Trinidad and Tobago in Country Studies

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What Is Cultural Diversity?

Culture is an umbrella term that comprises values, behaviors, norms, and beliefs. It can also be defined as the way of life for a particular group or society: individuals share language, religion, dress code, and rituals. Therefore, understanding other cultures is important because it defines how people relate to one another and, in the process, eliminates cultural barriers. Diversity, on the other hand, is the deliberate effort to bring different races, genders, and religions together. By understanding diversity, individuals tend to be more creative and productive because they learn and grow from each other.

Country of Study

Trinidad and Tobago is an island country located in the southeastern West Indies. The Island is located 7 miles from the Venezuelan coast, and it is separated from it by the Gulf of Paria, which has several other smaller islands. Trinidad and Tobago are located several kilometers from the continent of South America, in the eastern part of Venezuela, and to the northwest of Guyana (Greenidge & Gahman, 2019). The island country (Trinidad and Tobago) gained its independence in 1962 from the United Kingdom and later became a republic in 1976. According to the latest estimates by United Nations data, the current population of Trinidad is 1, 406,585. The country’s current climate is hot, oppressive, windy, and overcast.

Global Issue

The main global issue affecting Trinidad is pollution resulting from industrial and agricultural chemicals, deforestation, and poor disposal of plastic and sewage. The major sources of pollution experienced in Trinidad include manufacturing companies, oil refineries, and electrical power generation. According to the guidelines developed by World Health Organization, Trinidad’s quality of air in 2018 was categorized as being moderately unsafe: it was way above the normal concentration of 10 µg/m3 (trade (Khan et al., 2021). In fact, Trinidad was among the countries with a poor mean score based on the standards put in place by Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII). The country is currently being threatened by made-made pollution, which explains why it has already joined several international conventions with the aim treating eliminate chemical and waste disposal.

One Positive Contribution

The economy of Trinidad is considered one of the most developed in the Caribbean: it is ranked third among the most developed economies in the Caribbean. The country, which relies mainly on industrial production (petroleum and petrochemicals), is recognized by the World Bank as a stable economy. With that said, one of the positive contributions from this country is the import of goods such as oil, iron ore, fuel, and vehicles. Trinidad imports most of its goods from other countries around the globe: both in developing economies such as Nigeria and developed ones (Germany and Japan). As of 2020, the country experienced a slight increase in its imports from 1354.10 USD Million to 1385.60 USD in a period of 5 months.

Language

While Trinidad remains to be home to many languages, English, formally referred to as Trinidadian English, is regarded as the widely spoken dialect. The language is used mainly in official recordings, government operations, and media, as well as in the institution of higher learning. Besides this, the other language spoken in the country is Trinidadian English Creole: it is increasingly becoming popular among the local people and is used widely in their interactions. Lastly, Trinidadian Hindustani, also known as Trinidadian Bhojpuri, is another language that is common among the people living in the country. It is often considered the main language of the Indo-Aryan language family.

Religion in Cultures

Trinidad is home to many religions, with Christianity being the most popular among the residents: it accounts for 63 percent of the population. More specifically, the country has many Christian denominations, such as Pentecostals, Protestants, Anglicans, and Roman Catholics. Other common religions include Hindus and Muslims, which account for 20 and 5.6 percent, respectively. According to John and Storr (2018), the country has several small religions, such as the Orisha faith and Rastafaris, representing 1 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The many religions existing in the country are a clear indication that there is freedom of worship: the constitution allows freedom of conscience and religious belief and practices.

Daily Life

The residents of Trinidad are constantly working in order to sustain their daily needs. Most people live in family settings, which explains why the country has a laid-back culture with beautiful scenery for holidays. Although the country has one of the fastest-growing economies, residents must work hard because the cost of housing and food is high. For foreigners wishing to work and live in the country, the first requirement is to obtain a permit for a specific period of time. The education system in the country is highly developed, with education being free and compulsory for those aged 5 to 15: most of them are day scholars. During weekends and holidays, many people prefer to visit Maracas Bay, the most popular beach in the country, where they get a chance to enjoy local food such as bake and sharks.

Art and Literature

Trinidad being an island country provides artists with beautiful sceneries to capture clear and natural images. Europeans are regarded as the first people to visit the country: they introduced painting techniques to the people who were living there at the time. There are several famous people in this field who contribute to the country. An example of such people is Michel Jean Cazabon, who is known for his watercolor paintings. Other famous artists in the country include Patrick Warsing Foon and Dean Arlen: their paintings are among the many most viewed collections in National Theatre. The country is rich in literature, with most of the materials being documented in English, while others are based on stories from indigenous people. Regarding music, the country is well known for several genres, including calypso, soca, chutney, and steelpan.

Government

The constitution, adopted in 1976, requires that the country elect the president to serve as the head of state and commander in chief, with the Prime minister responsible for running the government. The country follows a parliamentary democracy where the citizens are allowed to elect representatives to legislative positions in order to make laws and decisions for them: the parliament exists to represent the people. Its three branches are the executive, headed by the president (chief of state), and prime minister (head of government), the legislative (bicameral parliament), and the judiciary (independent court systems).

