Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations
Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Caracas and Venezuela has an embassy in Port of Spain.[1][2]
 | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
 Venezuela |
|---|---|
History
editThe community in Trinidad originated in the late seventeenth century as part of Captaincy General of Venezuela. After the Island fell under British control in 1797, Spanish-speaking Venezuelans continued to settle in Trinidad, usually in connection with the civil wars and revolutions which followed the Bolivarian revolution. The rise of cocoa cultivation in Trinidad was largely achieved through the importation of Venezuelan peasant farmers. These farmers were employed to clear the forest and establish cocoa seedlings. After five to seven years, they were paid for each mature cocoa tree on the plot of land. Then, they moved on to a new plot of land, repeating this process. Families of Venezuelan born African and Amerindian descent are recorded in Trinidad as far back as 1841[3] within the Cocoa Estates Community. This migrants were part of the Cedula of Populations, and included workers attracted from Venezuela after the 1838 Abolition of Slavery, for labour within the cocoa industry. Migrants from Venezuela settled and intermarried, in particular in Diego Martin with Africans of Sierra Leonese descent, and with that community formed an integral part of the Estate Lands settlers in that Region. Among the larger families of their descendants today are the Emmanuel, Herrera, Tardieu, George, Felix, Hospedales and Thomas families of Maraval, Paramin and Diego Martin. They became an integral part of the Cocoa Farms Estate owners and settled many of the lands and regions in Maraval, Paramin, St. Ann's, and Diego Martin. The name 'panyol' aplicated to Venezuelan migrants comes from the patois word for Spanish, espagnol, and the Spanish word español, and reflects the historical association between the group and the cultivation of cacao in Trinidad.
Since the middle of the 19th century, thousand of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as other inhabitants of the small islands of the Antilles, began to emigrate to Venezuela due to great economic prosperity that enjoyed at that time due the El Callao gold rush and by oil boom. They initially settled in cities in the northeastern region and the Guyanese region and then expanded to other parts of Venezuela. Due to the great irregularity and illegality of the majority of Trinidadians residing in Venezuela, it was difficult to census or estimate their population.[4]
The people of Trinidad were primarily known for selling ice cream on the venezuelans streets.[4]
President Jaime Lusinchi of Venezuela became the first president of Venezuela to visit Trinidad and Tobago in 1986, despite both nations neighboring each other. An agreement was signed on technical, manufacturing, and fishing rights during his visit. Several Trinidadian Coast Guard members were taught Spanish to deal with future situations with Venezuelans. Despite signing fishing agreements, there were several Trinidadian ships seized by Venezuelans following the visit.[5]
In recent years, Trinidad and Tobago has witnessed increased immigration from Venezuela, with an estimated 40,000 Venezuelans immigrating to the country by 2018.[6] Relations have remained strained in recent years due to the pressure the large influx of Venezuelans places on healthcare and public services in the island nation.[7] 16,500 Venezuelan refugees were granted temporary work visas and photo IDs for 6 months to a year.[8][9]
Trade
editCARICOM-Venezuela agreement on trade and investment eliminates tariffs on certain goods between Trinidad and other Caribbean nations and Venezuela. This includes duty-free access on specific products and elimination of tariffs for certain exports to Venezuela.[10]
See also
edit
Notes and references
edit- ^ "EMBASSY OF VENEZUELA IN PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO". EmbassyPages. 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "EMBASSY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA". EmbassyPages. 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "TRINBAGOPAN.COM - DIEGO MARTIN". www.trinbagopan.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ a b Cartay, Rafael (January 2005). "Aportes De Los Inmigrantes A La Conformación Del Régimen Alimentario Venezolano En El Siglo Xx". Agroalimentaria (in Spanish). 10 (20): 43–55. ISSN 1316-0354.
- ^ "Foreign Relations". countrystudies. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ Hutchinson-Jafar, Linda; Sequera, Vivian; Cushing, Christopher (17 December 2020). "Trinidad to impose stiffer penalties on trafficking of Venezuelans". Reuters.
A humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has spurred the mass migration of millions, including to Trinidad and Tobago, where at least 40,000 Venezuelans now live, while dozens have gone missing since vessels they boarded to get there sunk.
- ^ "Trinidad criticized for lack of action on Venezuelan migrants fleeing to island nation". NBCNews. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Trinidad faces humanitarian crisis as more Venezuelans come for refugee". NPR. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "How Trinidad and Tobago is benefitting from the venezuelan crisis". oilprice. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Trade Opportunities". Tradeind. Retrieved 16 January 2020.