Couva

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Couva
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Couva
Location of Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
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Couva
Couva (Caribbean)
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Couva
Couva (North America)
Coordinates: 10°25′N61°27′W / 10.417°N 61.450°W / 10.417; -61.450
Country Trinidad and Tobago
Region Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo
Settled1797
Named for Couva River
Government
  Chairman of Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Henry Awong
   Members of Parliament
List of MPs
  Councillors
List of Councillors
Area
  Total68.2 km2 (26.3 sq mi)
Elevation
[1]
47 m (154 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  Total48,858
  Rank 5th
  Density716/km2 (1,850/sq mi)
Demonym Couvan
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
Postal Code(s)
54xxxx, 55xxxx [2]
Area code 868
Telephone Exchanges 636, 679, 830
HDI The HDI for Trinidad and Tobago is 0.814, which gives the country a rank of 19th out of 177 countries with data (2007/2008) – high

Couva is an urban town (48,858 in 2011 census [3] ) in west-central Trinidad, [4] south of Port of Spain and Chaguanas and north of San Fernando and Point Fortin. It is the capital and main urban centre of Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo, and the Greater Couva area includes the Point Lisas industrial estate and the port of Point Lisas. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. Couva's southern boundary is at the village of California and Point Lisas, and to the north Couva stretches to McBean (both on the Trinidad Southern Main Road). To the east of Couva is Preysal. To the west of Couva is the road to Waterloo and Carli Bay, which are located on the Gulf of Paria. Couva was part of the Caroni County. Couva is considered a major power base for the United National Congress, whose headquarters was previously located here.

Contents

History

The first British map of Trinidad, made in 1797 after the island was surrendered by Spain, suggested the existence of a river in the area now known as Couva called "Rio de Cuba". Over time, perhaps due to the Spanish "B" having a sound similar to that of the letter "V" in English, the river became known as "Rio de Couva", which was eventually translated as "Couva River". British settlement of what is now referred to as Couva began a little to the north of the mouth of this river.

For many years, the village was little more than a clearing in a sugarcane field. Its population was mainly indentured workers of Indian origin with a smaller number of former African slaves and numbered no more than a few hundred. This all changed with the arrival of the railway to Couva in 1880. By 1921, it had grown to a population of 2,667, but in the decade leading up to 1931, this number fell to 1,895. During World War II, the Camden (Field) Auxiliary Air Base was established as an emergency airstrip. It included one paved 3,000 ft (910 m) by 150 ft (46 m) runway with extensive taxiways and dispersed camouflaged parking bays for the USAAC, USN, and RN. It was defended by US Army infantry and AAA units.

Couva continued to grow in size, with the national census recording a figure of 3,572 persons in 1980. Historically, the majority of its people have worked on the nearby sugar estates, but due to its strategic location, many residents have found employment with the oil refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre, only 13 km (8 mi) away and at the Point Lisas industrial estate located west of the town centre.

Couva was profoundly affected by the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd. in the early 2000s, particularly its residents who worked on the nearby sugarcane estates and the associated small and medium enterprises that supported this industry. Since this period, the town has recovered through use of the now-open sugar lands for new housing and business initiatives. Consequently, while the nearby town of Chaguanas has evolved and expanded significantly to become the de facto administrative and commercial capital of central Trinidad, Couva's character has changed to become a magnet for industrialisation, commercial, sports, health, education, aviation, and residential projects.

Climate

The climate of Couva is tropical, more specifically tropical monsoon, with a short dry season February to April and a lengthy wet season May to January. Temperatures vary little between the wet and dry seasons.

