The island Trinidad has been open by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Since then it throughout three centuries remained possession of Spain. In 16 century for provisioning, water and fuel on island the French corsairs, English kapery and other adventurers landed. In the end of 16 century English seafarer Uolter Reli used an island Trinidad as base from which its groups for research of Gviansky coast of the South America departed. In 17 century the Spanish governors tried to base on settlement island, but the ships from mother country came to Trinidad about time in 20 years, and the island population was mown by epidemics of a smallpox, a malaria and a yellow fever. In the end of 17 century on Trinidad was only 15 small American Indian settlements, the Spanish population remains small.
In 18 century on islands of the British West Indies the sugar cane bringing the big profits began to be cultivated. The vigorous governor of Trinidad José Maria Chakon has decided to follow to this example. Foreign planters, mainly Frenchmen have been invited to island. To 1797 Trinidad has been occupied by Englishmen under that pretext, that the island ostensibly serves as a shelter for the dealers the live goods making attacks on the next British colonies for the purpose of grab of slaves. The English control over island has been fixed by the Amensky peace treaty 1802.
The period of the British board. Having received Trinidad, Britain has found a colony with rich deposits of the natural asphalt used for impregnation of cases of the wooden ships. Furthermore in Port of Spain there was a magnificent harbour, on island the fertile soils which have been not exhausted by centuries-old agriculture have been extended. Nevertheless development of the new agricultural areas restrained because of defect of a labour. Some British governors (for example, Ralf Vudford, 1813–1829) encouraged trade development, building of roads, creation of new estates and the basis of new settlements. However attempts to involve on island of the soldiers demobilised after Napoleonic wars, have not brought success. After slavery cancellation in 1830th years position with a labour on Trinidad became critical as slaves left plantations, took the free earths or moved in cities. Since 1845 planters who were growing up a sugar cane and coffee, began to deliver wage workers from India.
Burst on Madiera in 1846 terrible hunger has compelled many Portuguese peasants to depart to America on the searches of happiness thus much of them have settled on Trinidad. However Portuguese poselentsy as soon as possible aspired to replace employment by agriculture with job as servants in rich manors. In 1850th years on island the Chinese immigrants began to arrive.
The island Tobago has been open by Columbus simultaneously with Trinidad, but was not a part of the Spanish colonies. In 1608 rights to island English king Jacob I has presented, however in 1632 on island Dutches have lodged. Long time of Tobago remained apple of discord between England, the Netherlands and France while in 1814 did not become an English colony. In 1889 colonies Trinidad and Tobago have been united.
During a world economic crisis of 1930th years in West Indies excitements have begun. For studying of the formed situation the British royal commission in which report references about necessity of financial and constitutional reforms contained has been created. The Second World War and the petroworkings out begun on Trinidad have led to appreciable changes in a colony life. In 1941 large lot in district Chaguaramasa (in the northwest of an island Trinidad) has been passed the USA on hire basis for a period of 99 years for building of naval base that has largely resolved a problem of employment of the population. After the Second World War there were even more significant political changes. In 1946 on Trinidad and Tobago the general suffrage has been entered, and in 1956 colony has received the limited internal self-management. In 1958–1962 it was a part of Vest-Indsky Federation. In 1960 the bilateral agreement has been concluded, according to which USA have accepted the obligation to refuse to 1977 from a leased plot and to introduce therefrom naval base. After the decision of Jamaica to leave structure of Vest-Indsky Federation (1961) Trinidad and Tobago too have decided to become on an independent way of development. In 1961 it the regimen of complete self-management has been granted, and on August, 31st 1962 the independent state Trinidad and Tobago as a part of the Commonwealth headed by the Great Britain has been proclaimed.
The independence period. The government led by prime minister Eric Williams aspired to develop a national economy and to strengthen economic ties with neighbouring states. In 1968 country became a member of the Caribbean free trade zone, and in 1973 – a member of the Caribbean community which have come to it in the stead. However the government was not able to solve an unemployment problem, and in the country disorders have begun. In 1970 there were antigovernmental performances of military men, on what Williams has responded introduction of state of emergency. In 1971 the next parliamentary elections have been spent. However as a sign of the protest against the emergency measures, starting Williams's government, opposition parties have called for boycott of the elective company, and 32 % of voters have participated in it only. As a result the party in power National national movement (NND) has received all 36 places in the House of Representatives.
The unstable political situation was in the early seventies accompanied by a sharp economic recession. However in 1973–1974 position in economy of Trinidad and Tobago has considerably improved in connection with quadruple augmentation of the world prices at petroleum. Sharply increased export earnings of petroleum have allowed the government to lower taxes and to enlarge payment of social benefits, dotirovat prices of goods of wide consumption and to enlarge industrial investments.
The state Trinidad and Tobago has acquired the republic status on August, 1st 1976. By results of the parliamentary elections spent in following month consignment NND has received two thirds of places in the House of Representatives, the majority of the remained places was taken by deputies from Incorporated working front (ORF), created on the basis of an alliance of some trade unions of the left direction. In 1980 Tabago has received internal self-management. In 1995 to the power the coalition of the Incorporated national congress and the National union for reconstruction has come. The first of these consignments is guided on indotrinidadsky electorate (40 % of the population of the country), the second – on afrotrinidadsky (40 % of the population). Leader ONK B.Pandej, and the president with 1997 – A.N.R.Robinson became the Prime minister. The Same arrangement of political forces in parliament and the government was saved and after parliamentary elections in December 2000. On the places there was a president of republic and the prime minister.
In Trinidad and Tobago daily newspapers («Trinidad end Tobago the express» – 55 thousand copy, «Trinidad gardian» – 52,6 thousand copy, "Njusdej") and weekly editions («Sandi the express» – 60 thousand copy, «Sandi gardian» – 43,5 thousand copy) leave in the mass editions. There are and less popular editions: the governmental weekly journal «Trinidad end Tobago gazett» (3,3 thousand copy), a Catholic weekly journal «Catholic of a news» (15,6 thousand copy), etc.
In the country the governmental service of broadcasting and commercial service of TV function.
