Trinidad and Tobago	Asians in the Americas
General Overview  Brief Description  Demographic Resources  Sources Official Census  Foreign Affairs/Immigration  Municipal Registries  Parochial Records  Information/Research Resources, Dissertations and Scholars  Societies and Associations  Embassies  Miscellaneous

General Overview

Ethnicity: black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other 1.2% Religions: Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7% Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese [1]

Visit the CIA World Factbook for more information on this country http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/td.html

Brief Description

Arrival of Asian Peoples:

Indians arrived in 1845 aboard the Fatel Rozack as indentured laborers. [2] [3] Conflicting accounts of the Chinese first arrival in Trinidad report that the Chinese arrived in 1806 [4] or in 1853/4. [5] Top of Page

Geographic and Labor Concentration:

Indentured laborers mainly worked on estates and sugar plantations. [6] Top of Page

Demographic and Historical Information:

Between 1859-1866, 1,557 Chinese immigrated to Trinidad as indentured laborers. [7] Between 1845-1917 144,000 Indians immigrated to Trinidad. [8] Top of Page

Demographic Resources

Official Census:

Statistical Agency Central Statistical Office National Repository Central Statistics Office Guardian Life Building 80, Independence Square Port of Spain phone: (868) 623-7069,6495, 6388 http://www.directory.gov.tt/directory/ministry/IntP&D/INTEGWEB.htm Main U.S. Repositories Library of Congress 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20540 phone: (202) 707-5000 http://www.loc.gov/ Population Research Center (University of Texas) 1800 Main Building The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas 78712-1127 phone: (512) 471-5514 fax: (512) 471-4886 http://www.prc.utexas.edu/ 1851 Race: Religion: [9] 1861 Country of Birth: Race: [10] 1871 Country of Birth: Race: [11] 1881 Country of Birth: Race: [12] 1891 Country of Birth: Race: (based on birthplace rather than complexion) Religion: "There are separate sections for each of the ethnic/racial groups in this report." [13] 1901 Country of Birth: Race: (based on birthplace rather than complexion) Religion: "There are separate sections for each of the ethnic/racial groups in this report." [14] 1911 Country of Birth: Race: (based on birthplace rather than complexion) Religion: Citizenship: "Total population was divided into general population and East Indian population in many tables." [15] 1921 "Scope was the same as 1911, and there were separated sections with tables for institutional population, shipping population, general and East Indian populations. Maps were included." [16] 1931 Same as 1921 plus industries. [17] 1946 Birthplace: "name of locality for native born, name of island or country for nonnatives. The latter and any return immigrants wre also asked their duratin of residence in the colony." Religion: "specific denomination, based on preference rather than membership. Response was not compulsory." Race: white (including Portuguese), black, East Indian, Syrian, Chinese, other Asiatic, mixed or colored (African with white or with Asiatic), East Indian Creole (mixed), Chinese Creole (mixed) [18] 1960 Race: "Negro, white, East Indian, Chinese, mixed (born of parents of different racial groups, not just African), Portugeuse, Amerindian, Car5ib, Syrian and Lebanese, and other." Religion: "specific denomination accourding to respondent's reply." List specific sect if Hindu or Muslim. Birthplace: "for the native born, the specific territory, parish, town, ward was requested. If the same as residence, the individual was classed as a nonmover; if different, a mover (internal migration). Those born outside the territory gave island or country of birth plus year of residence (immigration). [19] 1970 Ethnic Origin: Chinese, East Indian, Mixed, Other Races [20] Major Religion: Anglican, Baptist (Orthodox), Hindu Satst, Church of God, Methodist, Moravian, Muslim A.N.J., Presby./Congr., Roman Cath., Sev. Day Advtst., Not Stated [21] Migration: "birthplace for native born, parish; for foreign born, country and year of immigration." [22] 1980 Ethnic Origin: Chinese, East Indian, Mixed, Other, Not Stated [23] Religion: Anglican, Baptist (Orthodox), Hindu (Sanatanist), Other Hindu, Jehavah Witness, Methodist, Muslim (A.S.J.A.), Other Muslim, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, None, Others, Not Stated [24] Top of Page

Foreign Affairs/Immigration:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Knowsley Building 1 Queen's Park West Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 1-868-623-4116 fax: 1-868-627-0571 Ministry of National Security Immigration Division 67 Frederick Street Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 1-868-625-3571 fax: 1-868-627-8044 Top of Page

Municipal Registries:

Registrar's General Department, Civil Registry Red House 25-27 Abercromby Street Port of Spain, Trinidad Top of Page

Parochial Records:

Christianity Christian Council of Trinidad and Tobago Hayes Court 21 Maraval Road Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 1-868-637-9329 fax: 1-868-637-1967 Anglican Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago Hayes Court 21 Maraval Road Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 1-868-622-7387 fax: 1-868-628-1319 email: red@trinidad.net Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago POB 92 Paradise Hill San Fernando, Trinidad phone and fax: 1-868-652-4829 email: pctt@tstt.net.tt Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago 104 High Street Princess Town, Trinidad phone: 1-868-655-2291 fax: 1-868-655-1816 Antilles Episcopal Conference 9A Gray Street Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 1-868-622-2932 fax: 1-868-622-8255 email: aec@carib-link.net Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port of Spain 27 Maraval Road Port of Spain,Trinidad phone: 1-868-622-1103 fax: 1-868-622-1165 email: abishop@carib-link.net Hindu Pandits' Parishad (Council of Pandits) Maha Sabha Headquarters Eastern Main Road St. Augustine, Trinidad phone: 645-3240 Sanathan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad and Tobago Eastern Main Road St. Augustine, Trinidad phone: 645-3240 email: mahasabha@ttemail.com Top of Page

