Is Colonialism Over? the Case of Neo-Colonialism in Trinidad and Tobago

Andel Andrew and Lue Anda Francis-Blackman

Andel Andrew

24th Annual SALISES Conference: Seventy-Five Years of Ideas, Innovation, and Development Justice: the UWI, the Caribbean and Global Agenda

2023

LGBTIndependenceRepublicanismColonialismNeocolonialismThe Savings Clause

This research examines neocolonialism in Trinidad and Tobago through an examination of how existing colonial laws marginalize the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups in Trinidad and Tobago. It examines the relic of colonialism with the continued use of the savings clause in the laws of Trinidad and Tobago even though it has gained republican status. While many Caribbean Commonwealth countries have acquired Independence as well as, in some cases, Republicanism status, the retention of the savings clause embodies neocolonialism. It is argued that as a society evolves so should its laws, however, the retention of the savings clause constraints the evolution of laws which marginalizes vulnerable groups in society. The savings clause represents laws unacceptable for the current era as well as ill-suited to address the demands of marginalized vulnerable groups in society. Therefore, this research undertakes a socio-historical examination of sexual offences laws which are protected by the savings clause in Trinidad and Tobago as well as an examination of how such laws have marginalized LGBT groups in Trinidad and Tobago. This study intends to answer its main research question “How has the relic of the savings clause marginalized LGBT persons in Trinidad and Tobago?”