TRINIDADCoatTOBAGO


Our National Pledge


I am a citizen of the sovereign democratic
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
and I solemnly pledge to dedicate my life
    To the service of my God
    And my Country.
    I will honour my parents,
    My teachers, my leaders and my elders,
    And those in authority.
    I will be clean and honest in all my thoughts,
    My words, and my deeds,
    I will strive, in everything I do,
    To work together with my fellowmen,
    Of every creed and race,
    For the greater happiness of all,
    And the honour and glory of my Country.

Granted


Independence

on August 31, 1962
and became a

Republic


on August 1, 1976.
National Anthem

    Forged from the love of liberty
    in the fires of hope and prayer,
    With boundless faith in our destiny
    We solemnly declare.
    Side by side we stand,
    Islands of the Blue Caribbean Sea,
    This our Native Land,
    We pledge our life to Thee.
    Here ev'ry creed and race,
    Find and equal place,
    And may God bless our Nation,
    Here ev'ry creed and race,
    Find an equal place,
    And may God bless our Nation.
CoatCoat of Arms
    The hope and aspirations of the people of the Republic is explicitly expressed in its motto:
      "Together we aspire,
      Together we achieve".
    embedded as the foundation of the Coat of Arms.
    Other features:
    • The national birds -Scarlet Ibis seen on left and Cocrico in right.
    • Three peaks - were principal motifs of Trinidad's early British Colonial Seals and Flag Badges.
    • Three Ships: Columbus's three ships - Santa Maria de Guia, el Correo and la Vaquenos -- on in his third voyage, when he discovered Trinidad.
    • The Humming Birds identifies Trinidad by its ancient name, Iere or the "Land of the Humming Bird", while the fruited coconut palm, at the tip, dates back to the sels of British Colonial Tobago in the days when the island was a separate administrative unit.
ScarletThe Scarlet Ibis
    One of the national birds, is a resident of Caroni in Central Trinidad. There in the swamp .. declared a Bird Santuary .. the Ibis live in large colonies in the nutrient rich, fresh and salt water, mangrove swamp.
    Ibis, the latin word meaning religious worship, sacred bird"Sacred Ibis" as part of their religion. The birds were mummified and buried in temples with the Pharaohs.
    Whether the Amerindians dicovered the Ibis, is not known, although they knew of the Humming Bird.
    The bird itself, as the name implies is scarlet in color and can be seen early mornings or late afternoons flying in triangular formation from or towards the swamp where they nest and feed.
CocoricoThe Cocorico
    This national bird is a resident of Tobago. The blue green sheen of its wings, its grey head, olive-brown back and russet tipped tails and under wings were common once, but its delicious flesh has been too popular and it is now a protected bird.
    It is truly the National Bird of Tobago.
ChaconiaThe Chaconia .. the National Flower
    Commonly known as the "Wild Poinsettia", this flower is "the pride" of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a wild forest flower, flaming red in color and of the Rublacease family.
    The name itself, Chaconia is in honour of the Governor, Don Jose Maria Chacon, under Spanish rule.
    This variety with double flowers is called Warszewiczia after the Polish botanist who discovered it in Central America. It was discovered in Trinidad in 1957 by David Auyong.
NationalThe National Flag
    The Red, black and white flag replaced the British Union Jack, which is also red, black and white.
    Red is the color most expressive of this nation and represents the vitality of its land and its peoples; it is the warmth and energy of the sun, the courage and friendliness of the people.
    Black represents the dedication of its people joined together by strong bond.
    White is the sea by which these lands are bound; the cradle of the nation's heritage; the purity of aspirations and the equality of all men under the sun.
    The colors, red, black and white represents then fire, earth and water which encompasses all past, present and future and inspires its people onward.
SteelThe Steel Pan
    In 1995, the steelpan that begun as a musical instrument on the streets was officially recognised and declared the National Musical Instrument of the nation.
    The history of pan can fill volumes although no single person could claim to be its "inventor", yet there is no doubt that Trinidad is where it started. To some. it was at one time the source of many bloody gang wars, particularly in north Trinidad. It is as good a "rag to riches" story as any .. for it started with discarded pieces of pipes and old tins and pans as revellers improvised on the streets and worked itself to international recognition and the emergence of a million-dollar business.
    Today, the steelpans reproduced in hundreds of ways and forms, even as souvenirs and can be found in most countries.

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