Flag and Currency

The national flag of Trinidad comprises different features, including red background with a white-edged black diagonal band embedded across its upper part and lower fly sides. The colors symbolize the three elements of earth, water, and fire: black stands for the country’s wealth. White represents the waters, and the red color is for the sun, which doubles as a source of energy. Since the country was initially a British colony, it uses the same currency as other countries previously under the same regime. The official currency for the country is Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$): its value is influenced by factors such as interest rates, political stability, economic health, and public debt.

Economy

The economy of Trinidad started gaining attraction in 2002 after experiencing an eight-year economic decline: it experienced real growth from 2002 to 2010. The country’s economic future is promising with the current well-established hydrocarbon, petrochemical, and metals sector together with fast-growing tourism and manufacturing industries. For example, the petrochemical sector, which is made up of methanol, ammonia, urea, and natural gas, has continued to expand following the resumption of operation in all other dormant facilities. Statistically, the GDP annual growth between 1991 to 2021 “averaged 2.15 percent, reaching an all-time high of 20.60 percent in the second quarter of 2003 and a record low of -15.40 percent in the second quarter of 2020” (Hull et al., 2021, p.127). The economy is projected to grow by 2.2 percent in the year 2023 due to political stability.

Education

Education in Trinidad can be divided into five broad categories: pre-primary (ages 3-4), primary (5-11), secondary (12-18), post-secondary (comprised of either technical or vocational training), and tertiary. The Ministry of education, which is part of the government, ensures there is proper planning and implementation of educational practices throughout the country. Secondary education can be offered either as traditional academic instruction or a more advanced curriculum through technical and vocational studies. Some of the values gained through this type of education include respect, positive thinking, motivation, and humanity. The system emphasizes more on the importance of basic education with the aim of improving professional specializations and experience.

Holidays Observed and Customs

The Carnival is regarded as one of the oldest public holidays in Trinidad: It was introduced in the country by the French. Carnival is important because it allows them to take part in merrymaking before they make a personal sacrifice to God during lent (Greenidge & Gahman, 2019). Another important holiday is Emancipation Day which allows the people to commemorate the abolition of slavery. This national holiday is significant because it reminds people of the need to treat others with dignity. The last holiday is Spiritual/Shouter Baptist Liberation Day which allows people to celebrate the repeal of laws banning the faith. Regarding marriage, one must be 18 years before being allowed to marry: civil marriage is the most common form in Trinidad, which is performed by Marriage Officer.

Cuisine of Trinidad

Trinidad has a rich culinary diversity, with its cuisine comprising different blending of Indian, African, Arabian, European, Creole, Cajun, Spanish, and Chinese. Some common examples include channa (chickpeas), curried chicken, roti (Indian flatbread), white rice, and aloo choke (a potato preparation). Trinidad is also known for its popular Creole cuisine, including red beans, stewed chicken, homemade ginger beer, and fried plantains. In addition to this, some parts of the country offer chow mein, a traditional Chinese food made with egg noodles and stir-fried veggies. The apparel from this country consists mainly of high-quality garments with embroidery and silk screen.

Places to Visit

Trinidad has some interesting places to visit, such as Maracas Beach, Asa Writ Nature Center, and Caroni Swamp. First, Maracas Beach, located outside the Port of Spain, is known for its scenic white sand, which is surrounded by mountains. Those who visit this place enjoy seeing the famous dishes such as shark and bake as well as deep-fried shark meat baked with dough. Secondly, Asa Wright Nature Centre, located in the tropical rainforest, offers its visitors a memorable experience after watching amazing birds: this is especially good for bird lovers. Lastly, Caroni Swamp is the largest mangrove in the country and home to different bird species, among them the national bird, ibis: visiting this place allows one to watch them flock in the sky.

Contributions to Society

In the area of art, Amy Leong Pang remains to be one of the people who revived art following the death of Cazabon: she led the team in forming the Society of Trinidad, which is now called Trinidad and Tobago Art Society. Dolly Nicholas, on the other hand, is regarded as the first and only woman to have received receive a Trinidad and Tobago national award for her scientific invention. Her contributions to the field of science and technology are evident today. Lastly, Claudia Jones was a renowned activist whose role in the British African-Caribbean community was to organize access to basic facilities and champion equal rights. Similarly, she campaigned against racism in different sectors, including education, employment, and housing.

References

Greenidge, A., & Gahman, L. (2019). Roots, rhizomes and resistance: remembering the Sir George Williams student uprising. Race & Class, 61(2), 27-42.

Gugolati, M. (2021). A detergent artwork in Trinidad and Tobago: Christopher Cozier’s Blue Soap. Esclavages & Post-esclavages. Slaveries & Post-Slaveries, (5) (123-240).

Hull, C. E., Millette, S., & Williams, E. (2021). Challenges and opportunities in building circular-economy incubators: Stakeholder perspectives in Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Cleaner Production, 96 (5), 126-412.

John, A., & Storr, V. H. (2018). Kirznerian and Schumpeterian entrepreneurship in Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy , 70(4), 23-99

Khan, A. S., Georges, K., Rahaman, S., Abebe, W., & Adesiyun, A. A. (2021). Characterization of Salmonella isolates recovered from stages of the processing lines at four broiler processing plants in Trinidad and Tobago. Microorganisms, 9(5), 10-48.

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