No problem at all.
----- Original Message -----
From: DREW PARKER III
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 12:18 AM
Subject: {dbilg} Re: Trinidad's Independence
Thank you This interesting. I have liked reading about different countries
since I was in Elementary School.
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Boodram
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 12:54 AM
Subject: {dbilg} Trinidad's Independence
Hi friends;
On August 31st, my country celebrates its 46th year of independence and
here's a bit of info about where I live for those who wanted to know. The twin
island state of Trinidad and Tobago, republic within the Commonwealth of
Nations, comprising the southernmost of the Caribbean islands, namely, Trinidad
and Tobago and adjacent islets situated off the coast of Venezuela. Trinidad is
situated north of and opposite the mouth of the Orinoco River and is separated
from the South American coast by the Gulf of Paria. Tobago is 32 km (20 mi)
northeast of Trinidad. The area of Trinidad is 4,828 sq km (1,864 sq mi); the
area of Tobago is 300 sq km (120 sq mi); and the total area of the country is
5,128 sq km (1,980 sq mi). Trinidad is traversed roughly from east to west by
three ranges of hills. The highest point, El Cerro del Aripo, is 940 m (3,084
ft) above sea level. The island has only one natural harbor, at Chaguaramas on
the western coast, but the entire Gulf of Paria provides safe anchorage. The
northern coast is rocky, the southern coast is steep, and the eastern coast is
exposed to heavy surf. In the south-western part of Trinidad is the famous
42-hectare (104-acre) Pitch Lake, which yields large quantities of asphalt. The
island of Tobago is of volcanic origin and is, in actuality, a single mountain
mass that reaches an elevation of 550 m (1,804 ft) above sea level at its
summit.
Located between Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea, This twin island state was
discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 and was named La Trinity due to its
surrounding peaks that border the island at its Northern, Southern and Central
ranges.
As a matter of fact, it would be untrue to say that the island was void of
human inhabitants since the island was home to the native Amerindian tribes
that settled on the island before Columbus discovered it on his journey to the
"new World" as he puts it.
Port of Spain, our bustling capital city, is filled with an enchanting
myriad of art galleries and restaurants. At the National Museum you can delve
into the culture of our country and its diverse people.
If you prefer to be more laid back and take your time discovering our
treasures, we also have our share of quiet quality. Once part of the South
American mainland, Trinidad, with its boot-like shape measuring 37 miles (80km)
by 50 miles (60 km), boasts an ecological and geographical diversity unmatched
in the region. The gorgeous, sandy beaches along our North Coast provide the
perfect atmosphere for seclusion, rest and recreation. Dominated by densely
forested peaks, the northern interior offers excellent hiking trails framed by
canopies of lush, indigenous rain forest, while the low, predominantly
agricultural plains Of Central Trinidad strike a fascinating contrast.
Our East Coast is home to protected wetlands and miles of beach frontage
lined by groves of coconut palms, known to locals as the "Cocal". The island's
'Industrial Capital' is a hilly, friendly base from which to explore the
island's modern oil towns, picturesque fishing villages and calm, deserted
beaches.
Tobago, the more serene of the siblings, is home to the oldest protected
rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. It really is the last of the unspoilt
Caribbean. Once you behold her beauty, you will understand why Tobago was
Robinson Crusoe's isle - and why our European settlers fought over her
ownership more than any other Caribbean island. This strip of elongated land,
just 41 by 14 kilometres, abounds with natural allure - palm-lined beaches,
lush rain forests
And pristine coral reefs teeming with rich marine life. Contrasts of
rolling hills against wave-beaten shores create a stunning backdrop for the
island's unequalled beauty. The South (Windward) Coast is washed by the dark
green, wave-whipped Atlantic and is lined with vibrant fishing villages, while
the North (Leeward) Coast provides Tobago with some of its finest Beaches. In
the main, the eastern landscape of the interior rises steeply into tall peaks
and rolling hillocks, providing shelter for the oldest protected Forest reserve
in the Western Hemisphere.
A perfect complement to bustling Trinidad, Tobago is a true jewel of the
Caribbean Sea, whose sparkle will live in your memory long after you have left
her shores.
In short, Trinidad and Tobago is the place you'll want to be if you
appreciate the beauty of eco Tourism, cultural diversity, and hospitality that
will leave an indelible impression in your mind and an expression of utter
surprise and consternation on your face. It is certainly the "two for the price
of one all inclusive package."
