Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is
a beautiful twin-island Republic located at the southern-most
end of the Caribbean islands. T&T has a population
of 1.3 million with notable ethnic, religious and
cultural diversity. The island of Trinidad is full
of energy and is a place to do business, invest and
enjoy both culture and events. Tobago, best known
for its blue balmy waters, lush rainforests and is
rated amongst the top ten destinations in the world
for eco-tourism and vacationing.
There is a host of cultural activities
and festivities that are indigenous to T&T. Carnival,
Calypso, Steel pan, Chutney Music, East Indian Classical
and Limbo Dancing are all products of a dynamic heritage
and a vibrant people. T&T Carnival, described
in many circles as the “world’s greatest
festival,” attracts thousands of visitors every
year. This 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE CARIBBEAN in T&T
falls next year in the Carnival Season, a mere two
weeks before the climax with two-full days of street
costume parades to pulsating calypso music. However,
there is a long build-up of Carnival activities towards
Carnival Monday and Tuesday with lots of steel pan
competitions, parties and calypso shows for the entire
months of January and February. So visitors to this
conference will be treated to the best of Carnival!
T&T also boasts of inventing the only musical
instrument in the 20th century - the steel pan - one
of the main musical instruments for Carnival. In addition
to this rhythmic steel pan music, there is the pulsating
beat of the tassa drums, the entertaining calypsos
and the spicy chutney songs.
The cuisine that Trinidad and Tobago presents is second
to none. The diversity of its people is expressed
in their food and drink. Pelau, crab and dumpling,
roti, doubles, coocoo, callaloo, bake and shark are
some of the mouth-watering dishes of T&T. Coconut
water, rums, scotches, beers and a host of exotic
drinks are abundant to complement the hot weather
and lively spirit of the people. Trinidad possesses
the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt
at The Pitch Lake located in La Brea which was discovered
by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595. Further, there are
dozens of breath-taking beaches in both islands with
some of the main ones being Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas,
Toco, Store Bay, Pigeon Point, Mount Irvine and Turtle
Beach. IN FACT, THE MOST POPULAR BEACH IN
TRINIDAD, MARACAS BAY, IS ONLY LESS THAN ONE HOUR
AWAY FROM CONFERENCE AND HOTEL VENUES.
TOBAGO HAS THE OLDEST PROTECTED
RAINFOREST IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE which
is quickly developing into a major eco-tourism industry.
There is the Buccoo Reef - fascinating and exotic
corals and fish reside there! This is a favourite
attraction for visitors. Then, there is an amazing
shallow area of water far out into the ocean where
persons can swim, snorkel, view varieties of fish
and corals, etc. - Nylon Pool - a fabulous experience
to actually stand up in the middle of the ocean!
Petroleum, natural gas and asphalt
are some of the major natural resources found in and
around the main island of Trinidad In fact, T&T
is a major exporter of petroleum, natural gas, ammonia,
etc. in the world economy. It is a vibrant, growing
energy-based economy. T&T has over the years been
in the international spotlight by the achievements
of several of its citizens. For example:
• The current world double
record holder for cricket, Brian Charles Lara hails
from Trinidad.
• Ato Boldon, Hasley Crawford and George Bovell
III are Olympic Medallists in track and field and
swimming.
• Delegates from T&T have won the Miss Universe
Title in 1977 and 1998 as well as the Miss World Title
in 1986.
• Dwight Yorke, Stern John, Russel Latapy, etc.
are key professional footballers in the English Premier
League, Major League Soccer (US), etc.
• Leslie ‘Tiger’ Stewart won the
World Light-Heavyweight Boxing Championship.
• A number of world-renowned scholars, for example,
Dr. Eric E. Williams, historian and our first Prime
Minister, world famous scientist, Dr. Rudranath Capildeo
and Nobel Prize Winner for Literature V. S. Naipaul
are from T&T
• Some well known locals who have made their
mark internationally in the cultural realm are Slinger
Francisco (The Mighty Sparrow), Aldwyn Roberts (Lord
Kitchener), Peter Minshall, Len “Boogsie”
Sharpe and Jit Samaroo.
The University of the West
Indies (UWI) is the premier tertiary academic institution
in the Caribbean. One of the three campuses
of UWI is located in T&T (St. Augustine Campus).
This Campus is the host for the 4TH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE CARIBBEAN:
NEW CHALLENGES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE – FROM RESEARCH
TO POLICY being held under the auspices of
the CENTRE FOR CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
The other two campuses are located at Mona, Jamaica
and Cave Hill, Barbados. For more information on UWI,
please view http://sta.uwi.edu/
You can visit the following web sites
for more information on Trinidad and Tobago:
http://www.tidco.co.tt/site/abouttnt.asp
http://www.gov.tt/
http://www.visittnt.com/General/about/general.html
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/td.html
Come, see and enjoy!
August 24, 2005, Centre for Criminology and Criminal
Justice, Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine
Campus, T&T, W. I.
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