Trinidad+and+Tobago

Behavioral Multicultural Resource Guide: Trinidad and Tobago By: Courtney Hutchinson and Domenica Tischler

**__ Geography __** Trinidad and Tobago is a country comprised of the two southernmost islands in the Caribbean, which are located about 7 miles above the northeast corner of Venezuela at the closest point. It is slightly smaller than the state of Delaware. Trinidad and Tobago experience a tropical climate with a rainy season from June through December, and have a terrain that is mostly plains with some hills and three low mountain ranges. Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt. These two islands are home to approximately 1.23 million people. The major ethnic groups are Black and East Indian, with the remainder of the population being White, Chinese, or Mixed. **__ History __**  Trinidad is a land of diversity due to the variation of multicultural settlers who have contributed to its history. Settlers include people from the following areas of the world: Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. Even today, there is a sense of multiculturalism, tolerance, and unity in diversity, which can be seen in the national motto of “Together we aspire, together we achieve,” and in a line from the national anthem “Here every creed and race find an equal place.” In 1498, when Christopher Columbus landed in Trinidad, he found Arawak and Carib Indians  thriving on the island, and claimed it for Spain. About a century later, Spain established San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph) as Trinidad’s first European community. In 1783, // Cedula de Población //, was designed by the Spanish to convert Trinidad into a plantation colony, and was a time when French planters brought African slaves to the island to cultivate sugar and cocoa. Under Spanish rule, the country was dominated by French culture and language. Trinidad continued to be a Spanish possession until the British captured it in 1797, and in 1802, it formally became a British colony. British planters, their slaves, Africans from various ethnic groups, French and English Creole speaking slaves, and Spanish laborers from Venezuela continued to add to Trinidad’s diversity. Slavery was abolished in 1834, and free Africans, as well as Black people from the United States settled in Trinidad. From 1845-1917, approximately 144,000 indentured servants from India went to Trinidad. The majority of them were Hindus, but there was also a significant number of Muslims. The island of Tobago remained separate from Trinidad with the French, Spanish, Dutch, and English all making claims on it at various times. In 1889, Britain brought the two islands together as the British colonies of Trinidad and Tobago. Under British control, there was ethnic division in labor, geographic location, and even marriage. In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago gained their independence from Britain together, and in 1976, they became the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. **__ Political __** The ethnic divisions seen under British control certainly affected politics with political parties and groups identifying with and appealing to particular ethnicities. When Trinidad and Tobago became politically independent from the United Kingdom in August 1962, there was a switch in this ideology, and the country was seen as a melting pot where different races mixed. In fact, those who did not were viewed as “less than Trinidadian.” Trinidad and Tobago now has a bicameral parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. Since independence, Parliament has been the major ruling body in Trinidad and Tobago. The Constitution provides for a legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The executive consists of the president and the cabinet, headed by the prime minister. The president is elected by the Senate and House of Representatives to serve a five-year term as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. At present, the current government is led by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, and the president is George Maxwell Richards. **__ Economy __** Trinidad and Tobago have earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international business and has one of the highest growth rates and incomes in Latin America. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent on these resources. Financial growth in Trinidad and Tobago has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals, and steel. Trinidad and Tobago also supply manufactured goods, consisting mostly of food, beverages, and cement to surrounding regions. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. The country is a financial center, and tourism is a growing industry, although it is not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. There are two types of agricultural operations in Trinidad and Tobago. Large estate (or plantation) or small farms cultivated by the family or tenant. The large estate or plantations are managed by a specialist and employ hundreds of laborers whereas; smaller farms grow mainly for their families. Small farm crops include corn, rice, peas, beans, potatoes, other vegetables, and a wide variety of citrus fruits. Plantation crops grown for export include sugar and cocoa. Despite these avenues for income and maintaining a solid economy, there is a high unemployment rate in Trinidad and Tobago, which is especially a problem for youth. As one might expect, this problem leads to others, and since the 1980’s crime, particularly relating to the sale and transshipment of drugs, has been seen as a serious problem in this country. Trinidad and Tobago could be considered a third world country, as there are many poor people. People who are poor often “eat from the soil” by fishing and growing their own food (gardens and raising animals such as chicken and goat). Middle class is somewhat lacking in Trinidad and Tobago: people are either poor or rich, with not a lot of variation in between.

  

** Behavior ** ||  ** Strategies ** || Use of nonstandard English/slang || Miscommunication or thinking that the person is uneducated || Be understanding and try to learn the meanings of words they use; Help them learn/understand how to use standard English || Eating with their hands/not using utensils || Thinking that the person lacks etiquette and table manners || Help them learn the rules of etiquette that are followed by culture in the United States; Model and practice || Speaking very quickly || Miscommunication or thinking that the person is in a hurry || Help them learn to slow down so they can be better understood; Model appropriate speed of speech || People who are Muslim are required to pray 5 times per day facing the east || This may be distracting or interrupt what is happening in the classroom || Be understanding, discuss differences with the class, and arrange a place for the student to pray as needed || Punctuality is not expected: “Trinidad Time” refers to habitual lateness || Could be perceived as a lack of interest/concern, rudeness, or being disruptive || Focus on the importance of others’ time and being punctual; Create a contingency if/then contract (ex. If the student arrives on time, then he/she may receive ________ reward) || Hand shaking: done regularly within a gender but rarely occur between genders. || Could be perceived as an insult, rude, or not warm || Create a learning community where shaking hands is fashionable; Discuss greeting across various cultures (Help them learn that this is acceptable and seen as polite; ex. greet teacher/peers with a handshake) ||
 * Possible Misunderstandings ** ||

(2009). //Central America and Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago//. Retrieved from []
 * References __**

(2007). //Culture of Trinidad and Tobago//. Retrieved from []

(2008). //Trinidad and Tobago: The True Caribbean//. Retrieved from []

(2009). //Trinidad and Tobago//. Retrieved from [] Meighoo, K.(2009).Trinidad and Tobago General Elections 2007: One-Party Dominance and Lessons for the Long View. //The Round Table//, 98(400), 17 — 36.