11.5° N / Long. 60.5° W

Climate

Trinidad and Tobago has a tropical climate. Daytime temperatures average 31°C (87°F) and are moderated by the northeast trade winds, while nights are a cool 21°C (69°F). The islands have two distinct seasons: dry, from January to May, and wet, from June to December. There is a short dry period around midSeptember called Petit Carême. Trinidad and Tobago are just outside the usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms, but Tobago can experience inclement weather as a result of such weather systems.

Time Zone

Greenwich Mean Time: Minus four hours In US Winter: Eastern Standard Time plus one hour (EST +1) In US Summer: Eastern Standard Time (EST) There is no daylight savings time.

Government

Trinidad and Tobago follows the Westminster model of government and upholds the traditions of parliamentary democracy it inherited from Britain. The Government is stable. The Head of State is the President, who is elected by an Electoral College of members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a five-year renewable term. Executive power, however, is vested in the Prime Minister and Government, following elections at least every five years. The next general election will become due in 2025. Tobago has its own elected House of Assembly and its seat is in the capital city, Scarborough. https://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/ gortt/portal/ttconnect https://www.tha.gov.tt/

Banking

The financial system consists of commercial banks, trust and mortgage finance companies, finance houses and merchant banks. Number of Commercial Banks ...............8 Number of Branches ...............................123 Number of Automatic Banking Machines...................... 254 ATMs https://batt.org.tt/banking-industry/

Standard Bank Hours of Operation City Centres:

Monday to Thursday – 8 am to 2 pm Friday – 8 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 5 pm RBC and Scotiabank (not mall branches) 8 am to 5 pm

Shopping Centres (Daily):

10 am to 5 pm Exchange Rate: TT$6.78: US$1 (Mar. 2021)

Meeting Places and Conference Centres

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the top five Caribbean meeting and conference destinations. Many hotels have facilities for conferences, including international brands such as the Hyatt Regency Trinidad and the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. In addition, the state-of-the-art National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), South Academy for the Performing Arts, awardwinning spots like Coco Reef and the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort in Tobago are ideal for corporate meetings and team-building retreats.

Business Hours

Offices: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Government Offices: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

(City Centres): Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Retail (Shopping Centres): Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Telecommunications

International Access and Area Code: 1-868 Trinidad and Tobago’s telecommunications sector has shown strong growth. TSTT provides both landline and mobile telephone services, Digicel home phone and mobile telephone services and FLOW landline services. International direct distance dialing is available nationwide. With broad coverage throughout the islands, mobile phones are an easy option. Wireless Internet services are readily available at hotels and cybercafés. https://tatt.org.tt/

Immigration, Work Permits and Visas

Visitors to Trinidad and Tobago must possess valid passports and return or ongoing tickets for successful entry. Most Commonwealth countries do not require visas for entry, except Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Cameroon, Fiji Islands, Mozambique, Uganda and South Africa. For business travel and vacations lasting 90 days or less (within a 180-day period) European Union citizens do not need visas for entry. The same applies for nationals from non- European Union Schengen countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). Holders of CARICOM passports, with the exception of Haiti, do not require visas. Visitors from several other countries are allowed to enter Trinidad and Tobago for periods of up to three months without a visa. http://www.immigration.gov.tt/

Work permits are required for business stays beyond 30 days. Visa extensions can be obtained from the Immigration Office at 3-9 Richmond Street, Port of Spain, while work permits can be obtained from the Ministry of National Security, Temple Court II, 52-60 Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. www.nationalsecurity.gov.tt

Transportation

Airports – Piarco International Airport is a vital hub for international air traffic in the Caribbean. It is located about 45 minutes from the capital city, Port of Spain and there are non-stop daily scheduled flights to and from major international cities. Caribbean Airlines Limited, Trinidad and Tobago’s national airline, offers routes that include direct flights to major cities like Toronto, New York and Miami. CAL also flies regionally with regular flights to Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Suriname, to name a few destinations. International flights are also available direct from Tobago’s ANR Robinson International Airport. Airlines that fly directly to Tobago include British Airways and Monarch. International and regional airlines that fly to Trinidad and Tobago include American Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, United Airlines, West Jet, JetBlue, LIAT and several charter flight companies. http://www.tntairports.com/

Major Airlines Piarco Airport

American Airlines.........1 (868) 821-6000 British Airways...............1 (800) 247-9297 Caribbean Airlines .......1 (868) 625-7200 Copa Airlines..................1 (868) 669-5189 JetBlue ..............................1 (800) 538-2583 KLM.....................................1 (800) 625-2411 LIAT.....................................1 (800) 669-2982 Rutaca................................1 (868) 625-4324 Surinam Airways...........1 (868) 627-0102 United Airlines ...............1 (800) 864-8331 West Jet Airlines ..........1 (888) 937-8538 1 (888)-WESTJET

ANR Robinson Airport

Virgin Atlantic................1 (800) 744-7477 British Airways...............1 (800) 247-9297 Approximate Flying Times to Trinidad and Tobago London ..............................8.2 hours New York..........................4.5 hours Miami..................................3.3 hours Houston.............................5.3 hours Toronto..............................5.5 hours

Seaports

Ferries travel the inter-island route daily. Several cruise lines stop at Port of Spain during the peak season from November to April. Cruise ship operation was temporarily suspended as part of the global response to COVID-19. Port of Spain Ferry .....(868) 625-3055 Tobago Ferry..................(868) 639-2417 The CARICOM Jetty, which is located at the Port of Port of Spain and operates the passenger inter-island ferry, receives, stores and delivers CARICOM cargo and multipurpose containers for trade within the Caribbean region.