Climate data for Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)31
(88)
32
(90)
34
(93)
33
(91)
32
(90)
32
(90)
32
(90)
33
(91)
33
(91)
34
(93)
34
(93)
31
(88)
34
(93)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
Record low °C (°F)14
(57)
16
(61)
16
(61)
17
(63)
18
(64)
19
(66)
18
(64)
18
(64)
19
(66)
19
(66)
17
(63)
15
(59)
14
(57)
Average rainfall mm (inches)71.1
(2.80)
43.2
(1.70)
30.5
(1.20)
45.7
(1.80)
111.8
(4.40)
254.0
(10.00)
248.9
(9.80)
238.8
(9.40)
182.9
(7.20)
177.8
(7.00)
198.1
(7.80)
147.3
(5.80)
1,750.1
(68.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)129461019211717161715253
Average relative humidity (%)81807777798484848485868482
Mean monthly sunshine hours 241.3231.3248.3237.5233.2183.7205.9212.5197.1207.4197.7214.52,610.4
Source 1: The Weather Channel (records) [5]
Source 2: World Weather Online [6] Source #3: MSN Weather (records) [7] Source #4: World Meteorological Organization [8] Source #4: NOAA (sun, extremes and humidity) [9]

Development and demise of the sugar production industry

In 1937, two major developments occurred on the sugar lands of Central Trinidad. One was the formation of the All Trinidad Sugar Estates Factory Workers Trade Union, which for the first time gave representation to many thousands of sugar workers who had revolted in 1935, 1936, and 1937 against slave conditions on the sugar estates. Under the leadership of Adrian Cola Rienzi, they transformed the nature of the industry.

At the same time, Caroni (1937) was created when Tate and Lyle, a British multinational company, bought our Caroni Sugar Estates (Trinidad) Ltd making a conglomerate that included Waterloo on the western coast and Brechin Castle in Couva. By 1940, the landscape of its headquarters, Brechin Castle, was changed by the construction of the factory and the four cooling ponds at the back, as well as major company offices, the dispensary, Sevilla School, Sevilla Club, and residences for mainly expatriate senior staff.

In 1960, Caroni bought out Usine Ste. Madeleine factory, which had grown considerably since its founding in 1870. In 1975, the state bought the conglomerate, calling it Caroni (1975) Ltd, which continued producing sugar, but went into diversification, producing citrus, prawns, large and small ruminants, and rice.

By the end of the 20th century, as oil became increasingly significant, the sugar industry and agriculture generally sank into a low second place until the state closed down Caroni Ltd in 2003, retrenching 9,000 workers directly and a further 35,000 who were indirectly dependent on the industry. Consequently, just over 75,000 acres (30,000 ha) of land became available for other uses.

Establishment of Point Lisas

Point Lisas Port and Industrial Estate, Couva Point Lisas.jpg
Point Lisas Port and Industrial Estate, Couva

Point Lisas is a petrochemical and heavy industrial estate clustered around a series of port facilities on Trinidad's sheltered western coastline. Construction of major plants in the estate began in the 1970s. Since then, the Point Lisas industrial estate has been a major success story in Trinidad and Tobago's recent economic history, and the development of natural gas-based industry on the estate has been a major impetus for the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago into a gas-based economy. The location at Point Lisas was chosen due to the nature of the coastline and crucially the availability of large tracts of flat, undeveloped land next to the coast. This landholding belonged to Caroni Ltd, at that time a private company owned by Tate and Lyle in London.

The "estate" is now home to over 90 companies, e.g. YARA, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd. (PPGPL), PLIPDECO, and Methanex. This includes the world's largest methanol plant, along with five additional plants, produces about 13% of global methanol output. National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) was founded alongside this as an aggregator and distributor of feedstock provided by the upstream. The idea behind NGC was to consolidate supply and provide guaranteed distribution to the various consumers at the end of its pipeline network. The elimination of large contracts between upstream and downstream created an efficient system of gas flow on which the estate was fed.

Urban structure

Couva is about 15 km from San Fernando, 10 km from Chaguanas, and 30 km from Port of Spain. It has a general east–west orientation and sprawls the Caroni Central plains with a constant north-easterly wind.

Couva benefits immensely from its unique location. The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway ensures easy access to Port of Spain and San Fernando, in addition to the neighbouring towns of Chaguanas, Arima, and Point Fortin. Transportation, public-service utilities, shopping, recreation and entertainment, health care, businesses, schools, and tndustrial centres are readily accessible.