Information/Research Resources, Dissertations and Scholars:

Online Resources Government of Trinidad and Tobago http://www.gov.tt/ttgov/default.asp National Library and Information System Authority http://www.nalis.gov.tt/ University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus Main Library http://www.mainlib.uwi.tt/ Dissertations Chatterjee, Sumita. Indian Women's Lives and Labor: The Indentureship Experience in Trinidad and Guyana: 1845-1917. University of Massachusetts, 1997. Dhanda, Karen S. Indentured Labor and the Integration of Trinidad into the World Economy. Syracuse University, 2000. Eubanks, Thomas Hales. Sugar, Slavery and Emancipation: the Industrial Archaeology of the West Indian Island of Tobago. University of Florida, 1992. Kale, Madhavi. Casting Labor: Empire and Indentured Migration from India to the British Caribbean, 1837-1845. University of Pennsylvania, 1992. Look Lai, Walton. Sugar Plantations and Indentured Labor: Migrations from China and India to the British West Indies, 1838-1918 (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, British Guiana). New York University, 1991. Moore, Dennison. The Origins and Development of Racial Ideology in Trinidad. Queen's University at Kingston, 1980. Perry, John Allen. A History of the East Indian Indentured Plantation Worker in Trinidad, 1845-1917. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1969. Prorok, Carolyn V. Hindu Temples in Trinidad: A Cultural Geography of Religious Structures and Ethnic Identity. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1987. Ray, Karen A. The Abolition of Indentured Emigration and the Politics of Indian Nationalism, 1894-1917. McGill University, 1981. Sohal, Harinder Singh. The East Indian Indentureship System in Jamaica 1845-1917. University of Waterloo, 1980. Sookdeo, Anil. Problems of Labor and Freedom in Trinidad's Transition to a Post-Emancipation Society (1808-1888). Johns Hopkins University, 1996. Top of Page

Societies and Associations:

Chinese Associations China Society Chinese Association of Trinidad and Tobago Chung Shan Association 129 Charlotte Street Port of Spain, Trinidad Indian Associations East Indian Association of Trinidad and Tobago Top of Page

Embassies:

India 6 Victoria Avenue POB 530 Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 627-7480 fax: 627-6985 Japan 5 Hayes Street St. Clair Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 628-5991 fax: 622-0858 People's Republic of China 39 Alexandra Street St. Clair Port of Spain, Trinidad phone: 622-6976 fax: 622-7613 Top of Page

Miscellaneous:

Number of Indentured East Indian Immigrants from 1899-1913 as reported in Statistical Abstract for the Several British Self-Governing Dominions, Colonies, Possessions, and Protectorates in Each Year from 1899-1913. [25] 1900--627 1901--2,553 1902--2,348 1903--2,458 1904--1,265 1905--3,796 1906--2,502 1907--1,860 1908--2,445 1909--2,511 1910--3,228 1911--3,181 1912--2,419 1913--1,190 Top of Page

Sources

[1] http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/. Accessed 01/20/2002. [2] Ramdin, Ron. Arising from Bondage: A History of the Indo-Caribbean People. New York: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2000. p. 8. [3] Shepard, Verene A. Emancipation and Immigration: A Pan-Caribbean Overview. Jamaica: Alpha Boys' School Printery. 1999. p. 40. [4] Millett, Trevor M. The Chinese in Trinidad. Port of Spain: Inprint Caribbean Ltd., 1993. p. 17. [5] Ramdin, Ron. Arising from Bondage: A History of the Indo-Caribbean People. New York: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2000. [6] Goyer, Doreen S. The Handbook of National Population Censuses : Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1983. p. 325-330. [7] Shepard, Verene A. Emancipation and Immigration: A Pan-Caribbean Overview. Jamaica: Alpha Boys' School Printery. 1999. p. 41. [1] Ramdin, Ron. Arising from Bondage: A History of the Indo-Caribbean People. New York: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2000. p. 78. [9] Goyer, Doreen S. The Handbook of National Population Censuses : Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1983. p. 325. [10] Ibid. [11] Ibid. p. 327. [12] Ibid. [13] Ibid. [14] Ibid. [15] Ibid. [16] Ibid. [17] Ibid. [18] Ibid.. pp. 109, 328. [19] Ibid. p. 105. [20] 1970 Population Census of the Commonwealth of the Caribbean. Vol. 7. Race and Religion. Kingston: The Herald Limited, 1976. p. 9. [21] Ibid. p. 99. [22] Goyer, Doreen S. The Handbook of National Population Censuses : Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1983. p. 108. [23] Population and Housing Cenus 1980. Vol. 2. Age Structure, Religion, Ethnic Group, and Education. Port of Spain: Central Statistical Office, 1983. p. 16. [24] Ibid. p. 40. [25] Statistical Abstract for the Several British Self-Governing Dominions, Colonies, Possessions, and Protectorates in Each Year From 1899-1913. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, Eyre and Spottiswoode Ltd., 1915. p. 15. Top of Page

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