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Trinidad was the first inhabited island of the Caribbean, having been settled by Amerindians from South America as early as 5000 BC. They called the island "Ieri", the land of the hummingbird.
Later, Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean Islands occupied by both the Igneri, a peaceful subgroup of the Arawak tribe; and the hostile Caribs. In 1498, Columbus claimed the islands for Spain. However, since the Carib Indians were aggressive and warlike, they prevented the colonization of the islands until late into the 17th Century. Over the next two centuries, the natives were taken into slavery by the Spaniards and exposed to hard labor and European plagues that virtually wiped out the entire population.
Tobago’s history was equally volatile. After the Spaniards defeated the Caribs, the English, French, Dutch and various bands of pirates made attempts at dominating the island. It wasn’t until 1877 that it was finally ceded to the British.
Port of Spain developed slowly attracting the Catalan Capuchin missionaries. Attempts at tobacco and cocoa production failed due to blight and competition from neighboring islands. During the Napoleonic Wars, in 1797, the British seized the opportunity to take islands from the Spaniards and in 1815; Tobago came under British Rule and made a ward of Trinidad at the end of the century.
Immigration opened up after slavery was abolished and a new labour force was needed. Ethnic groups changed the make-up of the populace. As the islands are today, Trinidad and Tobago became a melting pot due mainly to its openness to religious freedom. Consequently the floodgates opened to Americans, Scots, Irish, French, Germans and the Swiss. By 1917 when the East Indian immigration ceased, there were more that 140,000 Indians working as indentured servants on the islands.
Bringing their own festivities and culture, the Indian influence is very prominent throughout the islands today. While the Muslims introduced Hosay, the Hindus brought Divali. Indian food, such as roti and curry has become staple dishes for all Trinidadians.
Several companies of American black soldiers who had supported the British in its 1812 war against the US were given grants of land in southern Trinidad, where they founded villages and named them after the companies in which they served.
In 1853, the government brought 2500 Chinese to Trinidad to help work the plantations. The plan failed due to the excessive cost of transportation and the high mortality rate among the immigrants. The descendants of these people constitute a small but visible minority to this day on the islands.
The first political movements on the islands developed in the 1930s during the economic depression. Adult suffrage was introduced in 1946 and political parties began to take shape in the 1950s. Dr. Eric Williams became the first Chief Minister in 1958. Displeased with what he perceived as servitude to the tourist class, he vowed to avoid what he called the mistakes of his Caribbean neighbors. As a result T&T's economy did not benefit from tourism until the mid-1980s.
Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from the British on August 31, 1962. On August 1, 1976, T&T gained Republic status. In the 1970s, offshore drilling produced oil and Trinidad found a new natural resource to boost the economy. As a result, the standard of living improved immensely as literacy rates rose to the highest in the Caribbean; the road system was introduced and electricity was established throughout the islands.
In July, 1990 there was an attempted coup of the government by a 100-strong group of Islamic extremists. Not backed by any additional support from abroad, the rebellion was squelched after five days. Militant Islam has played no future role in shaping the government today and they have displayed minimal political unrest ever since.
The President is the constitutional head of state, but the executive power is split between the Prime Minister and the cabinet. This comprises a Senate with 31 members and a House of Representatives with 36 members. Since, the 1980s, Tobago has had its own 15-seat House of Assembly and was granted full internal self-government by the national government in 1987.
Trinidad and Tobago is today a model of racial harmony. It has worked hard to create a stable economy and the GDP has grown steadily since 1994. Oil continues to be the major source of revenue, and the country is using the income it generates to develop other sectors, including manufacturing, finance, insurance and tourism.
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