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I Am Proud To Be A Trinidadian

July 20, 2008

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most prosperous, diversified and industrialized countries in the Caribbean and has earned an excellent investment site for international businesses. There are proven substantial reserves of petroleum, natural gas and heavy industries such as iron, steel, methanol, nitrogen, and fertilizers.

Trinidad and Tobago has a reliable supply of electricity with the rates among the lowest in the Caribbean. The economy is based on petroleum, natural gas, chemical, tourism, food processing, cement, beverages and cotton textiles.

The educational system is modeled after the British system and produces one of the highest standards of education in the Caribbean. Primary and Secondary level of education are free at most institutions but private fee paying options are also available.

Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917; which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil in 1910 added another important export. First Colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century, gained its Independence from Britain on August 31st 1962 and became a Republic on August 1st 1976.

Trinidad and Tobago estimated population is 1.3 million. The ethnic mix consists of 40.3% East Indian descent, 39.5% African, 18.4% mixed European, 0.6% Chinese and 1.2% others. English is the official language, although you will hear it spoken with many different accents [local dialects].

One of the exciting aspects of the Caribbean Carnival is the introduction to steel pan in the early 20th century. Oil drums were dumped everywhere so Trinidadians decided to cut off one end, shaped, pounded and tuned the drums to create some of the most beautiful music in the world.

Calypso rhythms can be traced back to the arrival of the first African slaves brought to work in the sugar plantations of Trinidad. Forbidden to talk to each other, and robbed of all links to family and home, the African slaves began to sing songs. They used calypso, which can be traced back to West African kaiso, as a means of communication and to mock the slave masters. Soca music originated as a fusion of calypso with Indian rhythms, thus combining the musical traditions to the two major ethnic groups of Trinidad and Tobago.

Carnival traditions also borrow from the African tradition of putting together natural objects (bones, grasses, beads, shells, fabric) to create a piece of sculpture, a mask, or costume — with each object or combination of objects representing a certain idea or spiritual force. African traditions of parading and moving in circles through villages in costumes and masks; circling villages was believed to bring good fortune, to heal problems, and chill out angry relatives who had died and passed into the next world.

Apsana

Written by apsana · Filed Under All    

Comments

8 Responses to “I Am Proud To Be A Trinidadian”

  1. SoFlyG35 on July 22nd, 2008 12:17 pm  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    Trinidad is really a place of wonder, at least from what I remember beautifully people, great beaches good food ….but its my understanding that things have changed, the people are different now they’re not as friendly lots of crime however, I am still proud to be Trini

  2. Lcpl Gosine USMC 0311 INFANTRY on July 25th, 2008 8:04 pm  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    Well you may be proud to a Trinidadian, but after my trip in March i’ve lost all desire to go back and i’ll never recomend it to any one i know, you may ask why i’ve got so much animosity towards the country, well i left Trinidad in 1994 and back then things were more calm now if you look at some one the wrong way you may lose your life the crime rate and drugs is unbelievable high. I hate the MARINE CORP but im proud to call myslef a MARINE, i’m a Trini but i’m not proud at all to call myslef a Trini.
    So i think you should write about the crime,corruption within the government and the drugs trafficking and how we should, stop or fix it, because my way is unsettling and inhumane. ” The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing “

  3. Munilal on July 26th, 2008 1:39 am  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    I was there last November. Man! I was afraid to walk in Port of Spain. The government of Trinidad needs to step up their game. Tourism is hurting bad..

  4. Annand on July 27th, 2008 11:44 pm  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    I am a born Guyanese, but both a Guyanese & Trini at heart. I live there for some time about twelve years ago and absolutely loved it! Now it’s sad to see what crime has done to the country.

  5. Munilal on July 28th, 2008 6:29 am  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    I mean i would understand crime in Haiti and Guyana to be on the rise but not Trinidad

  6. SoFlyG35 on July 28th, 2008 9:20 am  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    Its hard to believe that Trinidad could be that bad… and to think Trinidad was so advanced economically in comparison to the other Caribbean Islands
    I have no idea of what goes on in Trinidad but if things are as bad as people say it is the government does need to “Step up” their game. Its also my understanding that all this is a result of bad government. What kind of government (don’t forget the people) lets their country fall into this kind of craziness

  7. Anonymous on July 28th, 2008 3:43 pm  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    I went to Trinidad in November 2007 and it was absolutely amazing.I heard people complaing about the crime rate but somehow there wasn’t any. There is a nice teenage hangout spot called “Movie Town” with huge shopping centres,restaurants, businesses and an ethnic mix.I didnt have to worry whether anyone is going to steal my purse or kidnap me.Food stuff, electricity, gas and even vehicles are cheap in Trinidad.

  8. Apsana on July 28th, 2008 7:40 pm  Vote: Add rating 0  Subtract rating 0  

    Lcpl Gosine
    Maybe you are to baiganchoka but we have been writing about issues affecting us around the world.Here’s a few links that you can click on and read more about whats going on.

    http://baiganchoka.com/blog/2008/02/24/commentary-on-trinidad-aiding-guyana/#more-88

    http://baiganchoka.com/blog/2008/06/12/must-read-aids-in-the-caribbean-the-second-most-affected-region-in-the-world/

    http://baiganchoka.com/blog/2008/03/24/capital-punishment-%e2%80%93-mark-of-barbarism/#hide

    http://baiganchoka.com/blog/2008/03/06/caribbean-sex-trade/#hide

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