LOCATION: 10°N, 61°.5 W; the most southerly island of the West Indies;
it is just off the eastern coast of Venezuela.

CLIMATE: Warm, tropical climate with sunshine all year round. There are 2 seasons,
the Dry season extends from January to May, and the Wet season, from June to December.

POPULATION: 1.2.million

CAPITAL: Port of Spain

LANGUAGE: English

CURRENCY: Trinidad & Tobago dollar. Approx 6 to 1 US

While most of the Caribbean Islands are mainly populated by the descendants of African slaves, Trinidad & Tobago, by virtue of its path of colonization, consists of a very diverse and multicultural society .

Trinidad was inhabited by its indigenous Indians when the island was discovered by Christopher Colombus in 1498.

The island slowly developed until the British took control in 1797. With sugar, coffee and cacao flourishing, and the slave trade grounded by1833, Trinidad looked to the Chinese, Portuguese from Madeira, and free West African indentured labourers to maintain its agricultural plantations.

With severe labour shortages on the sugar plantations, huge contingents of indentured labourers from India,(’coolies’ from Calcutta), were brought in. Venezuelans farmers, called ‘cocoa panyols’ (from espagnol),because of their experience in cocoa farming, were also introduced.

This melting pot of Spanish, British, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Portuguese, African, Chinese, and Indian blood, have produced a most interesting blend of colours, cultures, and religions and a very cosmopolitan people. Later, immigrants from Syria and Lebanon, seeking business opportunities also made the trip to Trinidad.

With booming oil, gas and hydrocarbon industries, Trinidad has become the financial hub of the Caribbean, and is also now actively developing a tourism industry.

KNOWN FOR:

Carnival Diversity of people/culture/religion Conferencing Food Festivals Flora and Fauna Beaches Beautiful people Music- Calypso, Soca, Parang, Chutney,Rhapso The Steel Pan Sporting Events Cultural Events Night Life Liming (hanging out) Weather Heritage and Historical sites Bird Watching Turtle Watching Shopping

PLACES TO VISIT:

The National Museum and Art Gallery Angostura Rum and Bitters Museum The Military Museum Asa Wright Nature Centre The Pitch Lake The Caroni Swamp and Bird Sanctuary The Nariva Swamp Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust Devil’s Woodyard The Hindu Temple in the Sea The Hanuman Statue Maracas Bay Pan Yards The Queen’s Park Savannah