The people of the islands are chiefly West Indians of African descent (41
percent) and East Indians (40 percent). Other groups include people of Chinese,
West European, and Middle Eastern descent. English is the principal language
spoken, although Spanish, Hindi, and a French patois are also used. About
three-fifths of the people are Christians, with Roman Catholics constituting
the largest single group (30 percent). Anglicans form another substantial
community (12 percent), and Hindus (25 percent) and Muslims (6 percent) make up
the major non-Christian bodies hence our diverse cosmopolitan nation with
holidays and festivals to celebrate the faiths of all ethnic and religious
groups.
Education in the country is free, and attendance at school is compulsory
for children between the ages of 5 and 17. Schools are maintained or aided by
the government. Higher education is provided by teacher-training colleges,
technical institutes, and the University of the West Indies, which has
faculties in the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, education,
agriculture, medicine, and engineering on the Trinidad-Tobago Campus (1960) in
Saint Augustine, Trinidad.
Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy provides its citizens with a
per capita income well above the Latin American average, although living
standards are significantly lower than during the petroleum boom years of 1973
to 1982. Widespread unemployment, large foreign debt payments, and fluctuations
in world oil prices all served to destabilize the economy of Trinidad and
Tobago in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1994 the republic had its first year of
sustained economic growth since the early 1980s. In 2001 crude petroleum
production totaled 46.9 million barrels. Natural gas has become an increasingly
important export as the nation's economy begins to turn away from petroleum
production. Coal, iron, gypsum , and graphite are found but in quantities too
small to be economically important. Manufactures include processed food,
tobacco products, rum, refined petroleum, and fertilizer. Other industries
developed in the 1980s produce iron and steel, petrochemicals, and electronic
equipment. Agriculture employs 8 percent of the labour force. The most
important commercial crop is sugarcane. Cacao, coconuts, citrus fruits, tonka
beans, vegetables, rubber trees, and coffee are also cultivated. The chief
products of Tobago are cacao , copra, coconuts, livestock, poultry, and limes.
Tourism is important to the economy and is a leading source of foreign
exchange. The estimated national budget for 1997 showed revenues of $1.4
billion and expenditures of $1.5 billion. Trinidad and Tobago's gross domestic
product (GDP) in 2002 was $9.6 billion.
The country exports crude and refined petroleum, which constitute 52
percent of the yearly exports; other exports are natural gas, chemicals, iron
and steel, sugar, cacao beans, and rum. Crude petroleum is imported for
refining. In 2001 exports were valued at $5.1 billion and imports at $3.9
billion. The unit of currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, consisting of
100 cents (6.25 T.T. dollars equal U.S.$1; 2002 average).
According to the constitution of 1976, Trinidad and Tobago is a republic.
The constitution provides for a president and a bicameral legislature,
consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The president is elected
by an electoral college of members of both houses of the legislature. The House
of Representatives has 41 members, popularly elected to five-year terms. The 31
members of the Senate are appointed by the president. Tobago was granted its
own house of assembly in 1980.
Christopher Columbus landed on Trinidad on July 31, 1498, during his third
voyage. At that time, the island was populated by a relatively peaceful Arawak
subgroup called Igneri, who engaged in primitive agriculture, and the fierce
Caribs.
The indigenous population was soon worked to death or exiled.
Spain subsequently colonized the island and in 1532 appointed a governor
for it. The indigenous population was soon worked to death or exiled, after
which African slaves were brought in. During the 17th century the island
suffered from raids by the Dutch and French. During the French revolutionary
period, many French families came to Trinidad from Haiti and other islands of
the West Indies. In February 1797, during the wars of the French Revolution,
Trinidad capitulated to a British force, and in 1802, following the Treaty of
Amiens, it was formally ceded to Great Britain. Slavery was abolished in 1833,
and between 1845 and 1917 more than 150,000 Muslim and Hindu Indians were
brought to the island of Trinidad by the British to replace plantation slaves.
Tobago, inhabited by the Caribs, was also sighted in 1498 by Columbus. It
was successively a Spanish, British, Dutch, and French possession until 1814,
when France, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, had to cede the island to
Britain. Tobago formed a part of the Windward Islands Colony until 1889, when
it was joined to Trinidad.