The urban structure of Couva is similar to that of most towns in central Trinidad, with a mix of residential and commercial activity within the town centre itself, i.e. along the Southern Main Road. Recently, though, people have begun buying land and starting their businesses outside of the town centre areas in the communities of Balmain, Exchange, Point Lisas, McBean, and Camden.

Couva's major urban areas are downtown Couva, McBean Village (north of Couva town centre), Balmain including Central Park (east of the town centre), Isaac Settlement (south of the Southern Main Road), Lisas Gardens construction by the government (bounded between the Southern Main Road and Rivulet Road), Exchange Lots (north of Southern Main Road and in the centre of the town), California, Camden, and Couva North Gardens and Roystonia (north of Southern Main Road and occupies the former Exchange Estate area).

Phases 1–3 of the Couva North Housing Project (in Perseverance) was built by the Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and like Lisas Gardens, is primarily Afro-Trinidadian. The HDC entered into a joint-venture arrangement with the private sector to design, finance, and construct Phases 4–6 of the Couva North Housing Project, also known as Roystonia. Under this arrangement, the development of over 170 ha (420 acres) of land, from Perseverance to the Southern Main Road, has been constructed and delivered in excess of 1,000 homes. This development has attracted primarily Indo-Trinidadian of middle income or upper-middle income background into the Couva area. These new communities have profoundly changed the character of the town and significantly increased its overall population. The community is located east of Perseverance/Waterloo Main Road, west of the Southern Main Road, north of Southern Main Road/Carli Bay Road, and south of the Exchange Road, Couva.

Also, substantial residential developments are in progress within the Couva region on former Caroni (1975) Ltd. lands. Consequently, the current services within Couva are under strain and are in state of transition or expansion to incorporate the new influx of residential activity.

Areas in Couva

Couva consists of these main population centres:

Communities

  • Downtown Couva
  • Point Lisas
  • California
  • Balmain
  • Preysal
  • McBean
  • Orange Valley
  • St. Andrew
  • Exchange
  • Camden
  • Roystonia
  • Couva Village Plaza
  • Couva North Gardens
  • Perseverance
  • Sevilla
  • Brechin Castle
  • Indian Trail
  • Issac Settlement
  • Calcutta Settlement
  • Union Village
  • Basta Hall
  • Felicity Hall
  • Esperanza
  • Carolina
  • Milton
  • Dow Village
  • Savonetta
  • Shashamane
  • Phoenix Park
  • Windsor Park
  • Central Park
  • Vista Park
  • Olive Grove Estates
  • Lisas Gardens

Beaches and bays

  • Carli Bay
  • Lisas Bay
  • Congrejas Bay
  • Margaret Bay

Electoral districts

The electoral districts are Balmain/Calcutta No. 2, Brechin Castle/Esperanza, California/Point Lisa, Carli Bay/Calcutta No. 3/Mc Bean, Preysal/Freeport/Calcutta, and Perseverance/Waterloo.

Economy

Couva is the administrative and commercial centre of the region and the Point Lisas Port and Industrial Estate falls within the greater Couva urban area. By 2011, Couva had the highest number (1789) of businesses in the region. [10] With the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited and the resultant decline in sugarcane production, more lands in the greater Couva area will be under pressure for residential, commercial, and industrial expansion.

The main economic sectors in the region are:

The Couva-Pt. Lisas Chamber of Commerce headquarters is within Couva located on Camden Road, and its new building was commissioned 2012.

The town is served by all the major banks in Trinidad, e.g. Scotiabank (SCB), First Citizens Bank (FCB), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Republic Bank, and also the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC). Inclusive of these banks, there are numerous credit unions currently existing in Couva, e.g. TECU, Venture Credit Union etc.

