April 14, 2012

0172 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (Trinidad) – Vitality, purity and strength


Trinidad and Tobago is located in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles, and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands, comprising about 94% of the total area and 96% of the total population of the country. Trinidad was a Spanish colony from the arrival of Columbus in 1498 to the capitulation of the Spanish Governor on the arrival of a British fleet on 1797 (when the population of the island was 17,718 - 2,151 with European ancestry, 4,476 "free blacks and people of colour", 10,009 slaves and 1,082 Amerindians). During the same period, the island of Tobago changed hands between Spanish, British, French, Dutch and Courlander colonizers. The country obtained independence in 1962, becoming a republic in 1976.

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted upon independence from Great Britain on 31 August 1962 and is red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side. The red is said to represent the vitality of the land and people, the warmth and energy of the sun, and courage and friendliness. The white is said to represent the sea, the purity of national aspirations, and the equality of all men, and the black represents strength, unity and purpose, and the natural resources.

About the stamp I don't know anything, and to my disappointment the postal worker didn't bother to postmarked the postcard.


sender: Nalini Mohammed (direct swap)
sent from San Fernando (Trinidad and Tobago), on 23.03.2012

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