While in today's world separation of church and state is a doctrine bandied about in international politics, does such a concept fully apply to Trinibago and the rest of the Caribbean?
Separation of church and state is not a clear cut thing in Trinidad and most of the commonwealth Caribbean. Our constitution in its preamble says this :
"Whereas the People of Trinidad and Tobago-
(a) have affirmed that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded
upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God "
We also have freedom of religion in Section 4 of the constitution
http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1048.pdf
While this does not imply a theocracy when you contrast the language with the First amendment of the US constitution upon which separation of church and state there is based :
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment
The first amendment is the basis of separation of church and state in the US, Trinbago has no similar provision in its constitution so while we are not a theocracy with an official state religion , we also do not have a strict secular state either.
The language of the first amendment is very clear and strict : the US government is prohibited at the highest level from dealing in the affairs of religion .
While the right to freedom of religion in Trinbago would include 'not making a law to prohibit the free exercise of religion' , the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is free to enact laws and policies that involve religious organizations .
We see this with the Concordat agreement between denominational religious secondary schools and the state , religious institutions receiving state funds being a defacto norm in that instance.
You can cite Pastor Cuffie winning a national award for religion as another example of religion being sanctioned to some extent by the state, certain hindu and other religious festivals have recieved state funds in the past as well.
I think one can safely conclude that Trinidad and Tobago does not have a strict seperation of church and state , we do respect freedom of religion however.
Separation of church and state is not a clear cut thing in Trinidad and most of the commonwealth Caribbean. Our constitution in its preamble says this :
"Whereas the People of Trinidad and Tobago-
(a) have affirmed that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded
upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God "
We also have freedom of religion in Section 4 of the constitution
http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1048.pdf
While this does not imply a theocracy when you contrast the language with the First amendment of the US constitution upon which separation of church and state there is based :
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment
The first amendment is the basis of separation of church and state in the US, Trinbago has no similar provision in its constitution so while we are not a theocracy with an official state religion , we also do not have a strict secular state either.
The language of the first amendment is very clear and strict : the US government is prohibited at the highest level from dealing in the affairs of religion .
While the right to freedom of religion in Trinbago would include 'not making a law to prohibit the free exercise of religion' , the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is free to enact laws and policies that involve religious organizations .
We see this with the Concordat agreement between denominational religious secondary schools and the state , religious institutions receiving state funds being a defacto norm in that instance.
You can cite Pastor Cuffie winning a national award for religion as another example of religion being sanctioned to some extent by the state, certain hindu and other religious festivals have recieved state funds in the past as well.
I think one can safely conclude that Trinidad and Tobago does not have a strict seperation of church and state , we do respect freedom of religion however.
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