Location
The flag of Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago nestles close to South America. At its closest point, Trinidad is some seven miles from the coast of Venezuela on the South American mainland. 21 miles (33Km) separates Trinidad from its twin island, Tobago. The two islands are spanned daily by plane and ferry. Trinidad comprises of 1,864 Sq. miles and Tobago 116 sq. miles. The population of Trinidad and Tobago is approximately 1.3 million (including 45,000 in Tobago).
Trinidad is diverse geographically. It has three mountain ranges, roughly parallel to each other, running east to west in the north, central, and south parts of the island. The mountainous north coast is heavily wooded.
Main Cities
Port of Spain is the Capital city. The East-West corridor is an urban-industrial conurbation from Port of Spain. San Fernando in the south is Trinidad’s second city and an industrial capital. The Point Lisas industrial park is nearby. Scarborough is the capital of Tobago. The Blue Star Centre is located in Claxton Bay which is a 50 minutes drive from the airport.
Climate
The scarlet ibis, one of the two national birds of Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago experiences two seasons:
♦ The dry season (January – June)
♦ The wet season (June – December)
Temperatures range between 25 degrees Celcius – 33 degrees Celcius.
Language
English is the official language. A dialect is a variation of the English language spoken from time to time, also called Trini.
Brief History
Trinidad was named by Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to the New World. On the morning of 31 July 1498, he saw what appeared to him as a trinity of hills along the southeastern coast. The island was called Iere, meaning “the land of the hummingbird,” by its native Amerindian inhabitants. Tobago’s name probably derived from tabaco (tobacco in Spanish). The occupancy of Tobago changed regularly between the Brits, French, Dutch and Courlanders, but ended up in British hands. Trinidad remaind Spanish, but many French colonists setteld there.
After African slavery was abolished in 1833, East Indian indentured labourers were brought to Trinidad, predominantly from India. Thus modern Trinidad today is influenced by the African / Indian cultures and to a smaller extent from the Chinese, Lebanonese, European and Amerindian cultures to create a unique blend of a rainbow people and culture. In 1889, the two islands became a single crown colony. They became independent from the British Empire in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.
Religions
Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, are the predominant religions practiced in Trinidad with churches, temples and mosques found in all parts of the two Islands.
Symbolism
The public symbols of the nation tend to evoke the themes of multi-culturalism, unity in diversity, and tolerance. The national motto is “Together we aspire, together we achieve.” The national anthem features the line “Here every creed and race find an equal place,” which is sung twice for emphasis. Some public holidays and celebrations emphasize group contributions to the nation, including Independence Day (31 August), Emancipation Day (1 August; commemorating the ending of slavery), and Indian Arrival Day (30 May).
