In 1995, Trinidad and Tobago's currency situation was characterized by a managed float of the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) within a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, following a period of significant adjustment. The country had emerged from a severe economic crisis in the late 1980s, which necessitated a structural adjustment program and a major devaluation in 1993. By 1995, the economy was in recovery, buoyed by rising energy prices and increased natural gas production, which provided crucial foreign exchange reserves and helped maintain currency stability.
The exchange rate regime was under the purview of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, which operated a system of frequent, small adjustments to the TTD's value against a basket of currencies, primarily the US dollar. This "managed float" aimed to maintain export competitiveness while controlling inflation. In practice, the TTD was held fairly stable, with a slight depreciating trend. The parallel or black market for foreign currency, which had been rampant during the crisis years, had diminished significantly due to improved reserve levels and greater confidence in the formal banking system, though it did not disappear entirely.
Overall, 1995 represented a year of consolidation in Trinidad and Tobago's currency landscape. The stability of the TTD was underpinned by prudent fiscal management and energy-driven foreign exchange inflows, which allowed the Central Bank to build reserves and manage the exchange rate with less pressure. This period set the stage for the subsequent years of robust economic growth, known as the "gas boom," which would further strengthen the country's external financial position and allow for a long period of exchange rate stability pegged to the US dollar.