Happy 50th Birthday, Trinidad And Tobago!

Jamaica wasn't the only Caribbean island nation celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence from Great Britain this year.  The twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is also doing so as well

At a few moments before midnight on August 30, 1962 in Port of Spain's Woodford Square, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and in its place at midnight was raised the red, black and white flag of Trinidad for the first time.   It was the catalyst for more than a week of festivities and events across the country from August 28 to September 5 during that first Independence Day celebration.

Noted Caribbean historian Dr Eric Eustace Williams became its first prime minister, with the 'Father of the Nation' holding that position until his death in 1981.

Its current prime minister is Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is the seventh person to do so and has served as prime minister since May 2010. She also hods the distinction as the first Trini woman to do so.  Here's the address she delivered on the occasion of Trinidad and Tobago's Golden Jubilee 

The 1.3 million people who call the islands home along with the people across the Diaspora who proudly claim Trini heritage in just 50 years as an independent nation have impacted the world in many fields and been history making trailblazers as well. 

They have produced a Nobel Prize winner, scholars in various fields, Olympic medal winning athletes and sporting legends, chart topping innovative musicians and artists such as Nicki Minaj and have created an educational system in their nation renowned across the Caribbean and the world. .  

Of the four African descended women to win the Miss Universe crown, two of them hail from Trinidad and Tobago. Janelle Commissiong (1977) was the first ever to do so with Wendy Fitzwilliam doing so in 1998.   The steelpan, the only instrument created in the 20th century was invented there and in 2006 Trinidad and Tobago became the smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup Soccer tournament finals..  

Interestingly enough, want to point out the first transperson purported to have SRS from the Caribbean, activist Jowelle De Souza, hails from that island nation as well. .

To all my Trinidad and Tobago readers, Happy Independence Day!   May you have many more to come.  .   .