The reason why Caribbean/Trinidad and Tobago is so diverse/ migrant groups/diaspora

1. The various ethnic groups
who came to the Trinidad
and Tobago
P. CLAXTON

2. The Amerindians

3. The Amerindians
 These are believed to be the indigenous peoples (first peoples) of the
Caribbean.
 They occupied the Americas (including the Caribbean four over 5000
years before the arrival of Columbus.
 Their influence still remains in place names such as Arima, Chaguanas
and Siparia.
 Other influences include foods like pepperpot and crafts such as
hammock and basket making.

4. The Europeans

5. The Europeans
 The Europeans came in search of new lands to conquer and riches.
 Christopher Columbus claimed the ‘new’ discovered region for Spain.
 Other European powers such as France, Denmark, The Netherlands,
Portugal and England eventually followed.
 They massacred the indigenous peoples took control of the region and
brought other groups to the Americas and the Caribbean to work either as
slaves or indentured labourers for low wages.
 Their influence remains in the languages we speak such as English,
European dress such as jacket and tie, and our style of government such as
our Parliament.

6. The Africans

7. The Africans
 From the 1600s -1800s millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their
homeland and brought to the Americas and the Caribbean (referred to by Europeans
as the’ New World’) to suffer a lifetime of enslavement.
 This is the reason why Africans make up the largest ethnic group in most English-
speaking Caribbean territories.
 They came to work on the sugar plantations since it was the most important
commodity at the time and societies only existed to produce sugar for export.
 Though much of their culture was destroyed, Africans and their descendants have
greatly impacted society and culture. For example, genres of music such as calypso,
foods such as callaloo and religions such as Orisha.

8. The Indians

9. The Indians
 After the abolition of slavery, the labour shortage on the sugar estates were
filled by importing poor low paid labourers from Asia, including China, Java and
India predominantly.
 Indians mainly came seeking a better life and most chose to remain after their
contracts were ended. They started families and added to the diversity of the
region.
 Their cultural influence can be see in the culinary dishes such as curried foods,
dress such as saris and religions such as Hinduism and Islam.

10. The Chinese

11. The Chinese
 Indentured workers from China came in smaller numbers to work on the
plantations.
 Most of them could not handle the strenuous labour and quickly moved off the
plantations to start their small businesses.
 In the early days most intermarried into the African population contributing to a
high ‘mixed’ population of Trinidad and Tobago.
 Later more women and whole families came and they began to form their own
ethnic group.
 Cultural contributions from the Chinese immigrants include Chinese dishes such
as wontons, games such as Play Whe and styles of clothing.

12. The Syrian/Lebanese

13. The Syrians/Lebanese
 ‘Greater Syria’ at the turn of the 20th century comprised of modern day Iraq,
Syria and Lebanon.
 Arabs from these regions fled political and religious persecution (most
immigrants were Christian).
 They landed in Trinidad and built a new life for themselves, sending for their
families to join them when they became established.
 Though small in number and fairly isolated from other groups, they have
maintained a powerful presence in Trinidad and Tobago. One example is
establishing multi-million dollar business conglomerates such as the Ansa McAl
Group of companies that operate from insurance (Tatil) to car sales (Honda) to
media houses (Guardian Media).

14. Other groups
 As travel becomes easier and the world changes rapidly, many people are
migrating from one area to another.
 In Trinidad and Tobago we have many people who have settled here from other
Caribbean countries, African and Asian countries as well as recently from South
America, particularly Venezuela.
 All of these groups are sometimes said to form a ‘melting pot’ of cultures that
make this country uniquely diverse.