Trinidad and Tobago

Religions: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Islam. Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar. The islands are mostly flat or rolling, with narrow belts of mountainous highlands and luxuriant rain forests. The Caroni Swamp, an important bird sanctuary on Trinidad, supports populations of flamingo, egret, and scarlet ibis. The country has large reserves of petroleum and natural gas, as well as the world's largest supply of natural asphalt. Other industries include agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Chief crops include sugarcane, citrus fruits, cocoa, and coffee. It is a republic with two legislative houses; its chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. When CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS visited Trinidad in 1498, it was inhabited mostly by ARAWAK Indians, though there were probably some CARIB speakers as well; Caribs inhabited Tobago. The islands were settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. In the 17th 18th centuries African slaves were imported for plantation labour to replace the original Indian population, which had been decimated by the impact of culture shock, slavery, and diseases introduced by the Europeans. Trinidad was surrendered to the British in 1797. The British attempted to settle Tobago in 172 1, but the French captured the island in 1781 and transformed it into a sugar-producing colony. The British acquired it in 1802. After slavery ended in the islands (1834-38), immigrants from India were brought in to work the plantations. Trinidad and Tobago were administratively combined in 1889. Granted limited self-government in 1925, the islands became an independent state within the COMMONWEALTH in 1962, and a republic in 1976. Political unrest was followed in 1990 by an attempted Muslimfundamentalist coup against the government.

Trinidad Hotels

Kariwak Village Holistic Haven and Hotel - Store Bay Local Road Crown Point Scarborough Tobago
Stonehaven Villas - Grafton Road, Black Rock Stonehaven Bay Tobago
Plantation Beach Villas - Stonehaven Bay Black Rock Tobago
Coco Reef Resort - Coconut Bay P.O. Box 434 Scarborough Tobago
Acajou Hotel - 209`Paria Main Road, Grande Rivière, Toco Trinidad
The Hummingbird - 128 Store Bay Local Road Crown Point Scarborough Tobago
Coblentz Inn - 44 Coblentz Avenue Port of Spain Trinidad
Enchanted Waters - 198-202 Shirvan Road Buccoo Point Tobago
Toucan Inn & Bonkers - Store Bay Local Road Box No. 452, Crown Point Tobago
Blue Haven Hotel - Bacolet Bay Scarborough 00000 Tobago
Courtyard Port of Spain - Invaders Bay, Audrey Jeffers Highway Port of Spain Trinidad
Half Moon Blue Hotel - Bacolet Bay Bacolet W.I. Tobago
Conrado Beach Resort - Milford Rd Ext. Pigeon Point Scarborough Tobago