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Environment
The Dally HuWAS.riday. APrl 17. 199821
A brief look at Trinidad and Tobago
I recently attnaded a conference was not until 1962 that Trinidad whie. And what is so fnnmy is tu
on the "First International Work. O and Tobago received their full some East Indians I met I
sbop on Herbal Medicine in the ce fromthe British. Trinidad amre darker than me. How
Carbbean" hold n Trinidad and DaviS In 1976, Trinidad and Tobago ever, religion plays a major role I
Tobago. O became a republic with th Com- Trinidadian and Tobagonian lifI
At first 1 hesitated to aend the enlkarigjm d monwealth. In 1980, Tobago About 33 percent are Roma
conference because of my busi- House of Assembly was eatab- Catholic, 25 percent Hindu, 1
ess schedule at work. However, I listed with extensive measures of percent Anglican. 5.6 percae
must admit that I was glad to fruit tees uch as plantain, lemon, eternal self-government for the Muslim, 3.6 percent Presbytcrnia
attend the meetings in Trinidad ime, orange coconut sd banana island. Trinidad is half forested 6 percent traditional African faith
and Tobago. It gave me the oppor- In 1783, the Frech planters came with low mountain ranges along and 16.6 percent are other rel
tunily to meet other people in my in larg numbers to Trindad and the north coast with the highest gous dcaominations.
field and allowed me to see the settled as agriculturalists along po of 3.085 feet above sea level. Despite different religious
island. with their African slaves. The The island cantal plain is flat with beliefs, Trinidad and Tobago hav
Trinidad and Tobago are the Africsa slaves came from a nam rolling hills in the south. a rich cultural history. Besides th
most southernly of the Lesser bher of different tribes including Trinidad is ,864 square miles natural environment of Trinidad,
Antilles chain of Islands in the the Ashanti, Hasa, Ibo. Mandingo The capital is Port-of-Spain and enjoyed the cultural show at th
Caribbean. The two islands are and Anrd peoples. other major urban areas are San Queen Hall. If you want to hea
about seven miles from the Around 1797. Trinidad was Fnrado ia the South, C uanas steelband play. Trinidad and Tobt
Venezuelan coast. Geologically. captured by the British force uoder central and Arima in the cast. go is the land of the 20th ceont
the islands are an extension of Sir Ralph Abercrombly. The Tobago is some 19 miles northeast pan mus. The pan is the natol
South America. Before Columbu island was ceded to the British of Trinidad with an area of 116 instrument of Trinidad and Toba
came to Trinidad and Tobago,he Crown five years later under the square mila. The northeast center go.
inhabitants were Amerindians of Trety of Amlea. In 1814, Toba- of Tobago is mountainous with At tha cultural show, the histo
Awak and oig who bad go which had changed several ridges reaching a height of 1,800 ry of Trinidad and Tobago wa
come up from South America river times including a term under feet above sea level, The south told in cultural dance and music
hundredsofyeasago. Dutch rule. was ceded to the and west of the island is flat or from the Amerindians. Spanisl
Their major food were casava. British. Because of the decline in gatlly hilly. French. British. Africans and Ea
peppers, beans, crabs, filh guavas the suar industry on Trinidad in The population of 'lnlidad and Indians. The limbo dance was als
and pineapples. In 1498, Christo- 1888, Tobago was linked with Tobago is 1.3 million. About 41 part of the cultural show which
pher Columbus rediscovered Trinidad in a singic administrative percent of the population is of the national dance. Calypso wa
Trinidad and claimed it In the onL African decent and another 41 per- also played.
name of the king of Spain. How- In 1834 and 1839, African cea is of East Indian descent and Next week's column will be 0
ever, it was ot until the later part sewe were physically ,m cipt the remainder is mixed Mediter- Trinidad, an industrial gin a is I
of the 16th century that p ament a d. In 1845. East Indians immi. rancan. Chinese. Europeans or Caribbean.
settlements ware established by grated to Trinidad and Tobago a Middle ancestry. What was sad to 7is artile refle, the iew o
European. indentured servants. The United hear from a lour guide was racial Olsee Davis, a St. Croix ecolo
During this period, the Spanish Stales constructed a military base prejudice between the East Indian gist, actii and writer who has
introduced sweet potato, corn, in Trinidad in 1941. In 1958. and African Caribbeanpopic. aser' of science degree i
yam, and pimlcno from other parts Trinidad and Tobago joined the According to the tour guide, range management and forestry
of the new world together with Federation of the West Indies. It some East Indian believe they ase ecology.
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