A Postcard from Howard: Trinidad & Tobago

Mar 2 2009

Howard Nichols

Weybridge's answer to Michael Palin, our very own Howard Nichols, is off travelling again. He'll be sending us more postcards - this time from Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago are two islands only seven miles off the coast of Venezuela and are the southernmost islands of the Caribbean.

T&T is a Republic with a democratically elected government and is pretty wealthy as Caribbean countries go with its economy buoyed up through having big reserves of oil and gas – it is the leading Caribbean producer of both. Tourism and manufacturing underpin the local economy as do agricultural products such as citrus and cocoa, but not sugar cane anymore. T & T is also a regional financial centre.

This year will be a high profile one for T&T. In April they are hosting the Fifth Summit of the Organisation of American States, to be attended by US President Barack Obama and 32 other leaders from the Americas.

Then in November they are hosting the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. T & T Prime Minister Patrick Manning sees these meetings as generating dialogue for future wealth creation, alliances, job creation, skills development, energy, the environment - and, most critically, crime prevention.

During its colourful history Trinidad and Tobago has been colonised by Amerindian, Spanish, French and British expansionists, but immigration by African, Indian, European, Middle Eastern and Chinese peoples has further given this small nation a vibrant cosmopolitan reality.

T&T became independent (from Britain) in 1962 and a Republic in 1976. The population today is about 1.3 million, most of whom live in Trinidad. Although on the continental shelf of South America, all Caribbean islands are considered North American by association, with much heritage also emanating from colonial days.

These tropical islands have two seasons: the first half of the year it’s the dry season, then the second half sees the wet season. Actually, as well as the two main islands there are also 21 smaller islands but fortunately hurricanes stay away from them all (although Hurricane Ivan got quite adjacent in September 2004).

T&T is the birthplace of calypso and its pre-Lenten Carnival is world-renowned, bringing in visitors from all over. Yet tourism figures at other times of the year can do with a boost and so the high profile Summits this year should bring a lot of renewed interest in islands still challenged by high levels of crime which of course create unease. Both Scotland Yard and the FBI have been consulted but little real progress has been made as yet, not helped by the corruption which is endemic in the police.

On the sporting front cricket is very popular in Trinidad and Tobago and in 2007 they hosted the Cricket World Cup along with other Caribbean islands. Brian Lara is one of their most illustrious cricketing sons. In March England will play the final Test Match of their current tour in the T&T capital, Port of Spain. Another T&T name currently riding high is athlete Ato Boldon who has won eight Olympic and World Championship medals for his country.

Over the next few weeks I will be writing a column for the Surrey Herald with some more impressions of these great islands. I hope you enjoy the read.

Howard is Senior Partner at Surrey Copywriters, whose team specialise in writing brochurs, websites and features for their clients. Go to www.surreycopywriters.com for more information.