A water taxi ferry connects Port of Spain and San Fernando. Scheduled sailing times are Monday to Friday. Tickets cost TT$15 one-way and can be purchased at the Water Taxi Terminal located at Flat Rock, Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando or the Cruise Ship Complex, Port of Spain. Free parking is available at both ports. There is a Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) shuttle service, which costs TT$3 through the city of Port of Spain.

For further information, visit: www.nidco.co.tt or call 624-3281/674-5593 (POS) or 800-4WTS (San Fernando).

Emergency Contacts

Police/Rapid Response............ 999 Fire ..................................................... 990 Ambulance ..................................... 811 Global Medical Response........ 653-4343 Coast Guard................................... 634-4440

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) 800-ODPM (6376) Trinidad: 640-1285 / 640-8905 640-8653/ 640-6493 Tobago: 660-7489

Port of Spain General Hospital .......................... 623-2951 San Fernando General Hospital .......................... 652-3581 Scarborough General Hospital .......................... 660-4SGH (4744)

Roxborough Health Centre and Hyperbaric Facility Tobago.............................................. 660-4392

La Vigie Lookout in Paramin

Photo: Mark Hardy

519..................................................................................... 91 Acajou Hotel.......................................................66, 90 Adam’s .........................................................................89 Adam’s Bagels .........................................................89 Aqua Blue Waters Inn ........................................... 93 Being with Horses.................................................... 61 Blue Waters Inn ..........................................70, 71, 93 Bottlestop Wine Bar & Café .............................. 92 Brentwood Mall ........................................................ 33 Burger King ............................................................... 87 C3 Centre..................................................................... 32 Cara Hotels ........................................................66, 88 Caribbean Discovery Tours Ltd........................48 Caribbean Estates, Land & Villas..................... 73 Caribbean Housing Ltd (CHL).......................... 33 Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago........... 47 Charamal Estate....................................................... 25 Chocolate Bar Café ................................................48 Cinro Manor................................................................69 Coco Development Company of Trinidad & Tobago limited.........................24, 25 Coco Drops................................................................. 25 Ducky’s Ortoire Organic Roast Seafood........................................................90 Dufry Trinidad Ltd.....................................................31 Energy Zone Fitness..............................................48 Ezfit Adventure.........................................................48 Five Islands Water & Amusement Park ........77 Fresh ......................................................................... 1, 28 Gina’s Chocolate ...................................................... 22 Glamorgan Events................................................... 82 Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant................90 Hadco Group................ Inside Front Cover, 1, 28 Healing with Horses ................................................ 61 Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre .... 65, 86 HomeWork Design Studio.................................. 62 Hyatt Regency Trinidad ................................67, 86 IL Portico Italian Pizzeria..................................... 93 Island Beer Chill & Grill Trinidad ...................... 92 Jencare Day Spa..............................................34, 69 Kali’na Restaurant.................................................... 93 Kalloo’s .........................................................................49 Kurve Designs ............................................................72 La Brea Industrial Development Company Ltd (LABIDCO)........................42, 43 La Mer Day Spa................................................ 34, 35 Land of the Hummingbird ..................................30 Le Grand Almandier...............................................66 Lime Inn ......................................................................90 Little Caesars ............................................................. 87 Luna................................................................................ 92 Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort....... 93 Malabar Farms Gourmet Shop.........................30 Medcorp Limited .....................................................37 Mi Casa Fine Home Furnishings ........................31 Molay Marketplace & Cafe ..........................28, 90 More Sushi................................................................... 88 More Vino .................................................................... 88 Mountain Pride.................................................. 25, 48 MunchKings / Inside Back Cover, ................... 28 National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago .............................42, 43 NGC Bocas Lit Fest........................................ 45, 83 NGC CNG Company Limited..................... 45, 83 Pappy’s - Home of Brian’s Fricken Chicken........................................................ 91 Par-May-La’s Inn.......................................................66 Passage to Asia ........................................................ 91 Peppercorns..................... Inside Front Cover, 28 Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited ......................................42, 43 Pint-Size Paradise Realty.....................................70 Plantation Beach Villas.........................................68 Popeyes ........................................................................ 87 Prestige Arts International..................................30 Rachel Lee Young ..................................................30 Retreats with Horses .............................................. 61 Romance Garden..................................................... 82 Royal Hotel........................................................... 64,68 Salt N’ Pepper Classical Indian Cuisine........ 88 Samurai ........................................................................ 92 Signature Selection ................................................ 32 Soong’s Great Wall ................................................. 88 Spa Esencia ................................................................34 St. Clair Medical Centre.........................................37 Sundeck Suites .........................................................66 Sunset Deck ...............................................................86 Sunspree Resort Ltd..............................................70 The Brix....................................................................9, 64 The Central Bank Auditorium ........................... 47 The Central Bank Museum.................................. 47 The Meena House....................................................89 The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago .............................42, 43 The NGC Group................................................42, 43 The Seahorse Inn Restaurant & Bar............... 93 The Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL)......................55, 56, 57 Tobago Beyond .........................................55, 56, 57 Tobago Gold Chocolate Rum Cream............ 29 Tomley Roberts.........................................................30 Tradewinds Hotel / Outside Back Cover ....................................64, 86 Trellis Restaurant......................................................86 Trinidad and Tobago NGL Limited.........42, 43 TT RideShare .............................................................49 Victoria Keyes............................................................ 73 Villas Are Us Ltd....................................................... 73 Vintage Imports Wine Merchants................... 82 Waterfront Restaurant..........................................86 Westshore Medical Private Hospital...............37 WHIPPED.....................................................................86 Zest Bistro................................................................... 88