Independence Day

August 31, 2008 - Today Trinidad and Tobago are celebrating 46 years of independence. To recognize that I thought I would tell you a little bit about the two islands. (Information taken from the T&T Boaters' Directory for 2007 - 2008)


The first settlers that came to the islands were the Arawak and Carib indians that came across from Venezuela. They all but vanished during the Spanish domination. Spain, France and England all battled over ownership of the islands with the Brits finally winning in 1797. The Spanish and French imported slaves from Africa to work the cocoa and sugar cane plantations. After emancipation of the slaves the British brought in indentured servants from India to do the same. In 1898 the two islands were joined politically and in 1962 they gained their independence from Britain and finally became a republic in 1976. They are now a democracy under a parliamentary system.

Trinidad covers 1,864 square miles and Tobago covers 116 square miles. There are approximately 1.3 million people living on the two islands. Although English is the national language when you listen to two Trinidadians speaking together you would be hard pressed to recognize or understand anything they are saying. They speak quite quickly and in a patois.

The flag is a red background with a diagonal stripe of black on white running from the upper left corner to the bottom right corner. The red colour represents the vitality of the land and its people. The white is the sea by which the islands are bound and also represents the equality of all men. The black is the colour of strength, unity, purpose and the wealth of the land. The three colours also represent the elements of Earth, Water and Fire.

The national flower is the Chaconia or wild poinsettia. It blossoms during August and is seen as a flaming red flower in the verdant green rainforest. Its name is in honour of the last Spanish Governor of the islands - Don Jose Maria Chacon. It is an indigenous flower and has been present throughout the entire history of the islands.

The two islands each have a national bird. For Trinidad it is the Scarlet Ibis which nests in the Caroni Swamp, 15,000 acres of marshland, tidal lagoons and mangrove trees set aside as a bird sanctuary. These birds also display two of the official colours - the young are black/brown and the adults are a brilliant vermillion. The official bird of Tobago is the Cocrico. A bird found in Tobago and Venezuela. It is also known as the Tobago Pheasant. Compared to the Ibis it is a drab looking bird about the size of a common chicken.

For the past week red, white and black bunting has been appearing on buildings and walls along the road. There is a big celebration with fireworks in Port of Spain this afternoon.