Christopher Columbus landed on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 1498 and created the two Spanish colonies until February 18, 1797, when the British landed in Trinidad. With a fleet of 18 warships, they defeated the Spaniards led by the governor, Don José Maria Chacón. At that time, the Trinity had 17,718 inhabitants, including 1,082 Amerindians, 2,151 Europeans, 4,476 “free blacks and people of color” and 10,009 slaves.
Tobago, the cigar-shaped island, has been passed down.
everal European colonizers over the centuries, including the English, Dutch, French and Spaniards. Eventually, after many struggles, the British increased their hold on Tobago because in 1889 it became half the colony of Trinidad and Tobago.
On August 31, 1962, Trinidad and Tobago lowered the British flag and replaced .
with the now iconic black, red and white stallion, led by its first Prime Minister, Eric Williams. Widely regarded as “the father of the nation”, the leader of the National Peoples Movement (PNM) was Prime Minister from 1956 until his death in 1981.
“Trinbago”, as it is commonly known, became a republic within the Commonwealth, severing its ties with the British monarchy on August 1, 1976; an appropriate date, as it is celebrated as “Emancipation Day”.
The country held elections on Monday August 10.
when the outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the PNM, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, was returned to power. He has held the position since September 2015.