Including many of the common fast-food chains, Indian and Chinese food outlets as well as local franchises such as KFC, Subway, Church's Chicken, Pizza Hut and Starbucks, the most popular restaurants in the town include Balthazar, Bourgonvilla, Touch 'n' Taste, JZZ's International Steakhouse, Lady Gay, and Kazza Pot and Kettle.

In addition, six beaches are in the region, where significant amounts and value of fish are landed. These beaches are Brickfield, Claxton Bay, Carli Bay, Orange Valley, St. Margaret Bay, and Waterloo.

Located in Gran Couva (east of Couva), La Vega Estate is a 100 ha (250-acre) hideaway with outdoor activities and interests for the whole family. Originally a cocoa estate, La Vega is now home to a unique combination of garden centre, plant nursery, and nature and recreation park.

Transport

The primary means of access to the region from areas in north and south Trinidad are the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and the Southern Main Road. Also, a route between Chaguanas and Rio Claro, in the form of the Caparo Valley Brasso Road and the Tabaquite Rio Claro Road, runs diagonally through the region. No strong road links the areas to the east of the region.

The Couva/Preysal flyover was previously one of the most congested flyovers in the country, and the main access point to and from the highway, but has undergone an extensive upgrade (completed in March 2012) and significantly alleviated these problems. Rivulet Road which extends from the Couva/Preysal flyover to the Point Lisas roundabout (and runs almost the entire south-west length of Couva) was extended to have a shoulder in 2015. This is expected to allow ease of traffic directly to the Point Lisas and the Couva town centre.

Access is also possible by sea through existing industrial port facilities at Point Lisas, which handles roughly 45% of container cargo and 90% of break bulk cargo (goods that do not ship in containers) for the country. The port also handles about 60% of local manufacturers' goods for export. Port Point Lisas is the second major port in Trinidad and covers a total area around 19 hectares.

The national helicopter service is also based at Camden in Couva, and the town is served by the Piarco International Airport, which is located 23 km away from the town centre.

Demography

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1921 2,667    
1931 1,895−28.9%
1980 3,572+88.5%
2000 [11] 39,659+1010.3%
2011 48,858+23.2%

Formerly a predominantly Indian locality, Couva became increasingly populated by Afro-Trinidadians, primarily from urban areas that had reached a saturation point in terms of job opportunities, as well as dilapidated rural areas. Though Indo-Trinidadians remain dominant numerically, the presence of the Afro-Trinidadians changed the character of Couva. Afro-Trinidadian neighbourhoods center on National Housing Authority housing projects, which were inaugurated by the government, and funded by oil revenues, to accommodate this new influx in population.

To its credit, the culture of the community is more or less a sample of the national culture. Religious practices and rituals are mainly along the lines of the Christian (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Pentecostal/Evangelist, Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist), Hindu, and Muslim faiths. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Trinidad and Tobago had its genesis in the spot formerly occupied by the Heart and Hand Friendly Society Hall, and the church has had a continuous presence since November 1895.

Education

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Point Lisas campus is located on Esperanza Road, Brechin Castle, Couva, about 35 km from the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus at Saint Augustine. With its genesis in the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology (TTIT), UTT initially focused on programmes in engineering and technology.

The construction of the first phase of the UTT aviation campus at Camden Base, Couva, began in 2014. The entire project comprises three phases, and the first phase was completed in 2015. Phase one includes construction of classrooms as flight-device training facilities, ancillary facilities, outfitting, and consultancy services.

Holy Faith Convent Couva, located on the Couva Main Road in Exchange Lots, was the first secondary school in the central rural area. Established in 1951, it remained small until the introduction of free education in the 1960s. However, the warm, loving family atmosphere of the small school was well grounded to adapt, not only to over 700 pupils, but also to a multidenominational student body today.

