[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN HONOR OF THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
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HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 25, 2003
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate
Trinidad on the forty-first anniversary of her Independence and the
169th anniversary of emancipation in Trinidad and Tobago and the
Caribbean.
Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. have long enjoyed a prosperous
relationship that has hinged upon interests in investment, trade, and
regional security. Often noted for holding one of the largest and most
elaborate Carnival celebrations in the world, there is much to know
about how this small island nation evolved and has come to be such a
great friend to our nation.
Trinidad was settled by the Spanish a century after Columbus landed
there. The original inhabitants--Arawak and Carib Indians--were largely
wiped out by the Spanish colonizers, and the survivors were gradually
assimilated. Although it attracted French, free Black, and other non-
Spanish settlers, Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the
British captured it in 1797. During the colonial period, Trinidad's
economy relied on large sugar and cocoa plantations.
Tobago's development was similar to other plantation islands in the
Lesser Antilles and quite different from Trinidad's . The smaller
island of the pair, Tobago became known first as Tavaco, then Tabagua,
then as Tobago. This was the name given by its tribal people who used a
long stemmed pipe in which they smoked a herb called Vcohiba, known
today as tobacco.
During the colonial period, French, Dutch, and British forces fought
over possession of Tobago, and the island changed hands 22 times--more
often than any other West Indian island. Tobago was finally ceded to
Great Britain in 1814. Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a
single colony in 1888.
Trinidad became an oil economy in the 20th century. Oil was
discovered in the Guayguaygare, Point Fortin, and Forest Reserve areas
in Trinidad. Over time oil and oil related exports came to dominate the
economy.
The establishment of U.S. bases on the island in 1941 in exchange for
50 destroyers which at the time was sorely needed by an overstretched
Britain, resulted in the construction of numerous roads. Additionally,
the G.I.s injected American culture and money into a stagnant economy
and shifted the focus of the country from Britain to the U.S.
In the 1950s, the British sponsored the West Indies Federation as a
potential post-colonial model, in the belief that most of the Caribbean
islands would be unable to survive politically or economically on their
own. The Caribbean peoples thought otherwise and the Federation
collapsed in the early 1960s.
In Trinidad and Tobago a movement was being born in the 1950s. After
receiving his Ph.D. and serving as assistant professor at Howard
University, Eric Williams returned to Trinidad and Tobago and formed
the People's National Movement (PNM), a political party of which he
became the leader. In September of 1956, the PNM won the national
elections and he became the chief minister of the country from 1956 to
1959, premier from 1959 to 1962, and prime minister from 1962 to 1981.
During his term as prime minister, Williams led Trinidad and Tobago
into full independence within the Commonwealth in 1962. Eric Williams
is considered the father of Trinidad and Tobago. He died in office on
March 29, 1981.
After its 1962 independence, Trinidad joined the United Nations and
the Commonwealth. In 1967, it became the first Commonwealth country to
join the Organization of American States (OAS). A U.S. embassy was
established in Port of Spain in 1962, replacing the former consulate
general. Today, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago remains a stable
government with close ties and a working relationship to the United
States.
Evidence of government stability is represented in the fact that U.S.
investment in Trinidad and Tobago exceeds one and one-quarter billion
dollars. In addition, Trinidad and Tobago is becoming the leading
importer of liquefied natural gas to the U.S. It also is active in the
U.S.-initiated Summit of the Americas process and fully supports the
establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
With a population of 1.2 million people and the size of the state of
Delaware, Trinidad and Tobago maintains strong relations with its
Caribbean neighbors as well. As the most industrialized and second-
largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago
has taken a leading role in the Caribbean Community and Common Market
(CARICOM), and strongly supports CARICOM economic integration efforts.
The two countries also share its people and culture. There are large
numbers of U.S. citizens and permanent residents of Trinidadian origin
living in the United States. These individuals keep strong cultural
ties to their country of origin. About 20,000 U.S. citizens visit
Trinidad and Tobago on vacation or for business every year, and over
2,700 American citizens are residents. In addition, Trinidad like
carnivals are held in numerous cities across the U.S. with a major
celebration occurring in Brooklyn every Labor Day of which Trinidadians
have played an integral role in sustaining.
The Trinidadian, Jessie Wardell was responsible for obtaining the
first street permit to celebrate Carnival outdoors on Lenox Avenue in
Harlem. Trinidadian, Rufus Gorin, moved the Carnival to Brooklyn where
he paired with the Trinidadian, Carlos Lezama, and formed the West
Indian American Day carnival Association (WIADCA), which for over
thirty years has participated in attracting millions of people to New
York to participate in the largest Carnival celebration in the U.S.
I take great pleasure in reflecting upon the magnitude of Trinidad
and Tobago's contribution to New York City, our nation, and the world
and expressing my personal appreciation for the association I have had
with her people over the years. I salute the republic of Trinidad and
Tobago and her accomplishments and ask that you join me in honoring her
as she celebrates her 41st Anniversary.
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