Trinidad and Tobago was a constituent part of the Federation of the West
Indies from April 22, 1958, until May 31, 1962. On August 31, 1962, Trinidad
and Tobago became an independent state in the Commonwealth of Nations It joined
the Organization of American States in 1967. In 1968, along with other
English-speaking Caribbean states, it formed the Caribbean Free Trade Area
(CARIFTA), which in 1973 was replaced by the Caribbean Common Market.
The People's National Movement (PNM), in power from the country's
independence (1962) until 1986, drew much of its support from the black urban
and the business communities; its leader from 1962 to 1981 was Prime Minister
Eric Williams. In the early 1970s, the nation faced a social and economic
crisis. Rioting erupted in Trinidad in April 1970, resulting in several deaths
and many injuries. The situation was further complicated by a short-lived
mutiny of elements of the army. A state of emergency was declared. Although the
riots had overtones of a black nationalist campaign, observers saw economic
factors as the basis of the trouble. In response, Prime Minister Williams
announced that a recently appointed Commission on Racial Discrimination would
begin hearings when order had been restored. The state of emergency, which had
been extended through 1971, was ended in June 1972.
During 1973 the oil revenues of Trinidad grew rapidly as the country became
the third-leading exporter of oil in the Western Hemisphere. But early in 1975
the rate of unemployment reached 17 percent, and the rate of inflation soared
to 23 percent. In March and April of that year labour strikes in the oil and
sugar industries and sympathy strikes by transport and electrical workers
paralyzed the economy, costing the country an estimated $200 million. Prime
Minister Williams was widely accused of not providing adequate leadership to
the country. Inflation eased somewhat the following year, although unemployment
remained high. Williams remained in office after elections in September 1976
under a new constitution that made the country a republic within the
commonwealth. A rash of firebombings, arsons, and political shootings occurred
in 1980.
Upon Williams's death in 1981, Agriculture Minister George Chambers was
elected prime minister and leader of the PNM. In the 1986 elections, the
National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) won 33 of 36 seats in the House of
Representatives, and Arthur Napoleon Robinson became prime minister. In July
1990 more than 100 Muslim militants blew up police headquarters, seized the
parliament building, and held Robinson and other government officials hostage
for several days in an abortive coup attempt. After a PNM victory in the
December 1991 elections, Patrick Manning became prime minister. In November
1995 the PNM and the United National Congress (UNC) Party both won 17 seats in
elections to the House of Representatives. The UNC then formed a coalition
government with the smaller NAR, which had won only 2 seats. UNC leader Basdeo
Panday became prime minister, marking the first time that a Trinidadian of East
Indian descent had led the Caribbean nation. Race was an important factor in
the elections, with the UNC garnering most of its support from rural
Trinidadians of East Indian descent and the PNM winning votes mainly from urban
residents of African descent. Once in office, Panday worked to allay fears
among blacks that his government would try to improve living conditions and
employment opportunities for Indo-Trinidadians at the expense of
Afro-Trinidadians. In the 2000 elections, the UNC maintained a narrow majority
in the House. In 2001 Prime Minister Panday called for early elections because
dissent within the UNC threatened its slim majority. In the elections, the UNC
and the PNM each won 18 seats. Because the House was evenly split, and the
prime minister is usually chosen from the party with the majority, both parties
eventually agreed to let the president appoint the new prime minister. The
president appointed PNM's Patrick Manning as prime minister who still leads the
country today.
Now, here's an attached audio of our national anthem with English lyrics.
Trinidad and Tobago
"Forged From the Love of Liberty"
Words by: Patrick Stanislaus Castagne
Music by: Patrick Stanislaus Castagne
Adopted: 1962
"Forged From the Love of Liberty" was originally composed to be the anthem
of the West Indies Federation (consisting mainly of all British Caribbean
colonies intended to achieve independence as one nation). The federation's
capital was on Trinidad, and Trinidad was one of the primary colonies in the
federation (having a large part of the population and wealth). Upon the
dissolution of the federation in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago decided to use the
anthem originally meant for the federation when it achieved full independence
later that year.
Lyrics
Forged from the Love of Liberty
in the Fires of Hope and Prayer
with boundless faith in our destiny
We solemnly declare
Side by Side we stand
Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea
This our native land
we pledge our lives to thee
Here every creed and race find an equal place
And may God bless our nation
Here every creed and race find an equal place
And may God bless our nation.
Steve Boodram
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