Although there have been several changes of government during the last two years, all have occurred peacefully and in accordance with the constitution. Since independence, there have been ad hoc parties, but in general, politics are based on personal loyalties and occasional issue-based coalitions. There have been multiple candidates for all parliamentary seats in recent elections. The government respects freedom of speech and of the press. There is no regular independent news publication, though the government produces an information bulletin.
All religious faiths worship freely.
Freedoms of assembly and association are respected. The constitution guarantees workers the right to form independent unions, although successive governments have generally discouraged labor organizing and no trade unions have formed. There is no legal basis for collective bargaining or holding strikes, and these activities rarely occur in practice. The private sector employs only about one percent of all salaried workers. The judiciary is independent, and the right to a fair public trial is respected.