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Trindad is the larger of the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago. Although, only, eleven miles apart they are two very different islands. Trinidad is an oil-rich island that is highly commercialised and fettered with a lot of traits of a anglo-western society. Tobago on the other hand is a laid-back island still with a rural society with tourism its main industrial activity. This is a result of two entirely differnt colonial histories.
Trinidad had a fairly stable colonial history first Spanish and then English. Its size made the Sugar Industry more profitably. When Sugar Market in Europe collapsed the Petroleum Industry was there to keep the foreign interest and presence. So unlike Tobago it was necessary to replace the freed slaves, hence the Indian Indentured Labourers, Chinese and Lebonese immigration was implemented to provide the much needed labour. Following Emancipation the African ex-slaves were only to happy to leave the plantations in memories of Slavery. They migrated to the towns and industries, then Petroleum etc. in search of freedom and paid jobs. However, after Emancipation Neo-Colonialism the now landless African slaves became the poor lower class with a few seep into the middle class by virtue of Education. The Indentured laboures and post slavery immigrants easily becoming the new entrepreneurs while the Africans were preoccupied with shedding the slave past and the bound to the Land.
Today Trinidad has high level of crime, poverty with the classic three tares of social classes emersed in very vibrant Caribbean Artistc culture/industry where its leader in Calypso, Steelband and Carnival.
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