The Couva East Secondary School (formerly known as Couva Government Secondary School) was built in 1963 and is directly opposite the Couva Magistrates Courthouse on Church Street. The school rose to prominence during the 1970s and 1980s, and since then has earned several national scholarships, and most scholarships gained by a government-run secondary school, which is also among the best of the government secondary schools in the country. Today, the school remains prestigious within the Couva area. The Couva West Secondary School (the former Couva Junior Secondary School established in 1972) is located on Balisier Street, Couva. The Preysal Secondary School is located on Couva Main Road, Preysal, Couva.

The Exchange Presbyterian Primary School (at the corner of Bryce and La Croix Streets), has been consistently ranked highly in the national SEA examinations. The Exchange R.C. primary school is part of the compound of the St. Paul R.C. Church, and the Couva Anglican Primary is located further west on the Southern Main Road. The most recent of primary schools, the Couva South Government primary school is on Lisas Blvd. The Sevilla Private Primary School in the Brechin Castle residential compound is also considered one of the most prestigious schools in the region. There are several other primary schools within the wider Couva area (Balmain & McBean Presbyterian, McBean Hindu, Orange Valley Government).

The Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre is located in McBean Village. It is a training hub for professionals of the education sector, and is geared towards encouraging tertiary research in all aspects of education among the Ministry of Education's staff. Its services extend further into the community, though, drawing users from the teacher-training colleges, the University of the West Indies, and other institutions and libraries, as well as members of the general public.

The NESC Skills and Technology Centre, Point Lisas, is the main campus of the NESC. The centre, at the corner of Rivulet and Southern Main Roads, Point Lisas, replaced NESC's centre at Brechin Castle, which was transferred to the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

The construction of the NIHERST Science City in Indian Trail is planned for learning of science and technology. the centre will cover 52 acres (21 ha) and is an expansion of the National Science Centre in D'Abadie .

Health

The region is served by the Couva district health facility, the most heavily used of the South West Regional Health Authority's district facilities, with more than 162,000 people. The facility was to include an adjacent laboratory equipped to conduct laboratory tests, such as complete blood count, renal function, liver function, blood glucose level, and other diagnostic tests.

The Trinidad and Tobago government, in a loan agreement with the Government of China, constructed a Children's Hospital and Multi-Training Centre for Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacology (using the UDeCOTT), which will be a self-contained, centralised medical facility equipped with the most modern and high-end medical equipment. The facility will consist of 230 beds, and includes a burn-care unit, central pharmacy, children and adult casualty clinic, and helicopter rooftop access for emergencies. The completion date was 2015, but since the change of government, the facility has not been opened as of 3 October 2018.

Sport

Ato Boldon Stadium TnT Ato Boldon Stadium.jpg
Ato Boldon Stadium

The Ato Boldon Stadium, located in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, is named after eight-time Olympic and World Championship medal winner and 1997 200 m world champion Ato Boldon. The stadium was constructed in 2001. The National Men's Team and Women's Team use the stadium as their training centre. ABS is also the home of athletics. Every year, various national tournaments and invitationals are held by various clubs and by the National Athletic Association. The capacity of the stadium is around 10,000 persons. Central FC plays its home games at the stadium.

The Sevilla Sports Club, located south of Rivulet Road, includes two tennis courts, a swimming pool, a golf course, and snooker facilities. The Brechin Castle Golf Course started out as a 9-hole course in 1927 and was increased to an 18-hole course in 1929/1930, but by 1938, nine holes had been reclaimed by the sugarcane factory when crops were planted on the site and houses were built on it. The course is being used regularly for tournaments by other clubs and it also has its monthly medal games. The club house, called Seville Club, was formerly the residence of the manager of Brechin Castle. The National Cricket Centre (NCC) was opened by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCBC) in 2002 on 17.5 acres (7.1 ha) of land at Balmain, Couva from Caroni (1975) Ltd. (construction started in 1997). The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board plans to rehabilitate, refurbish and develop the Balmain Cricket Centre to allow for playing cricket at the regional first-class level. The Gilbert Park cricket ground is located on the corner of the Southern Main Road and Rivulet Road. The Couva Recreation Ground and Balmain Cricket club ground are notable sporting areas in the town. W Connection, Wanderers C.C. and Clico Preysal Sports Club are notable cricket clubs in the Couva catchment area.

