Guide Note

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a two-island state in the Caribbean. It lies to the northeast of Venezuela and the south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime borders with Barbados and Guyana. The country technically encompasses the two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 smaller islands.

The country is one the Caribbean's wealthiest thanks to its large reserves of oil and gas.

Fast Facts

1. Capital: Port of Spain
2. Government: Republic
3. Population: 1,305,000
4. Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar
5. Official Language: English
6. Time Zone: (UTC-4)

Trinidad has changed hands many times over the course of its history. The Spanish controlled the islands through 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In 1802, the islands were ceded to Britain, which transformed the nation into a sugar colony. The slave trade was abolished between 1806 and 1807, but the sugar cane plantations still needed labor. This necessitated the immigration of indentured workers from India. As of early 1870, a quarter of Trinidad's population was Indian. Immigrants from other British colonies also started to populate the island, making it one of the most heterogeneous in the Caribbean. The much smaller Tobago traded hands between Britain and France many times over its history, but a collapse of its sugar industry caused its amalgamated with Trinidad in 1899.

Trinidad & Tobago were granted independence from Britain in 1962.

• Trinidad
• Tobago

• Chacachacare
• Monos
• Huevos
• Gaspar Grande
• Gasparillo

• Technically, six islands lying west of Port of Spain.
• Caledonia Island
• Craig Island
• Lenagan Island
• Nelson Island
• Pelican Island
• Rock Island

• Cronstadt
• Carrera
• Faralon Rock
• Soldado Rock
• Saut d'Eau
• Little Tobago
• St. Giles Island
• Goat Island
• Sisters' Rock