Trinidad & Tobago

Greetings

Man greeting Man - In a casual setting, men often offer a simple nod of acknowledgment. In a more formal setting, men will shake hands.

Woman greeting Woman - Women usually greet each other with a hello, and depending on the level of familiarity will sometimes kiss each other on the cheek or exchange hugs. In a more formal setting, women will usually shake hands.

Greetings between Men & Women- In a casual setting, a verbal greeting and/or a simple nod of acknowledgment is common. In a more formal setting, a handshake is common. Good friends and family may exchange a kiss on the cheek.

Communication Style

• Trinidadians tend to be very direct and to the point but often soften the impact of any criticism with a self-deprecating joke.

Personal Space & Touch

• An arms length of personal space is common in most cases of formal and informal interaction. Trinidadians do not tend to be very “touchy and openly affectionate” people by nature.

• The level of touching will usually vary according to age, gender, relationship, nature of conversation etc.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is considered acceptable in most every situation.

Views of Time

• Trinidadians are not known to be punctual in social situations and this is often considered to be a cultural trait usually viewed with exasperated humor. But in business relationships and meetings, punctuality is preferred and hardly ever a problem among locals.

Gender Roles

• Gender equality has been established in most instances and most women juggle roles as wives, mothers and working women.
• Women hold some of the highest offices in the land and are found in engineering and the medical and legal professions. They are also driving cabs, building skyscrapers and cleaning drains and heading single parent homes.

Taboos

• Trinidad and Tobago is a fairly tolerant country without taboos on most types of behavior. However public displays of inebriation, topless bathing at the beaches and snobbery will not be appreciated.
• Avoid cursing/using foul language as it is considered a criminal offense. Same goes for wearing camouflage clothing.

Law & Order

• There are stiff penalties for illegal drugs and foreigners found guilty are usually sentenced to several years of imprisonment. The laws are stringently enforced.

Dress

• For Men- Business suit or long sleeved shirt and tie with tailored pant.
• For Women - Conservative yet stylish corporate wear is the way to go.

Titles & Business Cards

• It’s best to be formal using titles (Mr., Mrs. Ms., etc.) and surnames until permission is given to use first names.
• There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving of business cards although it is advisable to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• The usual international American/English business protocol applies to Trinidad and Tobago which tends to be very Anglicized and cosmopolitan.

Negotiations

• What you see is what you get and there is no usually no provision for bargaining or long delays for decisions. However it is not considered rude or unacceptable to ask about further negotiations or the possibility of bargaining.
• Be courteous and professional at all times but maintain your right to shop around in a discreet manner if possible.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are usually opened in private and only very personal items are considered unacceptable.