National Cycling Centre TnT National Cycling Centre.jpg
National Cycling Centre

The National Aquatic Centre and National Cycle Track were opened in 2015 in the vicinity of the Ato Boldon Stadium. The Aquatic Centre includes a 50-metre swimming pool (to provide facilities for the hosting of and training for international competitions), a 50-metre warm-up pool, a 25-metre diving pool, and total permanent seating capacity of 700 seats. The National Cycle Track includes a 250-by-7-metre (820 ft × 23 ft) wood cycling track with embankment of 42 degrees to the International Cycle Union (UCI) standard Category 1, and 2,500 seats in the cycling track configuration. Young Trinidadian and West Indies cricket team player Nicholas Pooran was also born here. The Couva public swimming pool is located in Railway Station Road.

National Aquatic Centre TnT National Aquatic Centre.jpg
National Aquatic Centre

The Aquatic Centre, Cycling Velodrome, Ato Boldon Stadium, and the NCC are expected to make Couva the main hub of sports in the country.

Air services

An airstrip is located on the outskirts of the town called the Camden Base, which was originally built by the US military during World War II. It handles helicopters and light aircraft, and has a 4,000 ft (1,200 m) by 50 ft (15 m) paved runway. It is the main operating base of both National Helicopter Services Limited and Briko Air Services.

Briko Air Services Limited is a multifaceted air transportation-service company, whose primary business activities include air charter and agricultural aerial-spraying services. Briko currently offers offshore energy production support, external lifts, environmental support, agricultural services, flight training, and general charter services. The company's offshore energy production charter services provide transportation and support personnel, equipment and supplies to petroleum production service firms in support of the drilling for and production of oil and gas in Trinidad. Ad hoc services are being provided to The National Gas Company, Trinmar and other non-energy based organisations. Briko owns and operates a flight training school for fixed wing aircraft and provide flight support for pilots of the regional airlines.


The Trinidad and Tobago government constructed phase 1 of the Aviation Institute of Trinidad and Tobago in the vicinity of the Camden base, as part of the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The institute is established through partnerships with Caribbean Airlines Limited, Metal Industries Limited, and National Helicopter Services Limited), and the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Guard. A Caribbean Airline Airplane landed there using the Camden Airstrip on the opening day of the campus.

Utilities

Electricity generation is handled by Powergen and Trinity Power Ltd. at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, while electrical distribution is handled by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission.

Water and sanitary sewerage are under the purview of the Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago.

The town is served by all major telecommunication (including cable, satellite) companies, e.g. Amplia, bmobile, Flow, DirectTV, Digicel+, and Greendot.

Culture

Couva, which is known as the oldest sugar village in Trinidad, generated much of its prominence from its production of this major crop. To commemorate its historical involvement in the sugar industry, the Sugar and Energy Festival was founded by the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce and held at the Gilbert Park grounds annually.

Rienzi Complex, Couva Rienzi complex.jpg
Rienzi Complex, Couva

Couva is known as a focal point for the development and dissemination of chutney music during the 1980s and 1990s. The Rienzi Complex typically hosts the Trinidad Chutney-Soca Monarch semifinals.

Couva is one of the bigger Carnival hosts, with full shows on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Jouvert is part of the Carnival Monday show and calypso shows are held in the town centre during the Carnival season.

Culturally, the town is the home of Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra, a group well known for its varied repertoire and community projects. The band holds its practice sessions in a newly built steelpan complex at Railway Road, Couva, built by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure in conjunction with National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

It is also the setting of Derek Walcott's play Beef, No Chicken .

Notable people

Sister cities

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The Gulf of Paria is a 7,800 km2 (3,000 sq mi) shallow semi-enclosed inland sea located between the island of Trinidad and the east coast of Venezuela. It separates the two countries by as little as 15 km at its narrowest and 120 km at its widest points. The tides within the Gulf are semi-diurnal in nature with a range of approximately 1m. The Gulf of Paria is considered to be one of the best natural harbors on the Atlantic coast of the Americas. The jurisdiction of the Gulf of Paria is split between Trinidad and Venezuela with Trinidad having control over approximately 2,940 km2 (1,140 sq mi) (37.7%) and Venezuela the remainder (62.3%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroni County</span>

Caroni County was a historic county of Trinidad and Tobago. It occupies 557 km2 (215 sq mi) in the west central part of the island of Trinidad, the larger island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It lies south and southwest of Saint George County, west of Nariva County and north of Victoria County. To the west it is bounded by the Gulf of Paria. County Caroni includes the towns of Chaguanas, the largest town in the country and Couva, the capital of the Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo region. Administratively it is divided between the Borough of Chaguanas, the Region of Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo and the Region of Tunapuna–Piarco. The county was divided into four Wards: Chaguanas, Couva, Cunupia and Montserrat. The major towns of County Caroni are Chaguanas and Couva. The port and industrial zone of Point Lisas is located in Caroni, and the region is also a site for agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudranath Capildeo</span> Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, mathematician and barrister

Rudranath Capildeo was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, mathematician and barrister. He was a member of the prominent Hindu Indo-Trinidadian Capildeo family. Capildeo was the leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) from 1960 to 1969 and the first Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of the independent Trinidad and Tobago from 1962 to 1967. He was also a faculty member at the University of London, eventually holding the position of Reader of Mathematics. He was awarded the Trinity Cross, the nation's highest award, in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago</span>

Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago is the second largest religion. Hindu culture arrived to Trinidad and Tobago in 1845, with the arrival of the first Indian indentured laborers, the overwhelming majority of which were Hindu. According to the 2011 census there were 240,100 declared Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway</span>

The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, sometimes referred to as SHH, is the major north–south highway on the island of Trinidad, in Trinidad and Tobago. It runs for 51.2 km.

Adrian Cola Rienzi was a Trinidadian trade unionist, civil rights activist, politician and lawyer.

RangyNanan was a West Indian cricketer who played as a right arm off spinner. Nanan played for both Trinidad and Tobago and for the West Indies cricket team. He captained T&T for several years, steering the side to a 1985 Red Stripe Cup title. Nanan picked up a sum of 366 wickets in 94 first class games for T&T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo</span> Region in Trinidad and Tobago

Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo is one of the nine regions of Trinidad and Tobago, and one of the five regions which form the Gulf of Paria coastline on Trinidad's West Coast. Its regional capital and commercial center is Couva. Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo is the third-largest of Trinidad and Tobago's nine regions, with an area of 723 square kilometres (300 sq mi). As of 2011, the population was 178,410. The region is the second-most populous and fourth-least-densely populated region in Trinidad with 247 inhabitants per square kilometre (640/sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Main Road</span>

The Southern Main Road is a major road in Trinidad and Tobago running from Curepe in the north through Chaguanas, Couva, San Fernando, and Point Fortin to Icacos in the southwest, over a now discontinuous length of 120 km.

General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 5 November 2007. Nomination day was 15 October. Five parties contested the elections; the ruling People's National Movement, the official opposition United National Congress–Alliance, the Congress of the People, the Tobago United Front–Democratic Action Congress and the Democratic National Assembly. Five independent candidates also ran.

Dow Village is a village located within the borders of California, Couva in the region of Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo in Trinidad and Tobago. It is famous for its annual play based on the Ramayana called Ramleela. This live play chronicles the activity of Lord Rama as he rescues his wife, Sita, from the clutches of Ravana. Dow Village is also known for the lighting of clay pots called deyas on Divali day. The diyas are lit along the street in bamboo arches. There is also a very old masjid and several churches, in addition to a mandir. It borders Esperanza Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Trinidadian local elections</span>

The 2003 Trinidadian local elections were held for the regions and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago. These municipalities and regions were created after the amendment of Act No.8 of 1992.

References

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